It is Malaria, What Happens Next?
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What You Need to Know When Your Child Has Malaria
When your child is diagnosed with malaria, it's natural to feel worried. But here's some comfort: malaria can be cured with the right medicine, especially when caught early. Malaria is caused by tiny parasites that enter your child's body through mosquito bites. These parasites travel to the liver first, then attack the red blood cells. This is what causes the fever, chills, and other symptoms you've noticed in your child.
The good news is that doctors now have very effective medicines to kill these parasites and help your child recover. Most children start feeling better within a few days of starting treatment. Your job as a mother is important—you need to make sure your child takes all the medicine exactly as the doctor prescribes, even when they start feeling better.
3 Important Facts About Malaria:
Children can start feeling better quickly, but the full treatment is crucial: Your child might feel much better after just 2-3 days of taking malaria medicine, but this doesn't mean all the parasites are gone. The medicine needs the full course (usually 3 days but check the instructions on your prescription) to completely clear the parasites from your child's body. Stopping too early can cause the malaria to come back, sometimes even stronger.
Not all fevers are malaria, but all fevers need attention: While malaria is very common in Nigeria, especially in children under 5, not every fever is malaria. That's why testing is important. A simple blood test can confirm if it's malaria and what type, so your child gets the right treatment. Never assume and treat at home without proper diagnosis.
Malaria affects children differently than adults: Young children, especially those under 5 years old, are at higher risk of severe malaria than older children or adults. Their bodies haven't yet built up any resistance to the parasites. This is why quick action is so important when your young child has symptoms.
What Mums Need to Know:
About Treatment: Your child will likely receive medicines called ACTs (Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies). These are the most effective malaria medicines available. Common ones include Coartem or combinations with lumefantrine. The doctor will tell you exactly how much to give and when. Always give the medicine with food, as this helps it work better and reduces stomach upset.
Warning Signs to Watch For: While most children improve quickly, you must watch for danger signs that mean the malaria is becoming severe. Rush to the hospital immediately if your child:
Becomes very sleepy or difficult to wake
Has seizures (fits)
Breathes very fast or struggles to breathe
Cannot drink or eat anything
Vomits everything they take
Becomes very pale (check palms and inside of eyelids)
During Recovery:
Your child needs plenty of rest and fluids
Continue giving the medicine even if they seem completely well
Keep them under a mosquito net to prevent new infections
Give nutritious food to help rebuild their strength
Return to the clinic if symptoms come back
Follow-up Care: After treatment, your child might need a follow-up blood test to confirm the parasites are completely gone. The doctor will tell you when to return. Some types of malaria can hide in the liver and come back later, so watch for fever returning weeks or months after treatment.
If I Could Share One Thing About Malaria With All Nigerians:
Prevention is your strongest weapon against malaria.
Sleeping under insecticide-treated mosquito nets every single night is the single most important thing you can do to protect your children. Make sure every member of your family sleeps under a net, not just sometimes, but every night. Wear long, protective clothing at dusk and dawn. Clear standing water and bushes around your home where mosquitoes breed. Use window screens if you can. When your child does get malaria, seek treatment immediately—within 24 hours if possible.
Remember: malaria is preventable, it's treatable, and it's curable. With the right knowledge and actions, you can protect your family and help end malaria deaths in our beloved Nigeria. You have the power to keep your children safe.
