Malaria

Malaria is a serious illness that, if left untreated, can prove to be fatal in some cases. However, providing that you adequately protect yourself before, during and after your travels, you can travel with peace of mind that you can avoid the symptoms of this illness.

What Is Malaria?

Malaria is a disease that is caused by a number of parasites that are collectively referred to as plasmodium. These parasites enter the body, often as the result of a mosquito bite, and begin to reproduce and spread at an alarming rate. The consequences are symptoms including shivering, fever, vomiting, joint pain, retinal damage or convulsions, and if the parasite is not effectively removed from the body at speed, these symptoms can worsen dramatically.

Malaria Prevention

As with most illnesses, the best advice is a strong form of protection against the parasites that cause malaria before you arrive in the area where the disease is prevalent. This can be achieved by taking a prescribed malaria prevention treatment, which patients will usually begin taking a few days before they enter their destination, and continue to take throughout their trip and for some weeks afterwards.

These medicines help the body to fight off the parasites, as well as stopping the reproduction of the parasites to stop the spread of the illness. To that end, similar or identical medicines are often used for treatment of the disease in its early stages. Examples of anti-malarial treatment include; Doxycycline, Lariam, Malarone, Mefloquine, Paludrine and an Anti-Malarial Travel Pack

Whilst in malarial zones people individuals should take precautions against being bitten by mosquitoes. This may include the use of mosquito nets, and keepinh windows closed at night.

Where Can You Get Malaria?

Whilst it is true that the parasite that causes malaria can be found in many locations around the world, the so-called hotspots are those places where the parasite is easily transported from person to person due to a high mosquito population. The parts of the world where the disease is most prevalent are Asia, the Americas, and sub-Saharan Africa. If you are planning to travel to any of these regions, you should be sure to adequately protect yourself against this condition in advance.

Malaria Symptoms

The speed at which malaria symptoms appear varies depending on the specific variety of the illness that a patient is suffering from. Most commonly, symptoms appear after approximately two weeks, but in some cases they can take up to one year to become noticeable. In the case of the most serious forms of the disease, symptoms can appear as quickly as within 24 hours.

The most frequently encountered symptoms of the illness include:

• A high temperature
• Joint pain
• Convulsions
• Vomiting
• Shivering
• Headaches
• Coughing
• Diarrhoea

Malaria Causes

The malaria disease is caused by one of a group of parasites that are known as plasmodium. These parasites are carried by mosquitoes throughout their lifetime, and present no form of illness to them. However, if a mosquito bites a human and these parasites enter the bloodstream, they begin to reproduce and spread through the body at great speed. This has a severe effect on the health of the body, presenting uncomfortable symptoms and ultimately using up the body’s vital resources.

Prevent Malaria: Anti-Malarial Treatment Available with Prescriptions

Safe Direct Delivery from Regulated Pharmacists

Prescription2Home offers a safe and reliable service, run by UK registered doctors and pharmacists, to provide consultations that may lead to a private prescription for malaria protection.

At Prescription2Home you can take an online consultation that, if approved by our doctors, will lead to a private prescription. Our doctors will review your consultation responses to ensure that your chosen treatment is right, and safe, for you. On approval, we send the approved prescription electronically to our partner Pharmacy for dispensing and fulfilment. Prescriptions sent electronically to the Pharmacy before 3.30pm on working days can be despatched direct to your home for next day delivery.

You may review information on a range of treatments by clicking on the treatment images on this page. If you require any advice or clarification from our doctors, please leave your questions here, and one of our doctors will respond shortly.

When you have considered the full range of treatment options and think you know which treatment is right for you, please select one of the treatments from this page and progress to an online consultation.

Doxycycline

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Available in a daily tablet form, doxycycline is a malaria prevention treatment that helps international travellers to avoid contracting the malaria disease. People who are planning a trip to a location where malaria is easily carried and transmitted to humans from mosquitoes should ensure that they have adequate malaria prevention in place before they depart.

 

Lariam

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Dramatically reducing the likelihood of catching malaria, Lariam is a weekly tablet that is used by travellers around the world. If you are planning to travel to a destination where malaria is prevalent, taking Lariam as prescribed allows you to enjoy your time away without the fear of contracting this serious illness.

 

Malarial Travel Pack

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Ideal for people who are travelling to places where malaria is prevalent, our travel pack combines two effective medicines for maximum benefit. The pairing of Paludrine with Avloclor is an anti-malarial combination that provides comprehensive protection for the possibility of contracting malaria.

 

Malarone

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Malarone is a very reliable tablet that can prevent the contraction of malaria and also treat malaria if it occurs. Taking this tablet is popular amongst people who are travelling to places where malaria is common, including the Americas, Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

 

Paludrine

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Ideal for people who are travelling to places where malaria is prevalent, paludrine is an anti-malarial medication that provides comprehensive protection from the possible contraction of the malaria illness.