Malaria is one of the most common health challenges for pregnant women in Nigeria. Although malaria can be life-threatening, it is preventable. During pregnancy, the prevention and treatment of malaria in pregnancy is done with simple behavior changes and medication.
Let’s consider the causes, treatment and prevention of malaria in pregnancy.
Malaria is caused by a parasite carried by the female anopheles mosquito. These mosquitoes transmit the parasite to humans when they bite us. They prefer to bite at dusk and dawn.
So far, the strains of malaria parasites identified include Plasmodium Malariae, Plasmodium Ovale, Plasmodium Vivax and Plasmodium Falciparum. Even though Plasmodium Falciparum is the most lethal strain, Plasmodium Vivax, on the other hand, is the most common, and has a tendency to remain latent in the liver and placenta causing relapses of malaria.
During pregnancy, women have a decreased immunity that places them at a higher risk of contracting malaria. In addition to this, the weather condition in Nigeria also plays a major part. During the rainy season, mosquitoes grow faster and the spread of malaria increases.
Malaria is common in pregnant women. Their immune system during pregnancy does a poor job of protecting mums from malaria infection during pregnancy. Once they get into the bloodstream, the parasites love to hide and multiply in the placenta. ⠀
Immunity is lowest during pregnancy in the second and third trimesters. As a result, it is really important to be extra careful in this period.
The basic signs and symptoms of malaria include:
Note that some mums may have the parasites and not experience symptoms. They can still pass malaria to their growing babies.
For malaria in pregnancy, prevention and treatment must follow proper medical guidance. Your treatment depends on your age, pregnancy stage, and severity of symptoms.
Your doctor is in the best position to tell you what drug to use at that particular time. This is because certain malaria medications are unsafe in the first trimester. So be sure you are not pregnant or in the early stages before taking them. Others, if taken too close to delivery can cause jaundice in the newborn. However, the WHO recommends sulfadoxin- pyrimethamine as a drug of choice for prevention and artemisinin based combination for treatment of pregnant women with malaria.
Please, avoid over-the-counter drugs at all times. Ensure that your doctor is well informed regarding all matters pertaining to your health during your pregnancy .
Take care of your surroundings and ensure that your environment is clean at all times. Please try and get your doses of preventive anti-malaria medication during your antenatal care period. Not all fevers are malaria. Remember, it is important for every sick mum to take a test before getting malaria drugs.
Call or visit the clinic whenever you feel unwell. Please avoid the use of over-the-counter drugs at all costs.
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