Malaria prophylaxis

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.