About this topic
Malaria is a harmful disease that affects your blood. It is caused by a parasite. Most often, mosquitoes pass this disease from person to person. It may also be passed through a blood transfusion, sharing needles, or from a mother to her child. ‚
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Keep a healthy body. Sleep at least 8 hours a night and rest during the day.
- Eat a well-balanced diet. Eat food with iron, like red meat and green leafy vegetables.
- Drink 6 to 8 glasses of fluids each day. This will help to prevent fluid loss.
What follow-up care is needed?
Your condition needs close monitoring. Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Fight an infection
- Keep fluids up in your body
- Lower fever
- Relieve headache
Will physical activity be limited?
Get lots of rest. Sleep when you are feeling tired. Avoid doing tiring activities. Talk to your doctor about the right amount of activity for you. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Very bad anemia
- Brain infection
- Kidney failure
- Liver failure
- Meningitis
- Problems breathing
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Be aware and know the risk of malaria when you travel.
- If you are to travel to places where there is malaria outbreak:
- Make sure that you take drugs to help prevent infection.
- Tell your doctor what country you are going to. There are many drugs used for each area that is known for malaria. Ask your doctor which drugs are best for you.
- Make sure that you take your antimalarial drugs during your travel time. Keep taking your drugs and finish them to get full protection when you get home.
- Get rid of areas where mosquitoes like to breed.
- Drain unused swimming pools.
- Dump out water that may collect in tires, buckets, or containers.
- Clean or unclog roof gutters.
- Clear your yard of dead trees to remove insects that live in them.
- Protect yourself.
- Apply or spray mosquito repellent on your skin.
- Wear clothes that will cover your arms and legs.
- Avoid unnecessary activities outside your house.
- Place wire screens in your windows and doors to keep mosquitoes from going in.
- Sleep under a mosquito net.
- If you have signs of malaria, see your doctor right away.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills.
- Feeling tired or short of breath
- Bloody stools
- Sweating
- Headaches
- Muscle aches
- Upset stomach, throwing up, or loose stools
- Muscle and joint pain
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you what changes I need to make with my drugs or activities.
- I can tell you ways to help prevent this infection.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have a fever, bloody stools, sweating, or muscle or joint aches.
Where can I learn more?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ‚
http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/about/faqs.html ‚
National Organization for Rare Disorders ‚
http://www.rarediseases.org/rare-disease-information/rare-diseases/byID/434/viewAbstract ‚
NHS Choices ‚
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Malaria/Pages/Introduction.aspx ‚
World Health Organization ‚
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs094/en/ ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚