Malaria
Alternative names:
Quartan malaria; falciparum malaria; biduoterian fever;
blackwater fever; tertian malaria; plasmodium
Prevention:
Most people living in malaria-prevalent areas have acquired
some immunity to the
disease. Visitors will not have immunity and need to take
preventive medications. Preventive medications should be taken
even by pregnant women,
because the risk to the fetus from the medication is less
than the risk of acquiring a congenital infection. People
on antimalarial medications may still become infected. Avoid
mosquito bites by wearing protective clothing over the arms
and legs, using screens on windows, and using insect repellent.
Chloroquine has been the drug of choice for protection from
malaria. With emerging resistance, it is now only indicated
for use in areas where Plasmodium vivax, P. oval, and P. malariae
are present. Falciparum malaria is becoming increasingly resistant
to antimalarial medications.
For travelers headed for areas of endemic
Falciparum malaria, the present drug of choice is mefloquine.
Mefloquine has been approved by the FDA and is effective at
preventing Falciparum malaria. Mefloquine can cause confusion
and other mental side effects. Other drugs include Proguanil
(available only in Africa) and Fansidar (pyrimeth/sulfadoxine).
Travelers can call the CDC for information on types of malaria
in a given geographical area, preventive drugs, and times
of the season to avoid travel.
For information, call:
(404) 332-4555
(404) 639-3311
Or go to the CDC Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/
and click on Travel Health.
Update Date: 02/09/00
Updated by: J. Gordon Lambert, MD, Associate Medical Director,
Utah Health Informatics and adam.com
editorial
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