GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU

Malaria
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Malaria ?

Malaria is a parasitic disease caused by the Genus Plasmodium and spread by

female Anopheles mosquitoes.

2. What are the symptoms of Malaria ?

Fever, Headache, Bodyache, Rigor and chill.

3. How does malaria spread ?

Malaria is spread by the female anopheles mosquitoes which breeds in fresh

water collections like OHTs, Cisterns, wells etc. There is no direct transmission from the
infected person to the healthy person. Malaria is spread only through the live of
infected mosquito.

4. Is there different type of malaria ?

Yes. There are 4 types of malaria by P. vivax, P. falciparum, P. malaria and

P. ovale.

5. Do all these are prevalent in Tamil Nadu ?

No. P. vivax and P. falciparum are prevalent in Tamil Nadu & dominated by P.
vivax Malaria .

6. What are the different types of vector mosquitoes ?

There are 3 different types of vector mosquitoes. An. stephensi – Urban vector;
An.culicifacies – Rural vector, An. fluviatilis – Food hill area vector.
7. How to eliminate the breeding of mosquitoes ?

Proper sealing of Over Head Tanks, wells and covering all water containers
preventing mosquitoes from laying eggs and thereby breeding.

8. Will Malaria cause death ?

Untreated P. falciparum may cause severe complications leading to death.

9. Is there a vaccine for Malaria ?

No.

10. How does a person know that he is suffering from malaria ?

Any person having fever and headache should be suspected as a malaria case
and his blood should be examined for confirming the same or otherwise.

11. Is there any specific treatment for Malaria ?

Yes. All the suspected cases should be given presumptive treatment with
chloroquine tablets as per the drug schedule after taking blood smear.

After examining the blood-smear, if the person is found positive for malaria,
radical treatment with primaquine should be administered.

Revised TREATMENT SCHEDULE – MALARIA POSITIVES

RADICAL TREATMENT
Plasmodium vivax (14 days Treatment)*

Age years Chloroquine(mg Primaquine(mg)(

) (150mg base) 2.5mg) Daily dose for14
days
DayI DayII DayIII Mg base No.of tablets
0-1 75 75 37.5 nil nil
1-4 150 150 75 2.5 1
4-8 300 300 150 5.0 2
9-14 450 450 225 10.0 4
15&above 600 600 300 15.0 6
 Plasmodium falciparum (One day treatment only)

Age years Chloroquine Primaquine

150mg base) (7.5 mg base)

DayI DayII Day I Day No.of
III tablets
0-1 75 75 37.5 nil 0
1-4 150 150 75 7.5 1
4-8 300 300 150 15.0 2
9-14 450 450 225 30.0 4
15&above 600 600 300 45.0 6

No primaquine for infants and pregnant women

Chloroquine Resistant P.falciparum Areas

(Ramanathapuram and Chennai only)
Artesunate(50mg tablet+Sulpha – pyrimethamine (525mg tablet) (ACT)combination

Age (yrs) Iday IIday (number IIIday

(number of of tablets) (number of
tablets) tablets)
<1year AS ½ ½ ½

SP ¼ nil nil
1-4 AS 1 1 1

SP 1 nil nil
5-8 AS 2 2 2

SP 1½ nil nil
9-14 AS 3 3 3

SP 2 nil nil
15 & AS 4 4 4
above
SP 3 nil nil
12. How to control Malaria ?

i. Taking complete radical treatment will prevent transmission of malaria

parasites.

ii. Anti-larval activities by application of Temephos

iii. Anti-adult measures by spray operations in problem areas

iv. Intensified IEC activities.

Treatment Facilities:
Treatment is " FREE " in all Government Hospitals, Primary
Health Centres and Malaria Clinics.

Tamil Nadu Scenario

Tamil Nadu - Malaria Problem Areas