Malaria 
Five Facts
Take Precautions
Beat the Bite!


You've climbed into bed, turned out the lights and it starts – the buzzing around your ears from a 'mozzie' that's escaped being flattened by a flip-flop! If you've had a holiday abroad, you'll know how annoying mosquitoes can be, but in some countries you'd be wise to worry about an after-dark encounter with one of these nasty little critters, because one bite can cause more than an itchy lump – it can kill! Malaria is a big health threat to travellers, so here's what you should know before you set off abroad…

Five Facts 

Only female mosquitoes bite – male mosquitoes are vegetarian! 
Malaria can only be passed on by a bite from a mosquito that's carrying the malaria parasites in its saliva. 
In 1997, 2,364 travellers returned to the UK with malaria and 12 died. [World Health Organisation statistics] 
Malaria is generally found in Africa, Asia and Latin America. 
Mosquitoes are becoming resistant to the insecticides used to control the spread of malaria - and many of the drugs used to treat it.


Take Precautions 

Check if you're going to need malaria protection when you're planning your trip. Details of "at risk" countries and antimalarial treatments can change, so ask your pharmacist for the latest advice. If antimalarial tablets are recommended for your trip, make sure you take them exactly as you're instructed to – if you do get bitten, they could save your life. Generally, you should start taking antimalarial tablets one week (two to three weeks if you're taking mefloquine) before you leave for your trip and you must continue to take them while you are away and for at least four weeks after you leave the malarious area.

Some people occasionally suffer mild side effects from the tablets such as nausea or diarrhoea. Taking the tablets with food - preferably the main meal of the day - can help reduce these symptoms. If you suffer more severe side effects, and particularly if you experience any symptoms of increased anxiety or depression, consult your doctor before you leave the UK. If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, have an existing medical condition such as epilepsy, are taking any other medicines, or planning to travel with children, ask your pharmacist for advice before taking antimalarial tablets.

Malaria can be treated if it's diagnosed early. The symptoms of malaria include recurring bouts of fever, shivering, pain in the joints, headache, and can progress to convulsions, delirium and coma.

If you suffer any flu-like symptoms within a year of returning from your trip, it's important that you contact your doctor and tell them where you've been.


Beat the Bite! 

Although antimalarial tablets are effective, they won't give you 100% protection, so it's best to avoid being bitten in the first place. Here are a few ways to help you beat the bite:

Repellents
Insect repellents are a good way of protecting yourself. They come as sprays, roll-ons, sticks and gels and the most effective products for malarious areas are those containing diethyltoluamide (DEET). Wrist and ankle bands impregnated with insect repellents are also a good idea.

Screens and sprays
Try to sleep in a room that has window and door screens to stop mosquitoes entering - and keep the screens closed all the time. Use a knockdown (insect-killing) spray to kill any mosquitoes that have sneaked into your room during the day.

Bed nets
If your room doesn't have screens, sleep under a mosquito net. It's easy for your skin to come into contact with the net while you're asleep, so choose one that's been dipped in an insecticide such as permethrin which will kill or repel any insects that come into contact with it. These treatments will last about six months as long as the net isn't washed. Carefully tuck the net in around the bed, make sure that it doesn't have any holes in it - and always check for any unwelcome visitors before you climb inside.

Clothing
Most mosquitoes bite after dusk, so cover as much skin as possible and spray your clothing with insect repellent to give added protection. Light coloured clothing seems to be less attractive to mosquitoes.

Vaporizing mats and coils
If you're on a package-trip, you'll probably have the luxury of electricity at your hotel, so take a plug-in vaporizer and vaporizing mats. As long as the doors and windows in your room are closed, these are very effective at killing mosquitoes. However, if you're an adventurous traveller, staying in more basic surroundings, the old-fashioned equivalent to the vaporizer is a mosquito smoke coil, which your pharmacist can order for you.