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Malaria prophylaxis

 
 
 

Do I need malaria prophylaxis?

 

There is no vaccine against malaria, and anti-malarial pills will be recommended if you are travelling to a place where there is a risk of contracting malaria. Malaria prophylaxis can reduce your risk of contracting this potentially fatal disease by 90%. You will need different anti-malarials depending on your medical and family history and on your destination. Choices of anti-malarial tablets include:

  • atovaquone plus proguanil
  • doxycycline
  • mefloquine (also known as Lariam)

Your Global Travel Clinics adviser may ask you to take a short course of tablets well before you leave to check that you do not have an adverse reaction. If you do not respond well to one anti-malarial, an appropriate alternative can often be found. If you are going to several destinations it can be hard to work out when to start your malaria prophylaxis – discuss your itinerary with your adviser at Global Travel Clinics, and they can help you out.

You should complete the course and follow the regime given to you to ensure complete protection. If your travel plans change while you are away or you suffer from side effects, speak to a healthcare professional.

 
 
 
 

What is malaria?

 

Malaria is a feverish illness contracted by a bite from a female Anopheles mosquito infected with single-celled parasites called Plasmodium. Some cases can be very serious or fatal. According to the World Health Organization, malaria caused an estimated 429,000 deaths in 2015 and there were 212 million cases.

What are the symptoms of malaria?

The symptoms of malaria appear seven to 18 days after the infective mosquito bite. They include fever with shivering and sweating, headaches, muscle pains and vomiting, but they can vary between individual cases.

It can take a long time to recover from malaria and you may relapse several times.

If you are in a malarious area and you get a fever, seek medical advice. The symptoms can also emerge up to a year later, so if you get a feverish illness on your return to the UK, get it checked and let your doctor know you have been to an area where there is a risk of catching malaria.

Countries with a malaria risk

Malaria is widespread around the world in subtropical and tropical areas. Malaria prophylaxis is recommended if you are going to:

  • parts of Africa
  • parts of Asia
  • Central and South America
  • Haiti and the Dominican Republic
  • parts of the Middle East
  • some Pacific Islands

Check your destination in Global Travel Clinics’ Destination guides.

Prevention of malaria

Malaria prophylaxis provides good protection so long as you stick with the regime of tablets you have been given. You should also practise mosquito-avoidance as chemoprophylaxis is not completely effective. The Anopheles mosquito is most active at night, so in the evening wear trousers rather than shorts and long-sleeved tops.

opt for rooms with air con and screens on doors and windows. If you cannot sleep in a closed room, sleep under nets that have been treated with an insecticide.

Apply insect repellent containing DEET to your skin. These insect repellents can be obtained from chemists and travel shops.

See our blogpost for more information about avoiding mosquito bites.

 
 

About Us

 

Our vaccination and travel health clinics will ensure that you are up-to-date on all the travel immunizations recommended by healthcare professionals. Global Travel Clinics will ensure you are protected by all the recommended shots before you leave the country. We are currently focusing on Covid-19 PCR Swab Test, Antigen test, Antibody Test & Travel Certificates.

 

Book

 

CALL OUR APPOINTMENTS BOOKING LINE +1 888 351 3336

 

Mailing

 

Corporate Office:

Global Travel Clinics
440 Louisiana St. Suite 900
Houston
TX
US 77002

+1 888 351 3336

 

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