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Malaria Prevention
Malaria Prevention
Dietsmann HSE Awareness Campaign
WHAT IS MALARIA ?
A febrile illness caused by a parasite transmitted by mosquitoes.
There are four types of Plasmodium parasites:
FALCIPARUM - Very common in West Africa Untreated, it can kill you
Vivax causes milder disease and unless correctly treated can hide in the liver causing malaria relapses many months
and even years later
Plasmodium Malariae and Ovale are less important species in West Africa
What happens when you get bitten by an infected mosquito?
Malaria Prevention Saves Lives
Malaria kills an African child every 30 seconds!More than 1,000,000 deaths a year!
If diagnosed and treated correctly and without delay, recovery is complete
Mind before MadnessMind before Madness
Malaria risk awareness
Initial symptoms:
Fever
Sweats
Chills
Headache
Body aches
Muscular pain
Nausea and vomiting
Malaria risk awareness
Cerebral malaria is a consequence of severe malaria with supplementary signs:
Irritability
Confusion
Convulsions
Coma
Mosquito bite prevention
Two lines of defence against mosquito bites:
Mosquito control programmes
Personal protection
Mosquito bite prevention
How can mosquitoes be eliminated?The aim is to reduce the mosquito population by destroying larvae and by killing adult mosquitoes.
Measures include:
Draining of swamps, ditches
Eliminating standing water (keep plants away from vicinity of patios and doors, remove or cover outside containers that can hold water...)
Preventing mosquito access to living quarters (window and door screens, plumbing fixtures...)
Mosquito bite prevention
How can I best protect myself?
Personal protection is aimed at avoiding
mosquitoes and minimizing being bitten:
Use bed nets treated with Permethrin insecticide (use correctly and check for holes!)
Close doors and windows.
Use air conditioning when available.
Indoor residual spraying (IRS).
inside
Limit outdoor activities from dusk to dawn whenever possible
Wear long sleeves and Permethrin-treated shirts and trousers
Use insect repellent on exposed skin, minimal 30% DEET
outside
Mosquito bite prevention
How can I best protect myself?
Mosquito bites cannot be completely avoided.
Regular medication is required to prevent/suppress malaria.
Adequately and promptly treated, malaria is a curable disease.
Take anti-malarial drugs
Take anti-malarial drugs
The selection of drugs involves an analysis of risks and benefits based on several considerations:
Prevalence and type of malaria resistance.
Duration and place of stay.
Intensity of mosquito contact.
Age (adult versus child) and state of health (pregnant/lactating women...).
Past experience with the recommended drug.
Take anti-malarial drugs
For local population
Malaria Chemoprophylaxis is not recommended for semi-immune employees.
In areas of high transmission of P. falciparum, at least one of the two core vector control interventions should cover the risk:
Long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs).
Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS).
Take anti-malarial drugs
For local population
To protect pregnant women: Intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) is recommended.
Children under 5 years of age should therefore be treated on the basis of a clinical diagnosis of malaria.
For Expatriates and Visitors
Recommended treatment:
Atovaquone-proguanil combination (Malarone®)
Mefloquine (Lariam 250®)
Doxycycline (Doxypalu®)
Take anti-malarial drugs
Take anti-malarial drugs
How do I determine which drug protection is best for me?
The treatment must be prescribed by a doctor who is familiar with tropical diseases in order to prescribe you the appropriate drugs.
Take anti-malarial drugs
Think carefully before making your decision as to whether or not to take the preventive medicine. The risk of side effects is always smaller than the risk of malaria, which is DEATH!
See a doctor urgently...
...if you suspect malaria!
Symptoms may arise one week or more after entering a malaria risk area.
Symptoms may develop up to 3 months after departure.
Immediate treatment is essential.
Even if you are taking preventive treatment: be aware, ensure early diagnosis.
Mind before MadnessMind before Madness
