What are the prevention and treatment options for malaria?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 50-year-old woman and have been feeling very unwell for the past nine to ten days. I have had high fever, chills, severe headaches, muscle aches, and fatigue. I am worried I might have malaria, especially because my daughter’s wedding is next week, and I can not afford to be sick. Could you please provide information on malaria symptoms, as well as prevention and treatment options? I just need guidance on how to recover and protect myself from future infections.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

Symptoms like high fever, chills, severe headaches, muscle aches, and fatigue can be caused by various conditions besides malaria, such as viral infections, upper respiratory bacterial infections, dengue, or typhoid. At this point, your fever may be considered "pyrexia of unknown origin" (PUO), and further investigation is needed before starting treatment.

Do you also have symptoms like diarrhea, painful urination, nausea, or vomiting? What is the frequency and severity of your fever (for example highest body temperature if measured), and how long do the fever episodes last?

Tests to be done:

Urine tests – Routine, culture, and sensitivity.
Blood tests – CBC (complete blood count), liver function, renal function, widal test, malaria antigen and peripheral smear, dengue NS1 (non-structural protein), immunoglobulin M, immunoglobulin G, viral multiplex RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction).

Treatment plan:

Paracetamol 650 mg, one tablet every eight hours for seven days
Thiocolchicoside eight milligrams, once daily for seven days

Further treatment will be determined once lab results are available.

I hope you are satisfied with my answer.

Thank you.