Malaria

by Judy Peck, M.D.

What is malaria?

Malaria is a parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes. The initial symptoms of malaria look like the flu. You may have fever, chills, headache, and generalized aches and pains. It can progress to kidney problems, difficulty breathing, seizures, coma and death. If you develop a fever within one year of returning from a malaria-infected area, you have malaria until proven otherwise. See your doctor about a blood test to determine if you have it.

What can I do to avoid getting malaria?

• Don't get bitten!
• Clothing: Cover as much of your skin with clothing as possible. Wear long pants and a shirt with long sleeves. Your clothes should be loose and made of tightly woven material. Tuck your pants into your socks. A hat is a good idea too.
• DEET: DEET will repel mosquitoes and should be applied to all exposed skin. 20-30% should be used for children. 10% DEET should be used for children over 2 years of age. Reapply it more than once during the day.
• Permethrin: Permethrin kills mosquitoes and should be applied to your clothing and allowed to dry before you wear them.
• Mosquito netting: Sleep under mosquito netting at all times. Be sure it does not have any holes. Make sure you tuck it under your sleeping bag or mattress.
• Malaria medication: See you doctor or a travel doctor about malaria medication. You will need to take it before you leave, while you are traveling, and after you arrive home. Your doctor may give you chloroquine, mefloquine or doxycycline.

What parts of the world have malaria?

Africa, Central and South America, and Asia.

Is there anything else that I should know about mosquitoes?

They can cause other disease such as yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, and Dengue fever. Mosquitoes are generally most active from dusk to dawn.

For more information:

• See your doctor or a travel doctor
• Centers for Disease Control Web Site