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 vary dependant on the country.
The NHS maintain a web site that gives
online advise as to Malaria prophylaxis country by country. Go to FIT TO TRAVEL www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk
It is best to check with the surgery a month
before the time of travel to get the latest advice. If you wish (providing you
have a PIN number allocated) you can inquire of your reception desk via email.
The following are the usual medications used.
-
Paludrine
(proguanil) 200mg. Adult dose. Taken daily after the same meal, starting 2
days before travel. You have to buy this over the counter it is not
on prescription.
-
Nivaquine
or Avloclor (chloroquine) 300mg. Adult dose. Taken weekly, after food,
starting 1 week before travel. You have to buy this over the
counter it is not on prescription.
- 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. Private Prescription
required (this is not an NHS prescription, the pharmacist will charge the full
cost of the item plus a dispensing fee.. 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.
Private Prescription required (this is not an NHS prescription, the pharmacist
will charge the full cost of the item plus a dispensing fee.
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.
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