Introduction
Malaria is widespread in many tropical and subtropical countries and is a serious and sometimes fatal disease.
You cannot be vaccinated against malaria, but you can protect yourself in three ways:
Avoidance
of Bites
Mosquitoes
cause much inconvenience because of local reactions to the bites themselves
and from the infections they transmit. Mosquitoes spread malaria, yellow
fever, dengue and Japanese B encephalitis.
Mosquitoes bite at any time of day but most bites occur in the evening.
PRECAUTIONS TO TAKE:
1. Avoid mosquito bites, especially after sunset. If you are out at night wear long-sleeved clothing and long trousers.
2. Mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing, so spray an insecticide or repellent on them. Insect repellents should also be used on exposed skin.
3. Spraying insecticides in the room, burning pyrethroid coils and heating insecticide impregnated tablets all help to control mosquitoes.
4.
If sleeping in an unscreened room, or out of doors, a mosquito net (which
should be impregnated with insecticide) is a sensible precaution. Portable,
lightweight nets are available.
5. Garlic, Vitamin B and ultrasound devices do not prevent bites.
Taking
Anti-Malaria Tablets
1. Start one
week before travel (with some tablets you should start three weeks before).
2. Take the tablets absolutely regularly, preferably with or after a meal.
3. It is extremely
important to continue to take them for four weeks after you have returned,
to cover the incubation period of the disease.(Malarone requires only 7
days post-travel)
Some
details about malaria tablets
Prompt
Treatment
Following these
guidelines faithfully might not guarantee complete protection. If you get
a fever between one week after first exposure and up to two years after
your return, you should seek medical attention and tell the doctor that
you have been in a malarious area.
