- Travel preparation - malaria prevention
- Malaria prophylaxis - how to use the drug?
- After returning to the country
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One mosquito bite of a midge carrying malaria in the saliva is enough to develop this dangerous disease. Before you go on an exotic vacation, make sure you do everything you can to protect yourself from contracting malaria.
Malaria prophylaxisis necessary if you are going on holiday to a country where the disease occurs. The most common cause ofmalariais contracted sickle cell disease ( Plasmodium faciparum ), which is responsible for approximately 80% of malaria cases. This form of malaria can be very serious and is the most common cause of death. The greatest risk of the disease is in central Africa.
Travel preparation - malaria prevention
Begin by finding out what the he alth risks are in your region. Make an appointment with an infectious diseases specialist well in advance (4-8 weeks before the trip). During the visit, report your medical conditions or allergies to the doctor, and inform them about the possible use of prescribed medications. Known to many travelers, lariam (mefloquine) is not approved for routine circulation in our country and if someone is recommended to use this drug, he must seek individual import on the basis of a doctor's request. The procedure of importing the drug can be quite long, even several months. During the use of lariam, you may experience unpleasant side effects such as insomnia, hallucinations and depression. Currently, it is not recommended to use doxacycline inprophylaxisof malaria, because it is ineffective, may cause allergy to the sun and often causes complications in the gastrointestinal tract.
Since 2006, a drug called malarone (consisting of two substances - atovaquone and proguanil hydrochloride) has been registered and available in selected pharmacies in Poland, which is currently most often recommended in the prevention of malaria. A list of clinics and pharmacies can be found at www.malaria.com.pl. The drug should be bought at a pharmacy, prescription. The manufacturer does not specify the requirements regarding the storage conditions of the drug.
Malaria prophylaxis - how to use the drug?
Start applying malarone 24-48 hours before going to the painting area. Take the drug once a day, at the same time throughout the daystay, and 7 days after return, but not longer than 28 days in total. The drug comes in packs of 14 tablets, so buy two packs. The cost of such a prescription is approx. PLN 320-400. Take the drug with a meal or milk drinks, thanks to which the active substance is better absorbed. It is related to the presence of fat in the digestive tract, which significantly increases the absorption of atovaquone. In contrast, proguanil hydrochloride is rapidly absorbed, whether it is taken with or without food.
If you vomit within 1 hour of taking the drug, you must repeat the dose. Remember that you must not drink alcohol while taking the drug. Grapefruit juice is also not recommended, as it reduces the effect of most drugs by affecting cytochrome P450 enzymes. The manufacturer in the registration document states that "the safety and efficacy of the preparation in the prevention of malaria in patients weighing less than 40 kg have not been established". In practice, the quoted statement means that this drug is not officially registered for use in prophylaxis in children, and therefore I personally advise against traveling with them to malaria areas. It is also not recommended for use in breastfeeding women. Due to the fact that the drug may cause dizziness, it is not recommended for people driving vehicles or operating mechanical devices.
Malarone - side effects
Since malarone is made up of two drugs (atovaquone and proguanil hydrochloride), either of them can cause side effects. The most common ones are headache, abdominal pain and diarrhea, anorexia, nausea and vomiting, and cough. The less frequently used side effects include: anemia, increase in liver enzymes, stomatitis, allergic reactions.
After returning to the country
After returning from tropical countries, you should carefully observe your body for 2 months, because each illness in this period requires differentiation from malaria. The brooding period for this disease is 2-3 weeks, so in a person who has not undergo prophylaxis, the first ailments may appear at home.
The initial symptoms of malaria may resemble a cold - chills, fever, sweating, muscle aches, headaches, eye pain, nausea and vomiting. The appearance of such symptoms does not always mean you have malaria, but you should always inform your doctor during your visit that you have traveled to tropical countries.