Malaria Advice

Malaria Prevention

Malarial mosquitoes bite after dusk. Tablets will provide a degree of protection, but it is far better to avoid getting bitten.

Outdoors: Wear clothing that will cover arms and legs. Use insect repellents on exposed skin and wear wrist and ankle bands impregnated with repellent for greater protection.

Indoors: Use room sprays, mosquito coils or vaporisers. Air conditioning is a deterrent. Failing this, window screens and mosquito nets are advised. Nets impregnated with repellent are even safer.

Malaria Prophylaxis

Medication should commence a week before arrival and continue for at least 4 weeks after leaving the area of risk. The medication you are recommended to take will be indicated on this list.

Paludrine (proguanil) 200mg. Adult dose. Taken daily after the same meal, starting 2 days before travel.
Nivaquine or Avloclor (chloroquine) 300mg. Adult dose. Taken weekly, after food, starting 1 week before travel.
- May produce Visual Disturbance. Care must be taken driving or operating machinery. May also suppress antibody reaction to rabies vaccine. Consult your medical practitioner.
Larium (mefloquine). Adult dose 250mg to be taken weekly. Prescription required. Start 2 weeks before travel. This will reveal any troublesome side effects. Delay for 12 hours after typhoid vaccination.
- DO NOT BECOME PREGNANT DURING TREATMENT OR FOR NEXT 3 MONTHS.
Maloprin. Adult dose. 1 tablet weekly, starting 1 week before travel. Prescription required.

IF YOU SHOULD DEVELOP A FEVER DURING THE MONTHS AFTER YOU RETURN FROM HOLIDAY SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE AND BE SURE TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR WHERE YOU HAVE BEEN TRAVELLING.

Those travellers who will be in isolated circumstances, away from medical help. Should consider taking a treatment course with them. This is to be used if malaria is suspected and until medical help can be reached. Discuss this with your GP.

Treatment regimes including quinine are not recommended where mefloquine has been used as a prophylactic.