Prevention
Malaria in the rainy season: what actually protects your family
Dr Chuwanga Clinic team12 August 20264 min read
Nets, standing water and early testing matter more than the tablets people buy at the roadside. Here is what we advise every family in Buea.
Every rainy season our consultation room fills with the same story: three days of fever, tablets bought at a roadside stall, and no test. By the time we see the patient the fever is worse and the money is gone.
Malaria is preventable and, when caught early, cheap to treat. Almost everything that goes wrong happens in the first 48 hours.
Sleep under a treated net — every night
A long-lasting insecticidal net is still the single most effective protection we can offer a family. Tuck it under the mattress, repair small holes rather than throwing the net away, and make sure children and pregnant women are covered first.
Remove standing water around the house
Mosquitoes breed in still water: buckets, old tyres, blocked gutters, plant saucers, tins in the yard. Emptying them once a week does more for your household than any tablet.
Test before you treat
Not every fever is malaria. Typhoid, urinary infections and viral illness look identical on day one. Our laboratory returns a malaria result quickly and inexpensively, and a correct result means the right treatment the first time.
If a fever lasts more than 24 hours in a child, or comes with vomiting, convulsions or drowsiness, come in immediately — do not wait for the morning.
Pregnancy needs extra care
Malaria in pregnancy is dangerous for both mother and baby. Preventive treatment and iron supplements are part of every antenatal visit at the clinic, and they matter most in the rainy months.
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