Malaria is defined as a disease spread by mosquitoes. It is a chronic parasitic infection and if left untreated, it can be deadly. If you plan to travel to a place with high rates of malaria, you can take some measures that I will mention in this article to decrease your risk of getting malaria.
In this article, I will reveal some effective ways on how to prevent malaria naturally in children and adults in details. So, if you want to know how to prevent this fatal disease, you should keep your eyes on the following preventative measures and then try to follow these methods as soon as possible.
CONTENTS
- I. Causes And Symptoms Of Malaria
- II. How To Prevent Malaria- Top Effective Ways For Preventing Malaria:
- 1. Determine The Level Of Risk
- 2. Avoid Sleeping Outside At Night
- 3. Lavender Oil
- 4. Follow Your Prescription Carefully
- 5. Use Mosquito Repellent
- 6. Wear Long Sleeves
- 7. Clean Your Living Environment
- 8. Apply Sunscreen First And Repellent Second
I. Causes And Symptoms Of Malaria
Malaria is caused by Plasmodium, which is a parasite. There are 5 types of Plasmodium which can harm human health:
- Plasmodium falciparum
- Plasmodium vivax
- Plasmodium malariae
- Plasmodium knowlesi
- Plasmodium ovale
According to a study [1], Plasmodium falciparum causes the most severe infections and even lead to death up to 10% of total cases. Especially, pregnant women and children are at higher risk. Other types of this disease are less severe, yet still can result in death if left untreated.
Early symptoms of malaria include:
- High fever, which can be constant or can come and go
- Profuse sweating
- Shaking chills
- Malaise
- Confusion
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Muscle and joint pain
- Abdominal pain
- Headache
- Cough
- Anemia
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
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II. How To Prevent Malaria- Top Effective Ways For Preventing Malaria:
1. Determine The Level Of Risk
This is the first way on how to prevent malaria in adults that I want to reveal in this article today and want all of my readers to know for good. You need to inform yourself about your risk for developing malaria. Some factors you should consider include the time of your travel, the length of your stay, where you plan to stay and the activities you want to do. Actually, the risk for an infection may vary, so you should make sure that you know everything before traveling.
If you plan to travel to a malaria-infected area, it is very important for you to take precautions. Actually, this disease can be preventable in case you take the proper medication before, after and during the process of being exposure to mosquitoes. According to a research about malaria risk areas across the globe [2], some high-risk regions you should know and take precautions are Africa, Eastern Europe, Caribbean Asia, South Pacific, Central and South America.
2. Avoid Sleeping Outside At Night
Another way on how to prevent malaria in adults is to avoid sleeping outside at night. Actually, you should avoid sleeping outside or in the places where mosquitoes often live. In case you sleep in a tent, ensure that there is not any hole anywhere and the door closed at all times. Keep the air conditioning on because mosquitoes are likely to stay out of air-conditioned places. Although they are very basic, they can increase your success in preventing malaria.
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3. Lavender Oil
Lavender oil is loved by many people in the world, but mosquitoes actually hate it. So, according to a research about essential oils for mosquitoes [3], to keep mosquitoes away, add a drop of lavender oil to ribbon and place lavender oil around open windows. Alternatively, you can add about 30 drops of lavender oil to 2 tbsp. of olive oil and then apply it onto your exposed skin to stop mosquitoes from landing on your skin.
To know some of the natural oils that are good for skin health, read on List Of Natural Oils For Skin Care – Top 30 Great Oils To Apply
4. Follow Your Prescription Carefully
Remember to take the anti-malarial on a daily basis during your travel. Depending on your medication, you have to start taking it up to 2 weeks before getting into the malaria-infected area. Also, according to a study [4], you should avoid stopping this intake too early after returning. Most of the medications have to be followed for a month after leaving the malaria-infected areas.
Besides, you also need to follow instructions to prevent unwanted side effects. For instance, some malaria pills can make you more likely to experiencing a sunburn. And in this case, remember to apply sunscreen to protect the skin from sun lights.
If you want to know some of the best ways to help you treat sunburn blisters on skin, read on 20 Best Ways On How To Get Rid Of Sunburn Blisters On Skin
5. Use Mosquito Repellent
You should use an insect spray that contains pyrethroids in all of your living and sleeping areas. This is especially important during nighttime hours. Also, you should apply insect repellent lotions or creams to any remaining exposed skin’s parts all the day, especially during the night.
DEET insect repellents may be the best repellents for you. It is not recommended for infants under two months old, but they are safe for older kids, adults and even pregnant women if you correctly follow the instructions of the manufacturer:
- use on exposed skin
- avoid having contact with eyes and lips
- avoid spraying directly onto the facial skin. Instead, spray into the hands and then pat it onto the facial skin
- wash the hands after using
- avoid applying to open wounds or irritated skin
- apply it after applying sunscreen.
This is actually one of the best ways on how to prevent malaria fast and naturally that you should know skip, but try to follow for good, especially if you are at higher risk of getting malaria.
6. Wear Long Sleeves
Always wear long sleeve trousers, shirts and long pants, especially in the evening and at night as this can help reduce the mosquito bites. Keep in mind that the less skin exposed, the better you are. Bring lightweight clothing that allows the body to breathe while preventing mosquito bites. Addition to this, you can consider treating your clothes with permethrin to get a better protection.
Actually, it is one of the best ways on how to prevent malaria in children and adults that you should follow if you want to reduce the risks of getting this disease.
7. Clean Your Living Environment
Remember that the dirty living environment can lead to malaria as the dirty environment is an ideal place for the mosquitoes to live and grow. Therefore, you should try to keep your living environment cool and clean. Simultaneously, you need to clean and remove all of the places around your house where mosquitoes can live. You should cut the bush, arrange all of the furniture neatly and widen the drains. Since then, you can reduce the number of mosquitoes in your living environment and reduce your risk of getting malaria.
There are some other ways on how to prevent malaria fast in this article. So, you should continue reading this entire article to discover all of these effective preventive measures and then try to follow them for good.
8. Apply Sunscreen First And Repellent Second
If you use sunscreen, you should apply it first and then the repellent second. This is because the insect repellent cannot work when you apply it first and then cover it with sunscreen. To deal with this, you can use a sunscreen containing insect repellent. In fact, this is another one of the best ways on how to prevent malaria in adults that you should know and then try to follow correctly if you want to keep malaria at bay.
9. Grapefruit
Another effective way on how to prevent malaria in children that you should know and then follow for good is to eat more of grapefruit. It may be amazing to know that eating grapefruit can help to prevent malaria. In fact, grapefruit has high content of quinine, which is a substance to treat malaria. So, you should try to add more grapefruit to your daily diet and then reap its benefits for good. However, you should ask the advice from the doctor for the best effect.
10. Ginger
A common way of malaria prevention is to use ginger. It will help to improve your immune system and boost the healing process. Ginger and its powerful substances such as gingerol and unique hydrocarbons, which are good for their antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities occurring in the body, making it one of the best ways on how to prevent malaria fast and naturally.
11. Garlic
This is another one out of the best ways on how to prevent malaria fast that a lot of people in the world have been making use. After consuming lots of garlic, the oil of garlic will be released from the pores. The garlic oil works as a great barrier between your body skin and the mosquitoes. Since then, this may be a good way for you to prevent malaria.
12. Mosquito Repellent Drink
Another one of the best ways on how to prevent malaria naturally that you should know is to make use of mosquito repellent drink. Some people suggest that drinking apple cider vinegar can be an effective way to keep mosquitoes away. Simply, add 1 – 2 tbsp. of apple cider vinegar to 16oz of fresh water and then consume this solution. If required, you can sweeten it with 1 tbsp. of honey in order to counteract the bitterness.
13. Neem Oil
Neem oil is an extract taken from the Neem tree and this oil is a natural insecticide to keep insects away. Simultaneously, it also works the same way on humans. Simply, you apply neem oil to your skin and this will keep mosquitoes away. In fact, using Neem oil is known as one of the best ways on how to prevent malaria in adults that you should not skip out, but try to follow this method for good.
14. Plant Mosquito Repellent Plants
There are some plants that contain mosquito repellent properties and they include catnip, feverfew, citronella, and lavender, etc. To keep the mosquitoes away, you should plant these mosquito repellent plants around your garden. Since then, it can help you reduce the risk of getting mosquito bites and malaria.
Actually, this is one of the best ways on how to prevent malaria fast that you should know and then try to make use if you want to keep the mosquitoes away.
15. Homemade Citronella Candles
Citronella essential oil is a natural mosquito repellent and it can be used to make citronella candles. In fact, you can make these candles with ease from all natural ingredients and they will release an aroma to keep mosquitoes away. Then, place a few homemade citronella candles around your house or garden in order to make a mosquito proof barrier. In fact, a lot of people are making use of this essential oil to reduce the number of mosquito bites, so you should also follow this method if you want to reduce the risks of getting malaria.
Do you want to discover other ways on how to prevent malaria naturally at home? Continue reading this entire article and then try to follow one or more of these preventative methods for good.
16. Orange Juice
Vitamin C is known for its ability to boost the immune system, and this will be effective in preventing malaria. Many people often drink orange juice to keep the body hydrated and improve the immune system.
Actually, drinking orange juice is one of the best ways on how to prevent malaria in adults and in children that you should not look down, but try to make use to improve your children’s immune system at home.
17. Have Natural Diet
After you have your immunity back in action and get past the solution flush diet; sometimes, you should change to a purely natural diet of fruits. This constant burst of natural vitamins and fiber, as well as the antibiotic and antibacterial properties of fruits, will aid in pushing yourself free of the disease and getting back to living normally. At last, adding nuts, grains, veggies, and fruits is the last phase of a natural diet for treating malaria.
Actually, this is another one on the list of ways on how to prevent malaria in children and adults that you should know when you want to prevent this fatal disease at home.
18. Consult A Doctor Before, During And After Your Trip
About 6 weeks before your trip, you should have an appointment with your doctor. Start your planning early may be better to reduce the risk of getting malaria. The type of medicine varies, depending on the areas where you will go. In fact, there is no vaccine for malaria and the doctor will prescribe types of medicine used to cure malaria.
Addition to this, if you have any flu-like symptoms within half a year after your return, you remember to consult a doctor immediately. Although malaria often causes symptoms within only 1 – 2 weeks, it can still take a lot longer for this condition to break out. Even if you take preventative measures, there is always a small risk of developing malaria.
Besides, you also need to make sure that your medication you are taking will not cause unwanted side effects, especially if you:
- have HIV or AIDS
- have any of the mental health condition
- have epilepsy or any of the seizure conditions
- have liver, heart or kidney problems
- are taking medicine that prevents blood clots
- are using combined hormonal contraception
Plus, if you have taken antimalarial medication before, it may not surely suit your future trips. Actually, the types of antimalarial medication depend on which type of malaria you can get each trip.
19. Get Treatment As Soon As Possible
This is the last but very important way on how to prevent malaria naturally that you should not skip out, but try to follow this method as soon as possible, especially if you are suspecting that you are infected with malaria. Treatment means a course of medication for a long period of time. Medicines used to treat malaria are:
- Chloroquine phosphate
- Quinine sulfate and tetracycline in cases with chloroquine phosphate resistance.
- Atovaquone-proguanil and mefloquine.
Sometimes, the disease can require an infusion of medication. In case you are infected with parasite P. falciparum, you may take doxycycline or IV quinidine. In case the malaria is due to the parasite P. ovale or P. vivax, you can be prescribed a two-week treatment of primaquine phosphate.
Again, early prevention may be the best method to protect you from infecting with malaria. After you read this article of 19 ways on how to prevent malaria in children and adults, I hope that the readers of Healthy Guide will find the preventative methods that are suitable to your case. These ways to prevent malaria as I mentioned in this article are proven effective and they do not cause any side effects as well, so you should apply them without needing to worry. If you know other ways to prevent malaria, remember to share them with us by leaving your comments below. I will try to reply you soon.
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