Alcohol Abuse Advice

Malaria ? the risks, symptoms and prevention

For the seasoned traveller the risks of malaria are well known. However, for many the risks aren’t known, or the seriousness of the tropical disease. Other than the fact that pop star Cheryl Cole recently suffered malaria and had to miss a huge chunk of hit TV show, The X Factor, the dangers of travelling without taking the necessary medical precautions are not well documented.

The World Health Organisation estimates that around 500 million people are infected with the disease each year.

So if you are travelling outside of Europe to a malaria affected country take a moment to read up on this tropical disease to make sure you are fully aware, and protected.

What is malaria?
Malaria is caught when people are bitten by a female anopheles mosquito, which infects people with the protozoan parasite, the parasite spends half its life in the mosquito and the other half in the human body.

The infection makes its way into the liver where, after anything between 5 – 18 days bursts out of the liver cells, into the bloodstream where the infection attacks the red blood cells.

When will the malaria symptoms develop?
The incubation period takes anything from 7 – 40 days. As a result, many people have returned home and have long since forgotten about their holiday. Then, when the symptoms develop, many people mistake the initial signs, for instance like the flu or a sickness bug as symptoms include a temperature, chills, headaches, aches and pains and feeling sick.

Tell your Doctor you have travelled outside of Europe
It is essential, if you feel these symptoms after having travelled to an exposed area, that you inform your Doctor, as otherwise they could easily put your feeling of unwell down to a virus. If you have travelled outside of Europe make sure you make your Doctor aware.

Symptoms
A healthy adult contracting the disease would most likely experience flu like symptoms of chills followed by high temperatures that disappear by themselves, without treatment. These symptoms affect the body in a pattern of attack, usually occurring in the afternoon and lasting several hours before seemingly disappearing. Although this can take up to six weeks and by that time a usually healthy adult would have visited their GP who should then recognise the signs of malaria.

Malaria Tropica
This form of malaria is the most dangerous. If left untreated there is a 20% chance of death. This form of the disease attacks the liver and spleen and results in sever diarrhoea. But don’t be alarmed, if treated, this form of the disease most sufferers make a full and healthy recovery.

Protection
As soon as you book your trip it’s essential you look into what vaccines you’ll need to ensure good health. Most travel agents will advise of this. In most cases travellers will be given malaria tablets, the course of which begins prior to travel, normally a week or two before, continuing during your time away and for a week or two on your return. These tablets kill the parasite pathogens that enter the body as it’s bitten by the mosquito.

In addition to the malaria tablets make sure you cover yourself up, wearing long clothing and do use insect repellent sprays and creams – making sure they state they repel mosquitoes.

If your accommodation provides mosquito nets make sure you use them. Keep them closed and check for mosquitoes inside the net before you go to bed. Also, some accommodation is fitted with mosquito screens on the windows – do not, night or day remove or open them!

At risk regions
Malaria is rife in over 100 countries, with over 40% of the world’s population at risk. High-risk malaria regions are Central America, South America, Africa, Haiti, Dominican Republic, India and the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, Oceania and the Middle East.