General information on malaria

Malaria is a preventable infection that has the capability of affecting anybody at any age. The infected female anopheles mosquito transmits malaria, when it settles on a person to take a blood meal.

Malaria can be contracted when visiting a malaria-risk area or through "airport malaria" - which is not very common. Airport malaria is contracted through the coincidental introduction of the anopheles mosquito in an airport, luggage or any type of closed vehicle / container.

It was originally thought that malaria originated in marshes and swamps and was transmitted through the air, hence the name "mal" "aria" - meaning "bad air", but the real cause was discovered in 1880, when scientists discovered that malaria is caused by a single cell parasite called plasmodium.

The mosquito transfers this parasite to a human through its bite, as blood is required by the mosquito to nurture its eggs.

Affected areas

Malaria usually occurs in tropical and sub-tropical countries, and is one of the largest scourges in third world countries, infecting approximately 300 - 500 million people, and killing one million people annually.

Malaria is present in sub-Saharan Africa, southern and eastern Asia, India, Haiti, Mexico, the Middle East, Dominican Republic, Oceania, Central and South America, Vanuatu the Solomon Islands as well as Papua New Guinea.

The population of Africa suffers the most from malaria, and it is reported that 90% of malaria cases are diagnosed in Africa - mainly among young children and pregnant mothers. It is reported that malaria causes the death of an African child every 30 seconds.

Information on our website regarding malaria

• General information on malaria
• Types of malaria
• People at high risk of malaria infection
• Lifecycle of the plasmodium parasite
• Preventing malaria
  • Protective clothing
  • Insect repellent
  • Bed / sleeping mosquito nets
  • Room management
• Diagnosing malaria
• Symptoms of malaria infection
• Anti-malarial drugs
  • Doxycycline
  • Mefloquine (Larium™)
  • Atovaquone and proguanil combination (Malarone™)
• Testing for malaria
  • Home testing
  • Laboratory testing
  • Other tests that could be done
• Consequences and end result of malaria infection
• Malaria in Southern and South Africa

Our home test kits

• Urine test strips - testing for:
  • Glucose
  • Ketones
  • Blood / Hemoglobin
  • Protein
  • Nitrite
  • pH
  • Urobilinogen
  • Bilirubin
  • Leucocytes
  • Specific gravity
• Malaria test kit
• HIV / Aids home test kit
• Prostate test kit
• Breast Aware™ Breast cancer self examination pad
• Alcohol breathalyzer test
• Ovulation (Fertility) test kit

Information pages

• Urine testing

  • Kidneys and their functions

  • Kidney function regulating body fluids

  • Bilirubin in urine

  • Blood in urine

  • Glucose in urine

  • Ketones in urine

  • Leukocytes in urine

  • Nitrite in urine

  • ph of urine

  • Protein in urine

  • Specific gravity of urine

  • Urobilinogen in urine

  • Parameters of urine test strips (dip sticks)

• Malaria

  • General information on malaria

  • Types of malaria

  • People at high risk of malaria infection

  • Lifecycle of the plasmodium parasite

  • Preventing malaria

    • Protective clothing

    • Insect repellent

    • Bed / sleeping mosquito nets

    • Room management

  • Diagnosing malaria

  • Symptoms of malaria infection

  • Anti-malarial drugs

    • Doxycycline

    • Mefloquine (Larium™)

    • Atovaquone and proguanil combination (Malarone™)

  • Testing for malaria

    • Home testing

    • Laboratory testing

    • Other tests that could be done

  • Consequences and end result of malaria infection

  • Malaria in Southern and South Africa

• Breast cancer
  • Comprehensive information regarding breast cancer
• Prostate cancer
  • Comprehensive information regarding prostate cancer
• HIV / Aids

  • General information

    • Symptoms

    • Facts and frequently asked questions

    • Spreading the virus

    • Kissing

    • Oral Sex

    • Vaginal Sex

    • Anal Sex

    • Condoms

    • Female condoms

    • Drug Use

    • Tattoos

    • Health Care Workers and You

    • "Rapid" home Aids Tests

    • Approved drugs and treatments

    • Schematic drawing of life cycle

• Drugs of abuse

  • Drug detection periods

  • Most common drugs

  • How do drugs work

    • Amphetamines - speed, uppers

    • Cocaine - crack, nose candy

    • Methamphetamine - ecstasy, e, ice

    • Opiates - morphine, opium, heroin, codeine

    • Phencyclidine hydrochloride - pcp, angel dust

    • THC - cannabis, marijuana

• Ovulation, falling pregnant or times when you won't fall pregnant
  • Fertility drug
  • Ovulation calculator