Malaria

1. What is Malaria ?


Malaria is a parasitic disease caused by the Genus Plasmodium and spread by female Anopheles mosquitoes.

2. What are the symptoms of Malaria ?

Fever, Headache, Bodyache, Rigor and chill.

3. How does malaria spread ?

Malaria is spread by the female anopheles mosquitoes which breeds in fresh water collections like OHTs, Cisterns, wells etc. There is no direct transmission from the infected person to the healthy person. Malaria is spread only through the live of infected mosquito.

4. Is there different type of malaria ?

Yes. There are 4 types of malaria by P. vivax, P. falciparum, P. malaria and

P. ovale.

5. Do all these are prevalent in Tamil Nadu ?

No. P. vivax and P. falciparum are prevalent in Tamil Nadu & dominated by P. vivax Malaria .

6. What are the different types of vector mosquitoes ?

There are 3 different types of vector mosquitoes. An. stephensi – Urban vector; An.culicifacies – Rural vector, An. fluviatilis – Food hill area vector.

7. How to eliminate the breeding of mosquitoes ?

Proper sealing of Over Head Tanks, wells and covering all water containers preventing mosquitoes from laying eggs and thereby breeding.

8. Will Malaria cause death ?

Untreated P. falciparum may cause severe complications leading to death.

9. Is there a vaccine for Malaria ?

No.

10. How does a person know that he is suffering from malaria ?

Any person having fever and headache should be suspected as a malaria case and his blood should be examined for confirming the same or otherwise.

11. Is there any specific treatment for Malaria ?

Yes. All the suspected cases should be given presumptive treatment with chloroquine tablets as per the drug schedule after taking blood smear.

After examining the blood-smear, if the person is found positive for malaria, radical treatment with primaquine should be administered.

12. How to control Malaria ?


i. Taking complete radical treatment will prevent transmission of malaria parasites.

ii. Anti-larval activities by application of Temephos

iii. Anti-adult measures by spray operations in problem areas

iv. Intensified IEC activities.