Prophylaxis
Prophylaxis is regarded the prevention of disease by taking
special measures. These measures may comprise a great variety of
individual as well as collective measures
Prophylactic measures and their examples are:
- Isolate the parasite reservoir (PR)
In the case of a zoonozis such as leishmaniasis it would be
sufficient to remove the infected dogs from the houshold.
- Sterilize PR
In the case of schistosomiasis the PR can be sterilized either by
treatment of the population by chemotherapy with drugs or by
hygienic measures such as the placement of latrines in or just
outside the villages.
- Eliminate intermediate host
In the case of schistosomiasis treatment of lakes and rivers with
molluscicides would interupt transmission via the snail as
intermediate host.
- Eliminate vectors
Treatment of surface water with larvicides or the application of
insecticides in the house in the case of malaria will reduce or
prevent transmission.
- Isolate vectors
The use of bed nets, impregnated or not, with insecticides is an
effective protection against mosquito bites.
- Vaccinate
This would be the most efficient protective measure. However, so
far there is no vaccine available for any parasitic disease of
humans.
- Carry out chemoprophylaxis
The preventive use of chloroquine (Nivaquine) for long periods
when travelling in areas where malaria is endemic
Depending of the nature of the parasite, its host and its vector
different measures or a combination of measures have to be taken.
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Last updated: 29 September 2000.
created by :Fred
Opperdoes