World Malaria Day 2020: 7 Effective Ways To Prevent Malaria

World Malaria Day is observed on April 25 every year. This day is looked at as an opportunity for people worldwide to unite for fighting against this vector-borne disease and to urge the government to take necessary steps to curb it from spreading. This disease is transmitted in humans through the bite of female anopheles mosquito. It first damages the liver and then destroys red blood cells of the body. While some of the malaria cases can be controlled by early diagnosis, other cases cannot be treated even in the early stage. 

According to WHO, malaria infects more than 500 million people each year and kills more than one million people. So, it is very important to take preventive measures to avoid malaria infection. 

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of malaria infection include moderate to severe shaking chills, high fever, seizures, jaundice, sweating, headache, vomiting, respiratory distress, abnormal bleeding, and diarrhea. The signs typically appear after 10 days being bitten by an infected mosquito. But in some cases, symptoms do not show up for months. This happens when the parasite may lie dormant in the liver for a long period of time. 

Precautions

Here are some precautions that you can take to keep yourself safe.

Maintain Hygiene

The first step towards preventing malaria is to keep surrounding clean. Make sure your home is mopped with disinfectant every day and there is no stagnant water in or around your house. 

Mosquito Repellents

Avoid stepping out without using mosquito repellent that has at least 10 percent concentration of diethyltoluamide (DEET).

Wear Full Clothes 

Wear long sleeves shirts, and pants that cover most of your body to avoid mosquito bites.

Aromatic Plants

Mosquitos don't like plants with a strong aroma and stay away from them. So, grow lemongrass, mint, marigold, or rosemary in your garden or balcony to keep mosquitos away.

Avoid Street Food

We know it is hard to resist those delicious street food items but to keep yourself safe from the infection, opt for freshly home-cooked food. 

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Keep Your Windows And Doors Close

Try to keep your windows and doors shut during the late evening hours because that's when mosquitoes tend to enter and hide in the dark corners of your house.

Natural Remedies

If you are allergic to chemically-made mosquito repellents, use natural remedies to safeguard yourself from this vector-borne disease. Tea Tree oil has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties which help to keep mosquitoes away. Make your own natural mosquito repellent spray by mixing a few drops of tea tree oil with water. Fill the solution in a spray bottle and spray it on your body to prevent mosquito bites. 

Disclaimer: This content including preventive measures provides generic information only. So, it is advised to consult a doctor to know more about it.

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