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Malaria is a dangerous disease transmitted by mosquitoes. It is a life-threatening condition that produces high fever, shivers, and flu-like symptoms if not treated immediately. Malaria may be contracted by travelling to other regions of the world, particularly those with warmer, tropical temperatures.
You can treat malaria with medication, and you can also take medication to prevent the sickness. Malaria medicine is not 100 per cent efficient in preventing the infection. It is essential to take the tablets in conjunction with other preventative measures, such as the use of insect repellent, the wearing of long sleeves, and the use of a mosquito net or other bed treatments.
What doctors may prescribe
Your physician will most likely select the medication that is indicated for the location in which you will be visiting. You will be instructed to take the medication before, during, and between 1 and 4 weeks after going to a malaria-prone region. This is since the parasites that cause the disease can remain in the body for an extended period after a bite.
Your doctor may prescribe from the following antimalaria drug names enlisted:
Atovaquone-proguanil or malarone:Â This drug’s side effects are less prevalent than those of other medications. However, it should not be taken by pregnant women or those with renal disease. Atovaquone-proguanil can be more expensive than other malaria medicine.
Chloroquine:Â The med is no longer effective against P. falciparum, the most prevalent and severe malaria parasite. Hence it is rarely used nowadays. Your doctor may suggest this medication if you travel to places where P. falciparum is not present.
Mefloquine: Pregnant women may use it, but those with a history of seizures, cardiac problems, or psychological disorders should not. Side effects may include vertigo, disturbed sleep, and mental responses.
Doxycycline:Â This tablet is often the least expensive malaria medication. Side effects include gastrointestinal distress, UV sensitivity, and female yeast infections. Pregnant women and children younger than 8 years should not use this medication.
I have symptoms of malaria. What do I do now?
In case you have malaria symptoms, seek care immediately. It is essential to begin therapy as soon as possible before the condition worsens. Your doctor will attempt to identify the type of malaria infection you have to choose the appropriate treatment. To prevent this drug-resistance issue, your doctor may prescribe a combination of malaria antibiotics.
The medicines provided to you will depend on various factors, including (a) the kind of malaria infection; (b) your age; (c) your physical condition; (d) if you took preventative medication and, if so, what type; and (e) your pregnancy status (f) You can take some meds orally, or a hospital/clinic will administer these medications intravenously to patients with severe conditions.
Many drugs used to treat malaria are also used to prevent the disease. It would help if you did not treat malaria with the same medication you used to avoid it.
