The Top Ten Things You Should Know About Malaria

aPRIL 1, 2024

THE TOP TEN THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT MALARIA

10. Malaria is a disease caused by parasites transmitted to humans through the bite of infected female mosquitoes.

9. Early symptoms of malaria are similar to those of the common cold: fever, chills, headache, nausea, vomiting, and muscle aches. Symptoms typically appear 10 to 15 days after the infective mosquito bite.

8. Uganda has two seasons: dry and rainy. The rainy season lasts from March to May and from September to December. Malaria outbreaks are most prevalent during the rainy season.

7. In 2022, Uganda accounted for five percent of all malaria cases globally, with around 13 million cases. The highest malaria burden in the country has been reported in northern Uganda, where Lacor Hospital is located.

6. Between June 2021 and 2022, malaria was the leading cause of admission in children to Lacor Hospital and the second leading cause of death in children under five years of age.

5. Certain groups, such as young children, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems, are at higher risk of severe complications from malaria. 

4. Preventive measures for villages near Lacor include sleeping under insecticide-treated mosquito nets and indoor residual spraying. Lacor works within the community to distribute nets and procure spraying.

3. Education is one of the most powerful weapons for preventing malaria. The Hospital must continue to inform families about the risks of waiting too long to bring their children to the Hospital. Treatment is quick and death-preventable when patients come at the earliest signs of infection. 

2. Effective treatment for malaria depends on factors such as the infection's species, disease severity, and previous treatment. Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) are commonly used to treat uncomplicated malaria.

1.Resistance to antimalarial drugs, particularly artemisinin, is a growing concern and a significant challenge in malaria control efforts. Lacor Hospital participated in a study on the resistance to antimalarial drugs in Africa, which was published in The New England Journal of Medicine. The study can be found here.