When an infected mosquito bites you, it can pass a parasite onto you. There are five parasites that can cause malaria, but most cases are caused by just two: Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax.
The vast majority of malaria cases occur in Africa. Only 6% of cases occur in countries on other continents . After a bite from an infected mosquito, the Plasmodium parasites use your bloodstream to go into your liver. Once there, they grow and mature until they’re ready to reproduce. Then they return to your bloodstream where they infect your red blood cells and multiply. Every two or three days the infected blood cells burst, releasing more parasites into your bloodstream to repeat the cycle .
Most people with malaria get better if they’re diagnosed and treated early. Malaria can be fatal without treatment, and approximately 86% of people worldwide who die from malaria are younger than five years old.
There are treatments that prevent malaria when taken prophylactically (pre-emptively). People who travel to places where malaria is endemic often take these drugs. When taken as directed by your clinician, malaria prevention treatments should keep you from getting malaria even if you get bitten by an infected mosquito.
Who needs malaria prevention?
Anopheles mosquitoes transmit malaria in over 100 countries across the world . Anyone who travels to an area with active malaria transmission should consider using preventive treatment. These areas often include countries in Africa, parts of the Middle East, and Central and South America.
Preventing malaria is easier than treating it. If you’re planning to travel internationally, you can use the FitForTravel and the CDC Malaria Database
to see if there’s malaria transmission where you’re going, and make sure you speak to a clinician to get a prescription for antimalarial treatment before you go.
How common is malaria?
Despite increasing efforts to limit the spread of malaria, it still remains a common infection.
About 229 million people were infected with malaria in 2019, and 409,000 of them died . Some areas have much higher rates of transmission than others. Malaria infections in African countries account for 94% of cases worldwide .
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
Malaria prevention
What causes malaria?
Malaria is caused by being bitten by an Anopheles mosquito that has been infected with Plasmodium parasites. Once you’ve been bitten, the parasite travels to your liver to mature and release merozoites, which are a different form of the parasite.
These merozoites enter your bloodstream, where they infect and destroy red blood cells . As malaria progresses, the symptoms can become more severe.
What are the symptoms of malaria?
Shortly after infection, there aren’t that many symptoms of malaria. In fact, it can lie dormant for weeks or months. In some very rare cases, it can be years before you start noticing any strong symptoms . When someone becomes symptomatic, they can experience:
Muscle aches
Joint pain
Fatigue
Chills
Diarrhea
Stomach pain
Coughing
Headache
Nausea
Vomiting
Increased heart rate
Rapid breathing
The earliest someone might experience symptoms is around 7 days after a mosquito bit them .
Can malaria lead to other problems?
Untreated malaria can be fatal, or at least lead to serious complications. Without treatment, you could develop: pulmonary edema, cerebral malaria, kidney failure, bleeding or severe anemia .
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
Malaria prevention
What medications are there for malaria prevention?
There are a range of options available to prevent malaria, such as Malarone (atovaquone/proguanil), Lariam (Mefloquine) and Doxycycline. Each option has different active ingredients. Different treatments might work better for some strains of malaria than others. Depending on drug resistance and which parasite is transmitted in a given area, our clinician should be able to prescribe a specific treatment for you.
Is there a ‘best’ treatment for malaria prevention?
A variety of factors will determine which treatment could be best for you to avoid getting malaria. Your personal health history, as well as specific details about the strain and severity of malaria that’s transmitted where you’re going will help our clinician to prescribe the right medication. Different treatments have different lengths and methods of treatment. People who take atovaquone/proguanil hydrochloride, doxycycline and primaquine to prevent malaria can begin treatment a day or two before they travel. However people who take Paludrine/Avloclor and Lariam will need to start one or two weeks before they depart . The biggest difference between these treatments is how long you’ll have to carry on taking them for once you’ve returned. Some drugs, like Malarone and Primaquine, only need to be taken for seven days after you get home. Whereas Doxycycline, Paludrine/Avloclor and Lariam still have to be taken for another four weeks once you’ve got back .
Do you always need malaria prevention?
Any time that you travel to a place with active malaria transmission, you’ll need malaria prevention drugs. You should still take steps to avoid mosquito bites if you’re taking prophylactic treatments. Using bug spray, mosquito nets, and clothing that covers your arms and legs will help to prevent uncomfortable mosquito bites.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
Malaria prevention
FAQ: Malaria prevention
Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.
Are there different types of malaria?
Answer:
Yes, there are five different parasites that can cause malaria. Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax cause the majority of cases, and Plasmodium falciparum is also the most deadly strain .
Malaria is transmitted in many different places around the world. Plasmodium falciparum is primarily transmitted in sub-Saharan African countries. This is because temperature plays a major role in the transmission of malaria. The parasites that cause malaria can’t thrive below 16 degrees Celsius .
Different strains are transmitted in different regions. This is why it’s important to tell your clinician where you’re traveling so that you can receive the most suitable malaria prevention treatment.
How is malaria diagnosed?
Answer:
Your doctor can diagnose you with malaria by looking at your symptoms, doing blood tests, and by asking you about your travel history. Prior to your travel plans, make sure that you discuss malaria prevention options with your doctor. If you can safely take medication during your trip, you should prevent long term side effects from malarial infection.
Can you get side effects from malaria prevention treatment?
Answer:
There are a range of side effects associated with prophylactic malarial medications, and they can be different depending on which drug you take. Common side effects include headaches, diarrhea, stomach pains, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, insomnia and mood changes.
The side effects are usually mild, but more severe side effects can sometimes include lung inflammation, allergic reaction, vision loss, and some heart conditions.
These side effects can vary depending on how you react to them, and different treatments can come with different side effects. For more detailed information on specific medications, you can look at our dedicated product pages.
Does malaria prevention treatment always work?
Answer:
You’ll need to make sure that you take an antimalarial treatment that’s suitable for where you’re going, and that you take it correctly, for it to be most effective. But when used correctly, it can be highly effective, although it won’t prevent malaria in every case. Discuss your travel plans and medical history with us and we’ll help you to choose the appropriate course of treatment.
Why should I buy malaria prevention treatment online with Treated?
Answer:
Talk to us about your health, and we can prescribe you the malaria prevention that you need.
Our experts will give you guidance on how to take your treatment to get the most out of it, and it can be delivered to you as early as the next working day. After you’ve received your treatment, we’ll check in with you to make sure everything’s going okay.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please talk to a doctor.
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