World Malaria Day – How to avoid mosquito bites and prevent malaria

Malaria is a highly infectious mosquito-borne disease. It is caused by the parasitic protozoans and it's quite common in India and Africa. According to research, the disease affects about 210 million people worldwide. Although the number of malaria-related casualties have declined significantly in India over the past few years, it still poses a serious threat to the citizens worldwide.

To spread awareness about Malaria and take immediate action to control the disease, World Malaria Day (WMD) is observed every year on 25th April. The theme for WMD in 2022 is – Harness innovation to reduce the Malaria disease burden and save lives.

In India, the cases of Malaria see a swift rise with the onset of the summer and during the monsoon. The disease can be life-threatening if it is not diagnosed early and you don’t get immediate medical attention. However, the disease is curable and preventable. And, as the adage goes, ‘prevention is better than cure,’ you can take simple steps to keep the disease at bay.

Before we delve into different ways to prevent Malaria and mosquito bites, let us look at some of the common Malaria symptoms.

• Fever

• Mild muscle pain

• Constant feeling of tiredness and fatigue

• Vomiting

• Loss of appetite

• Headache

• Diarrhoea

In severe cases, Malaria may lead to serious symptoms like yellow skin, coma, seizure, etc. If the disease is not treated properly, it may reoccur in a few months. But, in such cases, the symptoms are usually mild.

Tips To Prevent Malaria And Avoid Mosquito Bites

• One of the most effective ways to prevent mosquito bites and Malaria is to maintain hygiene in your home and surroundings. Make sure that you clean and mop your home with a disinfectant every day.

• Never let any puddle around your home. Any stagnant water can be a breeding ground for the mosquitoes, which increases the risk of malaria. So, ensure that you clean the excess water in your house, and around your building.

• Build your immunity by consuming a healthy diet and lots of fluids. Having a strong immunity is the best way to ward off any infection.

• Avoid having outside food as much as you can. It can be hard to resist the street food, but often such places are dirty and unhygienic which increases the risk of several diseases, including malaria. So, try to eat freshly cooked home food.

• Use mosquito repellent creams, and sprays at home to avoid mosquito bites. You can also use mosquito safety nets at home to prevent them from entering your home.

Secure Your Family’s Health And Finances With Health Insurance

While you take the above steps to stay safe from the disease, you must be prepared for the worst situation and purchase a robust health insurance policy for yourself and your family members. It will help you get financial protection against the medical expenses during an emergency. Also, you can have peace of mind knowing that you can provide the best medical care to your loved ones without worrying about the cost.

What if you are diagnosed with Malaria? In such cases, you may have to undergo treatment. And, depending on the severity of the infection, you may need to be admitted to the hospital for an extended period. This means the treatment cost could run into a few thousand Rupees.

Although in most cases treatment for Malaria is not very expensive, the amount you spend can deplete your savings and affect your long-term financial planning.

If you are looking for the best health insurance plans, you can find a wide range at Kotak General Insurance. Our health insurance policy offers comprehensive coverage with various additional benefits at an affordable premium. To know more about our plans, visit Kotak General Insurance website.

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