Are you getting the right treatment?
Aug 01, 2010
DID you know that anti-malarials, especially quinine, can disable someone if not administered professionally?Four-year-old Jesse Serumaga allegedly became blind after taking anti-malarial medicine. He was given quinine and X-pen, a form of penicillin.
By Winnie Nanteza
DID you know that anti-malarials, especially quinine, can disable someone if not administered professionally?Four-year-old Jesse Serumaga allegedly became blind after taking anti-malarial medicine. He was given quinine and X-pen, a form of penicillin.
Serumaga, who was allergic to the medicine, developed sores all over the body and one of his eyes could not open because his upper and lower eyelids became inflamed and glued up together. More so, his eyes cannot produce tears.
Dr. Dalton Kigozi, a physician, says many people have developed complications as a result of drug overdose, self medication, taking wrong prescriptions and using expired drugs.
He says some people develop a wound on the injection site, which fails to heal. The wound may ooze puss, thus causing limping, paralysis and mental problems.
Kigozi warns that injecting in the same spot many times can lead to the building up of scar tissue and make the site harder to inject.
Dr. William Kabali of Elisa Family Clinic in Kyebando, says drug reaction can be dangerous when a nerve gets injured during injection.
He says the health ministry advises that quinine be given through a drip (intravenous).
Kabali urges patients to inform medical workers about any allergies they might have to medicine.
Malaria treatment
The ministry recommends coartem (Artemether and Lumefantrine) or Artesunate plus Amodiaquine as the alternative.
The recommended second line medicine is oral quinine. Oral quinine is recommended when the patient cannot take the first line treatment or does not recover. Intravenous quinine is recommended for severe malaria or if the patient is not able to take the first or second line oral treatments. Oral quinine is also recommended for pregnant women.
Kigozi notes that the limpness and paralysis that may occur after taking the medication are normally temporary and may heal within a few months or years, depending on the patient.
If they are reported in their early stages, a doctor can give the patient a counter injection of hydrocortisone and a massage.
What you should know
Symptoms include chills, fever, headache, nausea and vomiting
If you experience any of the symptoms, immediately see a doctor for proper diagnosis
Get treated immediately
Anti-malarial drugs do not prevent you from getting malaria, but only kill the malaria parasites.
Tips on preventing malaria
Sleep under an insecticide treated mosquito net
Switch off lights while you sleep because they attract mosquitoes
Wear pants and long-sleeved clothing, especially around dawn and dusk when the anopheles mosquitoes are most active.
DID you know that anti-malarials, especially quinine, can disable someone if not administered professionally?Four-year-old Jesse Serumaga allegedly became blind after taking anti-malarial medicine. He was given quinine and X-pen, a form of penicillin.
Serumaga, who was allergic to the medicine, developed sores all over the body and one of his eyes could not open because his upper and lower eyelids became inflamed and glued up together. More so, his eyes cannot produce tears.
Dr. Dalton Kigozi, a physician, says many people have developed complications as a result of drug overdose, self medication, taking wrong prescriptions and using expired drugs.
He says some people develop a wound on the injection site, which fails to heal. The wound may ooze puss, thus causing limping, paralysis and mental problems.
Kigozi warns that injecting in the same spot many times can lead to the building up of scar tissue and make the site harder to inject.
Dr. William Kabali of Elisa Family Clinic in Kyebando, says drug reaction can be dangerous when a nerve gets injured during injection.
He says the health ministry advises that quinine be given through a drip (intravenous).
Kabali urges patients to inform medical workers about any allergies they might have to medicine.
Malaria treatment
The ministry recommends coartem (Artemether and Lumefantrine) or Artesunate plus Amodiaquine as the alternative.
The recommended second line medicine is oral quinine. Oral quinine is recommended when the patient cannot take the first line treatment or does not recover. Intravenous quinine is recommended for severe malaria or if the patient is not able to take the first or second line oral treatments. Oral quinine is also recommended for pregnant women.
Kigozi notes that the limpness and paralysis that may occur after taking the medication are normally temporary and may heal within a few months or years, depending on the patient.
If they are reported in their early stages, a doctor can give the patient a counter injection of hydrocortisone and a massage.
What you should know
Symptoms include chills, fever, headache, nausea and vomiting
If you experience any of the symptoms, immediately see a doctor for proper diagnosis
Get treated immediately
Anti-malarial drugs do not prevent you from getting malaria, but only kill the malaria parasites.
Tips on preventing malaria
Sleep under an insecticide treated mosquito net
Switch off lights while you sleep because they attract mosquitoes
Wear pants and long-sleeved clothing, especially around dawn and dusk when the anopheles mosquitoes are most active.