It is El Niño season! The mosquitoes love this season too and with this, malaria flourishes. It is important to protect yourself and your unborn baby from being bitten by the mosquitoes to prevent getting malaria. It is also important to recognize the symptoms of malaria so that you can seek early treatment as it is more frequent and complicated during pregnancy.
Malaria is caused by an organism called Plasmodium. This organism is so small that it can only be seen under a microscope. When a mosquito bites a person who has malaria, the Plasmodium organism gets into the stomach of the mosquito. It grows inside the mosquito. After some days, when the mosquito bites another person that person can become infected.
Getting Malaria during pregnancy could lead to
• Severe anaemia in the mum which can lead to death if not treated urgently.
• Low birth weight of your baby
• Premature births
• Miscarriages
Prevention of Malaria
- Sleeping under Insecticide-Treated Nets as they prevent mosquito bites and help you sleep better.
- Apply mosquito repellent especially when out in the open in malaria-prone areas.
- Indoor spraying of insecticides or use of other insecticide products like mosquito coils, etc.
- Wear protective clothing (long pants and long-sleeved shirts) when outside at night.
- Clear the areas around your home cut long grass and remove any stagnant water.
Symptoms of Malaria
To confirm that you have malaria, you will need to visit your doctor as soon as you notice some of the following symptoms. It is important not to self-diagnose and treat as taking the medication without confirming malaria may lead to your body getting resistant to treatment in the future. Your health care provider will carry out a blood test to confirm if you really have malaria.
Some symptoms of Malaria include:
• shaking chills that can range from moderate to severe
• high fever
• profuse sweating
• headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• anaemia
Treatment of Malaria
Malaria during pregnancy should be treated as an emergency and your doctor will administer the necessary medication once the test results are confirmed. Ensure that you complete your dosage as required to ensure that you recover fully. Prompt diagnosis and effective treatment of malaria infections will ensure your safety and that of your unborn child.
