Malaria Pills

Better Than Getting Malaria!

Malaria is prevalent in many areas of the world... and you don't have to be an adventure traveler to get to some of them.

malaria-mosquito nets-Laos

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. Symptoms are high fevers and shaking chills, but it can also be a flu-type illness. These symptoms can occur in as little as 8 days or as long as several months after the mosquito bite.

There are precautions you can take. Check with the Center for Disease Control website on malaria. In all travel health issues, the CDC is a good place to start.

Take Antimalarial Pills

If malaria prophylaxis is recommended don't ignore it. It's a serious problem. 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:

We have used a variety of prescriptions through the years. Here is the list of drugs used today as listed on the CDC site. Check the link above for more details.

Atovaquone/proguanil Big name.... 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

The best malaria prevention is to avoid being bitten.

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.

If your hotel provides mosquito netting... 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. You can also consider buying some once you've arrived; it's always fun to see stores in countries.

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 catalogues offer clothing that has been pre-treated with permethrin.

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 antimalaria 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

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