Why do I have Malaria all the Time?

Are there people that have malaria all the time?

There is practically no Nigerian adult who grew up and is living in Nigeria that can say he or she has never had Malaria. In fact, malaria like symptoms are one of the most common daily complaints in most primary health centres or pharmacies.

There are people that claim they have malaria every two weeks? Is it possible?

The answer is yes, there is a reported case of two travellers who visited africa and returned to the United States and were treated for malaria with Arthemether lumefantrine, they improved clinically but within 2 weeks they had malaria again.

Recurrence of malaria can occur through reinfection or treatment failure.

A new study has found that the malaria parasites may not just go away completely after after an infection, it can remain undetected in the body for years even over a decade!

So if you’ve been having ‘malaria’ practically every other week there could be several explanations:

1. What you think is malaria isn’t

There are several conditions that mimic the known symptoms of malaria which are not malaria. These include infections e.g viral infections, stress and even dehydration! Avoid self diagnosis. Go to a laboratory and be tested.

2. You’ve used the wrong antimalarial drug

The parasite may be resistant to certain classes of antimalarial drug that is why it is preferable to see a health care practitioner before starting your treatment. The present recommendation is to use Artemisinin based combination therapy (ACT) for the treatment of malaria.

3. You are using the wrong dosage

Some antimalarials are meant to be taken at once, some twice daily certain hours apart, not taking the write dosage can lead to treatment failure.

4. You don’t finish your dose

You may feel okay after one tablet of the antimalarial drug and decide to stop, this may eventually make the parasite stronger and lead to treatment failure. Always complete your doses.

5. You don’t treat

One may have malaria which is subclinical or lying below the surface. For example, you get a few symptoms which seem to resolve without treatment and think you’re fine only for the symptoms to re emerge weeks later.

6. You vomited the drug

If you vomit the drug shortly after taking it, it is not likely to work

So why are we prone to frequent malaria?

1. We live in a malaria endemic zone
2. A lot of us do not take preventive measures like using insecticide treated nets, removing bushes and stagnant water which the parasite can thrive in

So what is the treatment if you’ve used an antimalarial and you still have malaria?

If you’ve properly tested and been treated for malaria but still have malaria within 28 days, the recommendation is to use an alternative artemisinin combination therapy (ACT)than the one initially used.

If you have malaria again after 28days, it should be regarded as either treatment failure or a new infection. The recommendation is to use your first line ACT

What are the ACTS available?

1. Artemether lumefantrine
2. Artesunate amodiaquine
3. Artesunate mefloquine
4. Artesunate sulfadoxine pyrimethamine
5. Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine