Travellers Advised to Take Anti Malaria Precautions
There has been a marked increase in the number of international travellers returning to the UK with malaria. Health officials are encouraging travellers to ensure that they take appropriate anti-malaria precautions.
There are four main types of malaria, all spread by mosquitoes, present in around 90 countries. Malaria infects around 1 in 10 of the worlds population and a child dies of the disease every 30 seconds.
Symptoms
The first symptoms of malaria can easily be mistaken for a bout of flu. They can often include:
- Headache;
- Nausea;
- High Fever;
- Upset Stomach;
- Vomiting.
These can vary depending upon the specific type of malaria. Most forms will present symptoms within 7 to 14 days but Plasmodium malariae can take up to 30 days.
These early symptoms are often dismissed as unimportant, which is a mistake. Malaria symptoms tend to follow a cycle as the lifecycle of the blood borne parasite progresses. If untreated, further serious complications can arise including kidney failure, anaemia, paralysis and coma.
Increase in Number of Malaria Cases
The increase in malaria cases is due to a variety of factors including:
- The disease is developing a resistance to traditional treatments
- Mosquitoes are becoming resistant to insecticides
- Constraints on health care spending in some countries has led to malaria control activities being curtailed or reduced.
The increase in the number of people returning to the UK with malaria is on the increase because travellers are not taking adequate precautions.
Gap Year Travellers
One group who appear to be particularly at risk are young gap year students. There is a tendency amongst this group to think of themselves as impervious to disease and infection. They tend to embark upon adventurous trips, sometimes lasting many months, into regions of the world that have a high level of malaria infection and they do so with minimal preparation.
Preventing Malaria
The best prevention is avoidance. In particular, avoiding mosquito bites. In conjunction with repelling mosquitoes anyone travelling to a malarial region should take appropriate anti-malarial drugs. Here are just a few basic precautions:
- Wear Protective Clothing
- Use an effective insect repellent
- Use a repellent treated mosquito net
- Use the correct anti-malarial drugs for the region you are visiting (consult your doctor).
Further information and advice can be found on the Department of Health website: UK Department of Health on Malaria.
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