Malaria

The word brings a fear factor to many. Indeed it is a deadly disease when it goes untreated. Sometimes a pupil comes back to school after a day off saying they had malaria- I have always been skeptical, even more so now.

I write this from a hospital ward where my wife has been admitted overnight and is on a drip. The ultimate cause – malaria!

It all started last Thursday when Anita woke up in the middle of the night with flu-like symptoms and feeling very chill. Remember we live on the equator where it does not ever really get cold. In the morning she went in to work and was sent home again. Then the fever started – we did a Malaria test using a kit, but it was negative. As the weekend wore on the fevers and chills became more intense until by Monday we went out and bought our own Malaria testing kit. A definite positive -so off to the local medical  clinic (it is always wise to check yourself before going to the clinic as malaria is a common diagnosis – hence the pupils off for a day!). 

Actually our local clinic is good and we trust the doctor – he confirmed malaria and prescribed medication. Anita, by now very feverish and weak was admitted for a few hours to give her fluids and medication.

Back home and medication in hand we were to return each day at 4pm for anti-malarial injections.

So today we returned, but instead of a routine  injection we found her blood pressure had dropped to 50/30 – a lack of fluids and food bring a major contributing factor. 

So here I sit on the ward. Anita on a drip – admitted for 24 hours. 
   

Malaria is a nasty disease – much worse than anything I have seen before. With rest and medication she will recover, due to swift medical treatment. Many across this continent have no such option and will die of the disease – a sobering thought 

Pins and Needles

T minus 148

A trip to the local MASTA clinic is on the agenda today for the whole family. For those who have not been this is a Tropical Diseases Health Clinic and we have come for our initial meeting and immunisation injections. Luckily for me I had a number last year when I went to the Far East (read more here) Even so this is an expensive trip.

On the menu today it’s a Hepatitis B booster for me and a Rabies booster for Anita. Apart from me, everyone else is getting a Yellow Fever jab, and we’re all getting Meningitis ACWY. In the coming months the others are going to need protection from Hep B, the kids Rabies and Tuberculosis too. All of us are also probably going to get protection from Cholera.

It’s a long list and a costly one but absolutely has to be done.

It is easy to forget how protected we are in the West – from bugs and diseases. We live our lives in a protective shell brought about by decades of investment and developments. We might moan about the NHS but life in the developing world for the sick and invalid is not easy. Sanitation and health care is inadequate. Whilst we will have health insurance we will need to take precautions.

So tonight we’re feeling like pincushions!