Malaria Pills - Take Them

It's Better Than Getting Malaria!

Which pills? We'll review those below. There are different ones for different travel destinations.

Have you heard horror stories about some of those malaria pills? We've heard them too, but we've taken them all and had no real problems.

Is there a vaccine? The short answer is... Unfortunately... Not yet.

This is a serious disease. It's worst effects are felt by the local populations because they are constantly exposed to it, but we have met travelers who have contracted malaria, and it is NOT something you want to get.

What Is Malaria and How Do You Get It?

The disease is spread by mosquitos which are infected by a parasite that gets into your blood stream from the mosquito bite.... actually four different kinds of parasites which can infect humans.

Malaria will make you sick, but it can also be fatal.

...So this is a travel health recommendation that you should take seriously. We've taken a variety of anti-malarial pills through the years, and we've gone through our experience with each below.

The classic symptoms that you hear about are high fevers and shaking chills. Milder cases may appear to be a flu-type illness. Either way, it should always be treated. These symptoms can occur in as little as 8 days or as long as several months after the mosquito bite.

It's ALWAYS better to try and prevent it. That's what we're trying to tell you here...

...There are precautions you can take. Check with the Center for Disease Control website on this and other mosquito borne diseases.

In all travel health issues, the CDC or your national health service is a good place to start.

If you are pregnant or you might become pregnant while you are traveling, there are some things you should know about malaria pills and pregnancy.

So What Can You Do?

Take Antimalarial Pills

There is no vaccination yet. You will have to use pills.

Some are taken daily, some weekly... be sure to take them on schedule without missing doses.

The recommended medication is different depending on where you go... and if the parasites the mosquitos carry have become resistant to one medication or another. The CDC page on antimalarial medications will give you the whole list along with the directions for use and side effects.

Most Commonly Prescribed Antimalarial Drugs:

• Atovaquone/proguanil That's a mouthful, isn't it? In the US you will see this as the brand name Malarone™. We have taken this several times and we have not noticed any side effects.

• Chloroquine phosphate Available as a generic and as brand name Aralen™. This was the recommended drug the last time we went to Central America, and since it's inexpensive in its generic form, that was good.

• Doxycyline This is available in generic form and many brand names. We have not used this as an antimalarial; our travel medicine doctor has generally recommended one of the other drugs.

• Mefloquine Now available as a generic and brand name Lariam™. We took this a few times years ago. Some people reported disturbing side effects with this drug. We did experience weird, vivid dreams, but that was it.

Other drugs that are sometimes prescribed are Hydroxychloroquine sulfate and Primaquine.

Avoid The Bites

Use insect repellent. Repellents containing a high percentage of DEET seem to be the most effective at the moment.

Wear long sleeves and long pants in the evenings when mosquitos are most apt to be flying around looking for you.

Take a look at Magellans Travel Supplies. They have travel clothes that are easy to pack.

Mosquito netting... If your hotel provides a mosquito net - use it! They are not just fashion accessories.

A Last Few Tips

• You might want to take a flying insect spray on your trip to help clear your room of mosquitos. With today's security restrictions on liquids, a better idea might be to buy some once you've arrived; it's always fun to see stores in countries and they'll probably have what's most effective in their area.

• If the hotel or lodge you are staying is has mosquito coils or spray in the room, use them... it's probably because there is a problem with those pesky... and dangerous bugs.

• If you're staying in a screened or air-conditioned room, make sure the screens don't have holes in them and that no mosquitos sneak in when the door is open.

• Consider treating your clothing and shoes with the insecticide permethrin. You can wash your clothes several times and they will still repel insects. You can buy permethrin at sporting goods stores. Some stores and catalogs offer clothing that has been pre-treated with permethrin. Again... Magellan's Travel Supplies is a good place to look.

A Vaccine Against Malaria?

Late in 2011 we learned that there is a new vaccine that is in "large scale trials" in Africa... the scientists who developed it say it "shows the risk of malaria cut in half." This particular vaccine is being developed to protect children in areas where malaria is a fact of life. There is no plan to try to develop this vaccine for use in adults.

For travelers, the advice is still to take anti-malarial medication.

We're not medical experts, so if you have questions, consult your travel medicine doctor. Then, just remember what I've said before... Don't worry too much over all this.... take it seriously, take all the precautions, and you should be fine.

Just go, take your anti-malaria pills, and enjoy your trip.

Happy travels... even if you don't travel the world... just remember that life is a journey... embrace and enjoy it!   Judy and Mark

Do you have a medical tip or travel story to share about your country or a travel story anywhere? We can't be everywhere. We'd love to hear your story. Click on Your Travel Stories or Clan MacEwan Stories or even Your Funny Roadsign. Help fellow travelers!

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