Why matters like malaria diagnosis and treatment, matter…
Signs and symptoms of malaria may include, but aren’t limited to:
- Fever
- Chills
- Abdominal pain
- Muscle ache
- Fatigue
- Cough
- Quickened breathing
- Nausea
- Elevated heart rate
In severe cases, malaria can also lead to anemia, respiratory distress and organ failure.
It’s heartening to remember that malaria is a curable disease; so testing should be done without delay for the best results!
Early detection for eventual eradication
Mosquitoes aren’t the only ones creating a ‘buzz’; progress in health technology has been too! The good news about malaria is that it is a treatable disease. The great news is that improvements in diagnostics and rapid testing are making early detection a reality and helping people receive timely treatment – even more critical for people at higher risk like pregnant women, infants and those with weakened immune systems.
Rapid tests for malaria, some even providing results within 15-20 minutes, offer an effective and accurate alternative to microscopy-based diagnosis which may not always be easily available. Enhanced diagnostic capabilities, help not only with early detection and thereby faster treatment, but also in providing data about patterns and incidence of the disease. This data can provide the insight needed by government bodies and health organizations to better plan for and hone in on sustainable disease control strategies. Detection precedes intervention, and healthcare innovations like rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are enabling communities to facilitate healthier outcomes for all, sooner and more effectively.
Wide-spread testing, coupled with better access to treatment and prevention services have the potential to make a marked difference in controlling the burden of malaria. For instance, despite being considered a high endemic country, with the fourth highest malaria burden in the world, consolidated efforts in India helped reduce malaria-related deaths by 41% and annual incidence by 24%, between 2017 and 2018.
Prevention for better protection
While national and global level initiatives are underway to curb and eventually eliminate malaria, there are certain preventive measures you can take to keep yourself and your loved ones safer. Routine immunization through vaccination has been recommended for children living in high transmission areas by the World Health Organization (WHO) – especially since children under the age of 5 are more susceptible to developing severe malaria.
Precautionary measures like anti-malarial medication and other preventive therapies (under the guidance of your doctor) are available, for protection when traveling to areas with moderate to high incidence levels of malaria or if one hasn’t been exposed to the disease before. Shielding yourself from mosquito bites with covered clothing, applying mosquito repellent on skin and clothing and using insecticide-treated mosquito nets for beds, is also recommended. Malaria can sometimes have an extensive incubation period, always check with your healthcare providers if you are feeling unwell or are experiencing potential signs and symptoms of malaria after traveling too. Since malaria is often endemic to places that may have limited healthcare access, innovations like RDTs help bridge the gap for detection and timely treatment.
World Malaria Day, held on 25th of April every year, serves as a reminder of the progress made by governmental initiatives and public and private organizations, who work tirelessly towards curbing the spread of diseases like malaria, by spreading awareness, hope and evidence-based healthcare instead. Innovations in healthcare and health technology – like vaccines, treatment therapies and rapid testing for malaria diagnosis and treatment – provide further impetus and support, helping us create road-maps for better health… and a better future.
Disclaimer: The information mentioned in this document is only suggestive for patient education and shall not be considered as a substitute for doctor’s advice or recommendations from Abbott. Please consult your doctor for more information.
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