With singer Cheryl Cole receiving treatment and the holiday season fast approaching, it’s a good time to think about malaria and how to avoid it. This deadly disease requires constant vigilance, because if you don’t continue your medication, you can get sick when you return home.
To understand this, you need to know exactly what happens to you when you get infected.
Once you’ve been bitten by an infected mosquito, the parasite enters your bloodstream and will have established itself in your liver within thirty minutes, where it will then begin to rapidly reproduce. Now these descendants are divided into two types, the first ones are active and will start to make you very sick. The others go dormant and will come to life years later giving those breakouts we’ve seen on TV and in movies where people sweat and shiver uncontrollably.
Those that are active enter the bloodstream and start reproducing again. These globules burst forth and further spread the disease. As they do this, they begin to deplete the body of oxygen, causing fever and chills. These cells will also clog various organs in the body like the brain and kidneys.
Now the nasty parasites release a special version of themselves into your bloodstream that will be absorbed by the next mosquito that bites you. When you think about how little blood is drunk, that means there are a lot of parasites swarming around your body.
Of course, the best way to avoid malaria is to not get bitten in the first place, so when you are in the malaria zones, which are in the countries on both sides of the equator, you should follow some basic safety measures to make sure you don’t give them a chance to bite you.
First of all, always cover your fur as much as possible, especially between sunset and sunrise when females are most active. Any skin that is not covered should be covered with insect repellant and your clothing should be sprayed with it as well.
Always sleep under a mosquito net, even if there are screens on the windows and doors. The net should always have an effective insecticide impregnated into it, just in case. If your room has air conditioning, put it on the lowest setting you can handle, as this will help determine them.
Another problem with Malaria is that the medicine required is sometimes a bit complicated. There are different types of medications depending on the area you go to. It is also recommended to take some before you go, while you are in the region and for a couple of weeks after your return. This is due to the life cycle of the parasite which can become active again. Most deaths from the disease in the West are associated with the fact that people tend to think that having returned home they are out of danger and decide to leave before the end of the medication period. It really is important to seek the advice of your doctor or travel surgery specialist well before you travel to get the most up-to-date advice.
There are many myths that your friends may tell you are true, don’t believe them. Malaria is a deadly disease that can and often kills people, so don’t gamble with your health. It only takes one bite to get infected, so even if you go in the dry season or you never get bitten or your friend went and says you don’t need to take any precautions or any of the other nonsense they come up with. , ignore. Talk to professionals and follow their advice.
Much research is still being done on what attracts mosquitoes and, conversely, what will deter mosquitoes. One of the main attractions for mosquitoes and other bloodsuckers is carbon dioxide. This is given off in quantities by warm-blooded mammals, not only when they exhale, but also through their skin, so for parasites this is a good indication that there is something to eat. There has also been some research saying that it is the perspiration on the feet that will attract them as well. So those with smelly feet should wash them before going to bed, just in case.
One unusual thing that seems to deter little pests is a chemical that seems to be exhaled when we’re stressed. The researchers believe this sends a message that the mammal is not in good condition, so the mosquito looks for a healthier animal to bite. Scientists are working to develop a synthetic version that could be effective against mosquito attacks.
So if you travel to countries that are on both sides of the equator, you really need to protect yourself against the attack of the dreaded mosquito because unless you are incredibly lucky, if you don’t you will suffer greatly.
