Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite. It is transmitted through the bite of an Anopheles mosquito. In the body, these parasites replicate in the liver, and subsequently infect the red blood cells of the body.
Symptoms occur 1-2 weeks after the initial bite and may present with persistent fever, flu-like illness, stomach discomfort (bloating, nausea, diarrhoea, bloody stool), headache. As the infection persists, symptoms occur in cycles that last two to three days each time. There may also be a late presentation of symptoms several months after leaving an endemic area.
Left untreated, Malaria may cause life threatening complications.
Risk varies from place to place and also within a country. Your doctor will often check with the latest updates from CDC (communicable disease center) https://www.cdc.gov/malaria/travelers/country_table/a.html and discuss with you further, your options.
Protection from Mosquito-borne Diseases:
- Wear light-coloured, long sleeve clothings especially at night.
- Use insect repellent on exposed skin.
- Sleep under a mosquito net.
- Light a mosquito coil before going to bed.
- malaria prophylaxis.
These are some of the commonly used malaria prophylaxis medications.
| Drug |
Reasons that might make you consider using this drug |
Reasons that might make you avoid using this drug |
| Doxycycline |
- Some people prefer to take a daily medicine
- Good for last-minute travelers because the drug is started 1-2 days before traveling to an area where malaria transmission occurs
- Tends to be the least expensive antimalarial
- Some people are already taking doxycycline chronically for prevenetion of acne. In those instances, they do not have to take an additional medicine.
- Doxycycline also can prevent some additional infections (e.g.,Rickettsiaw and leptospirosis) and so it may be preferred by people planning to do lots of hiking, camping, and wading and swimming in fresh water.
|
- Cannot be used by pregnant women and children below 8 years old
- Some people would rather not take a medicine every day
- For trips of short duration, some people would not take medication for 4 weeks after travel
- Women prone to getting vaginal yeast infections when taking antibiotics may prefer taking a different medicine
- Persons planning on considerable sun exposure may want to avoid the increased risk of sun sensitivity
- Some people are concerned about the potential of getting an upset stomach from doxycycline
|
| Drug |
Reasons that might make you consider using this drug |
Reasons that might make you avoid using this drug |
| Chloroquine |
- Some people would rather take medicine weekly
- Good choice for long trips because it is taken only weekly
- Some people are already taking hydroxychloroquine chronically for rheumatologic conditions. In those instances, they may not have to take an additional medicine
- Can be used in all trimesters of pregnancy
|
- Cannot be used in areas with chloroquine or mefloquine resistance
- May exacerbate psoriasis
- Some people would rather not take a weekly medication
- For trips of short duration, some people would rather not take medication for 4 weeks after travel
- Not a good choice for last-minute travelers because drug needs to be started 1-2 weeks prior to travel
|
| Drug |
Reasons that might make you consider using this drug |
Reasons that might make you avoid using this drug |
Mefloquine
(Lariam) |
- Some people would rather take medicine weekly
- Good choice for long trips because it is taken only weekly
- Can be used during preganancy
|
- Cannot be used in areas with mefloquine resistance
- Cannot be used in patients with certain psychiatric conditions
- Cannot be used in patients with a seizure disorder
- Not recommended for persons with cardiac conduction abnormalities
- Not a good choice for last-minute traverlers because drug needs to be started at least 2 weeks prior to travel
- Some people would rather not take a weekly medication
- For trips of short duration, some people would rather not take medication for 4 weeks after travel.
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