Malaria vaccines may fail, so know these preventive measures to make sure you don’t!

Follow these simple but effective measures to counter malaria this monsoon

By: Paulami Pan | | Updated: June 1, 2016 5:41 pm

Monsoon is almost knocking at the door. With the onset of rains and the subsequent clogging of drains and sewers, mosquitoes are going to get the perfect breeding ground. You must have already known that ‘mosquitoes’ are the agents of malaria. Common symptoms of the disease include fever, headache, chills, sweats, fatigue, nausea and vomiting. Here are some complications of malaria that you should know.

Malaria is a vector-borne, infectious disease caused by the Plasmodium parasite and affects the red blood cells. It is considered to be one of the deadliest diseases in India, owing to the number of lives it claims every year. Scientists have been striving to evaluate an effective vaccine against malaria since decades, but have miserably failed in their enterprise as none of the developed vaccines could prevent the disease for long. Suffering from malaria? Know what you should eat!

Recent studies in the field of vaccination have yielded new findings. The scientists at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute have discovered that instead of generating antibodies against the parasite, activating immune cells known as CD8+ T cells worked much better in countering malaria in the longer run. Antibodies are not self-sufficient in protecting against the disease, they need immune cells to back up the process. This is also the probable reason why anti-malaria vaccines invented till date could not furnish the desired results. Know the various treatments for malaria.

Usually doctors perform a simple prick test to diagnose the disease, but if untreated, it can be life-threatening. We all know that ‘prevention is better than cure’. Here are some precautionary measures against malaria. It is important to control the breeding of mosquitoes to prevent the spread of malaria.

Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water. Hence, make sure you clean up or even better, get rid of all nearby sources harbouring standing water. Do NOT store water except in closed containers.
Avoid going out immediately after dusk. This is the time of the day when mosquitoes strike the most. If you reside in a mosquito-infested area, protect your house with mosquito repellant screens, window nets and fibre glass meshes.
Wear covered clothes, and apply mosquito repellant cream on the exposed parts of your body before going out.
Use mosquito nets for sleeping. Also spray your rooms with repellant spray from time to time.
Before travelling to a malaria prone area, consult your doctor as chemoprophylaxis is administered to people who travel in such places. Find out these amazing ways to keep mosquitoes at bay!Image source: Shutterstock (image used for representational purpose only)

Published : June 1, 2016 5:29 pm | Updated:June 1, 2016 5:41 pm

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