If your travel itinerary includes travel to high-risk areas for malaria, it’s a good idea to visit a Travel Clinic in the UK to get travel advice and recommendations on different ways to prevent malaria. Visit our Miles Pharmacy Travel Health Clinic in Kingston to find out which is the best anti-malaria medication for you based on your destination(s).
Malaria occurs in over 100 countries and more than 40% of the people in the world are at risk. Hotspots for malaria include Central and South America, Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Africa, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Oceania -all are considered malaria-risk areas.
If you are traveling to a Malaria hotspot, read this article to learn how to reduce your risk of getting Malaria.
What is Malaria?
Malaria is a serious, potentially life-threatening disease transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. If it is not diagnosed and treated right away, it can be fatal. Malaria is typically found in tropical and humid areas.
Can Malaria be prevented?
Malaria can be prevented with medications as well as with practical tips that you can implement into your daily travel routine,
Whilst there is no vaccine against malaria available in the UK, there are antimalarial medications that can reduce your risk of infection by 90%. Some antimalarials can be quite costly and cause side effects, so it’s a good idea to check with healthcare professionals to understand which medication is right for you and your destination.
Anti-Malarial Medications
- Chloroquine, Proguanil
- Mefloquine (Lariam)
- Doxycycline
- Malarone
Other Ways to Prevent Malaria
In addition to taking antimalarial drugs, you should also take extra precautions to avoid getting mosquito bites by:
- Using air conditioning, screens on doors and windows
- If air conditioning is not available, sleep under a mosquito net
- Always use insecticide, even when sleeping
- Wear long-sleeved-loose fitting clothing – especially at dusk and at night when mosquitoes are most likely to bite
Symptoms of Malaria
You should be aware of the symptoms of malaria if you are traveling to an area where there’s a high risk of becoming infected. Symptoms generally appear between seven and eighteen days after initial infection.
- High temperature (38 +)
- Feeling hot but shivering at the same time
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Vomiting and Diarrhoea
Miles Pharmacy can provide you with any antimalarial medication and other necessary travel vaccinations. Visit our Travel Vaccination Clinic in Kingston to get travel advice about protecting yourself and staying healthy while during your travels.