As we move into the winter months, you may be looking to head off to a more exotic location for a well-earned break. If you are traveling to destinations such as South America or the Dominican Republic, you will need to take measures against malaria on your trip. We have compiled this ultimate guide to malaria, including how you can get antimalarials in Birmingham. Keep reading to find out how you can jet off feeling reassured.
Malaria is a highly serious tropical disease; it is spread through the bite of infected mosquitoes. If it is not diagnosed and treated quickly, the disease can even be fatal.
Ordinarily, symptoms of malaria include:
– A high temperature (38c or higher)
– Headaches
– Vomiting
– Diarrhoea
– Feeling hot and shivery
– Muscle pains
Generally, you will notice symptoms 7-18 days after becoming infected. However, malaria symptoms can sometimes not appear for a year or more.
Malaria can be found in 100+ countries.
It is mainly found in tropical areas such as:
– Some Pacific islands
– Parts of the Middle East
– The Dominican Republic and Haiti
– South and Central America
– Large parts of Asia and Africa
You can find a more extensive list of countries on the TravelHealthPro website.
The mosquitoes that cause malaria ordinarily bite between dusk and dawn; as a result, they’re known as night-biting mosquitoes. Malaria cannot be spread from person to person. However, if a mosquito bites an infected person the mosquito can spread it to someone else. This means that it is vital that you take the necessary steps to protect yourself.
There is currently no vaccination available for malaria. However, it is important that you seek travel health advice as soon as you have chosen your destination. This will ensure that you have the best possible protection before you go.
You can take preventative measures such as the following:
– Using insect repellent
– Using a mosquito net that’s treated with insecticide
– Wearing clothes that cover your arms and legs
– Seeking medical advice if you notice concerning symptoms whilst abroad
– Stocking up on antimalarials in Birmingham before you fly
Antimalarial medication works to both treat and prevent malaria. It is important that you complete the course of tablets, as well as taking the right dose throughout, and after, your trip. You may even need to take a short course before you travel. This is to make sure you don’t have any adverse side effects. You can find more information about malaria prevention on our service page:
If you are looking to jet off safely, we are here to help! We offer all the travel health advice you need, as well as antimalarials at our travel clinic in Birmingham. You can find out more about the variety of vaccinations we offer in our ultimate travel vaccine guide:
We recommend that you visit us well in advance of your trip so you don’t get caught out.
This blog post was written on behalf of The Travel Health Clinic by Carla Moore from Pharmacy Mentor.
