ABSTRACT
Mosquitoes are by far the most important of the bloodsucking arthropods worldwide, giving annoyance to and causing disease in humans, other mammals, and birds. Climate change may be resulting in the spread of malaria to new areas; for example, malaria has recently spread into highland regions of East Africa where it previously did not exist. Malaria has historically affected large areas of the world resulting in staggering case numbers and millions of deaths. There are two main ways drugs can be used to control malaria—prevention of clinical malaria (prophylaxis) and treatment of acute cases. Generally, palliative creams or lotions; topical corticosteroids and antibiotic creams or ointments may be needed; oral antihistamines may be effective in reducing symptoms of mosquito bites. Antimalarial drugs include chloroquine, primaquine, mefloquine, malarone, doxycycline, quinine (hardly used anymore), and artemisinin (in combination with other antimalarials).
