Treatment, prevention and control of malaria
Treatments of malaria
-
Antimalarial chemotherapy:
- Chloroquine, amodiaquine, chloroguanide,pyrimethamine, quinacrine hydrochloride, promaquine, proguanil and quinine
- Derivatives of artemisinin such as mefloquine and sulfonamides such as sulfadoxine is used to treat chloroquine resistant falciparum malaria
-
Supportive therapy:
- Antipyretic and cooling blanket to treat hyperthermia
- Fluid and electrolytes to maintain cardiac output, renal perfusion and prevent fluid overload
- Transfusion of blood to treat severe anaemia
- Standard anticonvulsant to treat seizures in cerebral malaria
- Parenteral glucose infusion to treat hypoglycaemia
Prevention and control of malaria:
i. Control of mosquito population
- Adult mosquitoes are controlled by spraying residual insecticides
- Mosquito larvae are controlled by spraying oils and chemicals in breading sites
- Flooding and flushing of breeding places of mosquitoes
- Elimination of breeding places such as lagoons and swamps
ii. Prevention of mosquito bite:
- Personal protection by proper use of mosquito nets while sleeping
- Wearing protective clothing that minimize contact with mosquitoes
- Use of mosquitoes repellents
iii. Chemoprophylaxis:
- Chloroquine is used to support erythrocytic infection