Where can I get Malaria Medication?

There is currently no FDA approved malaria vaccine, so preventative antimalarial medication is prescribed before your travels. This medication should be initiated a few days prior to departure. Schedule an appointment at your local Away Clinic to receive a travel health consult and receive a malaria referral to a telehealth provider.

Antimalarial drugs are recommended for those traveling to countries with high-risk of malaria transmission in Central America, Africa, and Asia. There are several options for antimalarial medications, so please talk to your Away Clinic travel health specialist for more details.

What are some of the Antimalarial Side Effects?

Each antimalarial has different side effects that will be discussed by your travel healthcare provider. Side effects may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, weakness, and loss of appetite. Particular antimalarials can cause increased sensitivity to sunlight.

What is Malaria?

Malaria is transmitted by a mosquito bite from an infected mosquito. The Plasmodium parasite from the mosquito causes illness in humans. Initial symptoms include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and tiredness. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may also occur. Malaria can cause anemia and yellow coloring of the skin and eyes because of the loss of red blood cells. Symptoms usually occur between 10 days and 4 weeks after initial infection.

The treatment for malaria includes antibiotic therapy, but resistance to antibiotics is increasing. Traveling in a developing country can make it difficult to find an English-speaking physician and have access to the medications needed. If not promptly treated, the infection can become severe and may cause kidney failure, seizures, mental confusion, coma, and death.

How to Prevent Malaria?

Malaria is best eluded by taking preventive medication and avoiding mosquito bites. This can be accomplished by:

-Taking doxycycline or malarone prior to your trip, during your trip, and for the recommended period of time after returning home (7-28 days)

-Using insect repellent (DEET, lemon of eucalyptus, picaridin are all ingredients to look for)

-Wearing the right clothing (Long sleeve shirts, pants, and tall socks are best for outdoor activities to decrease the likelihood of a mosquito bite)

-Being aware of the time (Dusk and dawn are when mosquitoes are most active)