How to Prevent Malaria in Children?

Malaria is a dreadful disease affecting children as well as adults which can be prevented using right measures. Read on to find out how to prevent malaria in children.Malaria afflicts several children in the tropical countries. Malaria is a disease that spreads through anopheles mosquitoes. When a mosquito bites someone having malarial virus, the virus is absorbed along with the blood. When the same mosquito bites another person the virus is transmitted in the other person’s blood stream. The virus spreads and causes malaria.Children are easily susceptible to disease because of their low immunity power. Even adults easily get affected by this virus. The symptoms of malaria are really horrible. One cannot imagine their kid going through all that. The symptoms start showing up a two to three weeks after being bitten. Common symptoms include; nausea, high fever, shivering, vomiting and some may even show hypothermia.As the saying goes, prevention is always better than cure. Malaria should be prevented before it attacks your child. There are various preventive measures and parents should implement them. Efforts should be made to avoid the scenario where you have to rush to the doctor with a malaria afflicted child. In this articleUse Mosquito NetsRepellentsRepellentsClean the SurroundingStay CleanTips for Preventing Malaria in ChildrenSome preventive measures are:Use Mosquito NetsHumid, stagnant areas are most likely to be a breeding ground for malarial mosquitoes. If there are stagnant ponds or open drains near your house, be careful. You never know when a mosquito might come and bite your child. Act before it is too late. Try using a mosquito net. Do not make your child sleep in the open without any protection.People who live near stagnant water areas or dirty wet areas are always recommended to use mosquito nets both for themselves and their children. This way the mosquitoes would not be able to bite. You can alternately put net on all your windows to prevent mosquitoes entering.RepellentsThere are many types of mosquito repellents available in the market but use only the ones which are prescribe by your doctor and which are safe for kids. Mosquito nets can be used only at night or maybe in the afternoon during the time your child is sleeping. You cannot keep your child under a mosquito net all through the day.Your child needs to move around and get fresh air. Contrary to popular belief, mosquitoes can bite any time. Malarial mosquitoes are active even during morning hours. To ensure that your kid is safe, use repellents like mosquito repellent creams or liquidators as prescribed by your doctor.Clean the SurroundingMosquitoes tend to breed in surroundings that are unhygienic and dirty. They breed in exposed drains, stagnant pools and garbage dumps. If kids are falling prey to malaria in your area, it is high time to complain to the municipality.You and other parents should ask the municipality to get the places cleaned. If there are exposed drains, they should be covered. If your house is damp and leaking, try to get it fixed. Keep the flooring clean by wiping it regularly with water mixed with antiseptic liquid.Stay CleanPrevention is better than cure. Keep your child clean and dry especially in the summer and monsoon season. Mosquitoes are attracted by sweat and dirt. Bathe your child daily so that they do not get dirty. Avoid their going to muddy and dirty places to play during the monsoon months. If they get wet or muddy, bathe them with antiseptic. Use talcum powder to keep them dry. Make them wear light coloured clothes so that mosquitoes are not attracted.These methods should definitely be implemented by parents to reduce risks. Malaria is a life threatening disease. Do not let your kid suffer from this disease. Prevent it before anything serious happens.What are the ways to prevent malaria in children? Which are the common symptoms of malaria in children? What are the common causes of malaria in children? Discuss here.