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Planning that trip of lifetime...
We all hope to come home from a holiday glowing with health,
but each year more than 20.000 people in the world return with an unwanted souvenir – Malaria.
What is Malaria?
Spread
by a bite from infected mosquito, the malaria parasite travels through
your bloodstream to your liver where it multiple,
moves back into your blood cells, which carry oxygen from the lungs to
body tissue. It usually takes a week or two from being bitten to the
appearance of symptoms, but the parasite can remain dormant in the
liver for up to a year.
The symptoms appear when the red blood cells infected with malaria
parasites rupture and release more parasites into the bloodstream.
With most forms of malaria, the symptoms usually involve three phases:
uncontrollable shivering, a period of peeling very hot and then severe
sweating.
You may also get an intense headache, start vomiting and feel
exhausted. However the more serious cerebral malaria involves a
prolonged and
irregular fever, which rapidly develops into a coma. This form infects
more red blood cells than the others and can affect the kidneys and
spleen and
cause death within 24 hours if not tread. Twenty per cent of cerebral
cases are fatal and account for 80 per cent of deaths from malaria.
Most cases of malaria in travelers are caused by the plasmodium falciparum parasite, which may result in cerebral malaria.
You’re most likely to come across this in Africa – we’ve seen cases from Gambia and Kenya.
The next most common from in travelers is caused by plasmodium vivax and is usually found in and around India.
Rarer plasmodium ovale and plasmodium malaria aren’t fatal, but if left untreated, symptoms may result in severe anemia.
What to Do
If
you’re in or have recently been in a malarial area and develop a fever,
vomiting or severe headache,
see a doctor immediately. He or she should carry out a blood test to
look for signs of the malaria parasite and determine which type you
have.
You should do this even if you’ve taken antimalarials as they only give
90 % protection,
and don’t forget the risk of malaria is still present up to a year
later.
Malaria is treated with drugs such as quinine, chloroquine or primaquine. If you’re anemic, you may need a blood transfusion.
Assess your Risk
Once
you’ve booked your trip, visit your GP or a travel clinic to find out
which antimalarials you’ll need
(see preventive drugs, right). And bear in mind that you may need to
take the pills up to three weeks before traveling and for four weeks
after.
The riskiest malarial destination is West Africa, especially if you go
on safari or visit rural areas.
India and Southeast Asia are also high –risk destinations.
Mosquitoes that carry malaria bite between dusk and dawn, so this is
the most important time to protect yourself.
But remember other mosquitoes carrying different infections such as
dengue fever, bite during the day.
Even if you are a business traveler and are only going away for a short
time, make sure you take the full course of antimalarials.
and carry insect repellent with you – many people are caught out by
unexpected visits to rural areas during their trip.
| Keep Mosquitoes at Bay!! |
- Sleep in an air-conditioned room if possible as mosquitoes don’t like cool temperatures.
Otherwise, choose a room with mosquito screens at the windows or drape a mosquito net around your bed,
preferably one treated with the insecticide permethrin.
- When you’re out , especially between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are not active, cover up with closely woven cotton clothing.
This can be spayed with the insecticide permethrin.
- Stick with light-colored clothing as mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors.
- Before going to
bed, make sure the room is free of mosquitoes, and spray yourself with
an anti-mosquito repellent containing at least
30 per cent diethyltoluamide (DEET) on exposed skin, such DEET-Treated
wrist and ankle bands.
Mosiguard Natural (£6) is good for children or sensitive skins.
- If you’re sitting outside in the evening, burn a mosquito coil.
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There are several
antimalarial drugs and your destination and medical history. Certain drugs
aren’t advisable for people who suffer from depression, heart problems or
epilepsy, pregnant women or women trying to conceive. Its important to take the
drugs carefully and for the required time.antimalarials incl Aude:
- Chloroquine
and proguanil
These
are traditional treatments, but mosquitoes are increasingly
resistant to these drugs so they’re not suitable for high risk
areas. |
- Mefloquine (Lariam)
This is
prescribed for areas resistant to the above, but there’s been
controversy about its side-effects-around one person in 200
suffers depression and panic attacks-and it’s not recommended
for pregnant women or those prone to psychiatric illness or
fits. You start taking it three weeks before you travel, so any
side effect will be apparent and you can change drugs if
necessary. |
- Doxycyline
This
protects against falciparum malaria primarily and is used for
travelers going to areas where mosquitoes are mefloquine
–resistant. Side-effects include sunlight sensitivity, thrush
and gastric upsets. |
- Atovaquone /
proguanil (Malarone)
The
newest antimalaria drug, this is an alternative to mefloquine.
It can only be used for up to 28 days and is expensive (antimalarials
aren’t available on the NHS), but doesn’t appear to be linked
with severe side –effects. |
Further Information
NOMAD Travel store : 020 8889 7014
NOMAD advice line: 09068 633 414 (calls cost 60p per minute) or log on
to
www.nomadtravel.co.uk
MASTA advice line : 0906 822 4100, website:www.masta.org
Malaria Reference Laboratory helpline: 09065 508908 (call cost £1per
minute) |
