Precautions to Safeguard Kids from Malaria

Malaria is a very serious disease common during rains. It is transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. Common symptoms of the disease are drowsiness, low appetite, lack of sleep, and irritability followed by high fever, body ache, and shivering and sweating as well. If not taken care of on time, the disease can be fatal. However, malaria is absolutely preventable.

Safeguard kids from Malaria

The best way to prevent Malaria is to take necessary steps to ensure that the mosquito does not bite you. 

The precautions to safeguard kids from Malaria

As per World Health Organization, approx half of the world population is at great risk from Malaria. Particularly, kids below 5 years are at higher risk.

However, with active prevention measures and precautions, you can protect your family from this health issue. Check the following precautions to safeguard kids from malaria and yourself-

• Wearing Loose-Fitting Clothes - It is an essential step if you are traveling with your kids to a new place or village. Ensure that your kids wear loose-fitting clothes with long sleeves, long trousers. In addition, keep socks handy for your kids if you are out at dusk or night.

• Mosquito Repellent Cream - Apply an insect repellent cream that contains diethyltoluamide (DEET) on the skin and clothes of your kids. Stronger preparation against Malaria will keep your kids safe.

• Mosquito Net - Always ensure that you use a mosquito net over the bed of your kids. Always check that it is not impregnated with an insecticide and contains any holes in it.

• Insecticide Spray - Spray your kid’s room with an insecticide before they go to bed to sleep at night.

• Air Conditioning - Ensure that the air conditioner of your kids' room is working perfectly. Using air conditioning means lesser mosquitoes as they are less active in cooler temperatures.

• Close doors and windows - Keep the doors and windows closed to avoid entry of Anopheles mosquitoes inside your homes during the evenings. Moreover, you may install mesh windows to let the fresh air in while diverting mosquitoes.

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• Stagnant water is dangerous - Do not let the dirty water stagnate inside and around your home as it serves as the breeding space for mosquitoes. Ensure your vases and buckets do not have long-kept water and coolers are dry.

• Precautions while traveling outside - While you are out on a stroll with your baby or traveling, use a stroller net on the baby stroller to avoid mosquitoes biting your little one. Moreover, follow the above instructions when you are on vacation such as using mosquito repellent devices and creams to avoid biting

Along with these, you need to ensure that your surroundings are clean as mosquitoes thrive in dirty places and in stagnant water. 

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