The Rains And Your Health Malaria

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The rains are here and we all heave a sigh of relief as we get that break from the hot, harsh weather.

We feel like opening all doors and windows to let in the cool breeze.......
But wait, have you noticed those dreaded pests A.K.A mosquitoes also "float in"with the wind?

Yes, with the rains come a flurry of health issues including malaria. With the increase in rains, water gathers in pools around the house, empty cans, flower pots, flooded drains, gutters etc creating a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Here are some tips to help keep you and your family healthy and malaria free during this period.

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1. Keep your surroundings clean, clear drainages and ensure they are free-flowing. Get rid of empty cans , old tyres that may litter the compound. The hollow insides can collect water as well.

2. Cover all water reservoirs in the house. Only collect water for storage in buckets or basins that have covers ( or find something to cover them). Keep the toilet lid shut and ensure the water tank above it has a cover in place as well. Buckets of stored water can serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes right inside our homes. If you have a pool, cover it when it is not in use. Chlorine can also be added to it to make it "mosquito-unfriendly".

3.Have nets on windows and doors , and close all "un-netted" doors as from 5pm. Mosquitoes tend to enter into houses at this time

Better still use insecticide treated nets when you sleep. Ensure you do not sleep with any part of your body touching the net. Mosquitoes can still bite through the holes!

4.Use insecticide sprays as needed, ensure you spray into corners, wardrobes closing all windows to ensure saturation. Ensure the rooms are ventilated after wards before you sleep in the room. Please dont spray and sleep in the room immediately even with "odourless" or fragrant smelling insecticides! It can cause respiratory problems!

5. Other alternatives- some people have good results with insect repellent creams and ointments.Repellents containing 30% to 50% DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) are recommended for adults and children over 2 months of age. However as with any skin treatment product , the potential for skin irritation should be noted.

6. Wear long and loose clothing to bed, cotton is a good fabric that will allow for good air circulation. Alternatively use a cover cloth
occasionally one may eventually succumb to malaria and require treatment.

Please ensure you complete the prescribed dose. Dont just stop when you are feeling better, you are only setting yourself up for another episode very soon.
Remember to avoid taking vitamin C, E and other antioxidants while taking ACTs (Artemether, Artesunate etc). No juice or orange drinks as well!

It is not recommended to take regular preventive antimalarial as a way of preventing infections ( like the sunday-sunday medicine). This would disturb the ability of the individual to develop a natural immunity (natural body protection) against malaria, making eventual bouts very severe. Exceptions exist however, pregnant women ( routinely given during ante natal care) in whom malaria is a common cause of severe illness in the mother, and can be life threatening to baby, and travellers from foreign countries where malaria is not prevalent.

Do you have tips on how you prevent mosquito bites and malaria? Please share.

Stay Healthy.

Esther