Malaria: How to Prevent This Potentially Life-Threatening Disease Before You Travel

Planning a trip to a tropical destination? While exotic holidays can be unforgettable, it’s important to protect yourself against malaria — a serious and sometimes fatal infection spread by mosquitoes. Luckily, with the right precautions, it's largely preventable.

Here’s what every traveller should know before setting off.

🌍 What Is Malaria?

Malaria is a disease caused by Plasmodium parasites, passed to humans through the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito. It’s not contagious between people — you can only catch it through bites.

There are five types of malaria parasites, but the most dangerous and deadly is Plasmodium falciparum. This type is responsible for the vast majority of severe malaria cases.

🦟 Did you know? In 2022, there were 249 million cases of malaria worldwide, with over 600,000 deaths, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa.

🧳 Who’s at Risk?

Although malaria isn’t found in the UK, it remains common in many parts of:

• Africa

• South and Southeast Asia

• Central and South America

• The Middle East

• The Pacific Islands

If you're travelling to these areas, particularly if you're:

• Visiting friends or relatives (VFR travel)

• Pregnant

• A young child

• Over 60

• Or have a weakened immune system…

…then you may be at higher risk and need special advice.

📌 In 2018, the UK saw over 1,600 cases of malaria — all in travellers returning from abroad.

🤒 Symptoms of Malaria

Malaria symptoms usually begin 7 to 18 days after being bitten, but in some cases, it can take up to a year.

Early symptoms:

• High fever

• Chills and shivering

• Headache

• Fatigue

• Muscle pain

• Abdominal discomfort

• Vomiting or diarrhoea

Severe symptoms:

If left untreated, especially P. falciparum malaria can lead to:

• Seizures or coma (cerebral malaria)

• Severe anaemia

• Breathing difficulties

• Kidney failure

• Bleeding or shock

• Death

🚨 If you develop flu-like symptoms or a fever while abroad or up to 1 year after travel, it’s a medical emergency. Don’t delay — get help right away.

🛡️ How to Prevent Malaria: The ABCD Approach

Here’s a simple way to remember how to protect yourself:

🅰️ Be Aware of risk:

Know which areas carry malaria risk before you travel.

🅱️ Bite prevention:

Use insect repellent with DEET, PMD, or Picaridin. Wear long sleeves and trousers in the evening, and sleep under a mosquito net if needed.

🅲️ Chemoprophylaxis (preventive tablets):

Take the right malaria tablets before, during, and after travel (see below).

🅳 Prompt diagnosis:

If you feel unwell, especially with a fever — seek medical help urgently.

💊 Malaria Prevention Tablets (Chemoprophylaxis)

Your malaria tablets should be tailored to your destination, health needs, and how long you're going for. At Ready Health, we’ll guide you through the right choice.

Here are some common options:

💊 Your GP or travel clinic will recommend the best antimalarial for you.

🧒 Are Malaria Tablets Safe for Children?

Yes — but the dosage will vary by age and weight, and not all types are suitable for young children or pregnant women. Always get tailored advice before giving antimalarials to a child.

🏥 Book a Malaria Consultation at Ready Health

At Ready Health Clinic in Standish, Wigan, we offer expert travel consultations and can prescribe the correct antimalarial medication for your trip. Our team will:

• Assess your destination and risk

• Review your medical history

• Help you choose and supply the best malaria tablets

• Offer general travel vaccine advice

📍 Serving Standish, Wigan, Chorley, Horwich and beyond
📞 Call us today on 01257 676001 or pop into clinic