{"id":4522,"date":"2019-06-26T10:56:13","date_gmt":"2019-06-26T14:56:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=4522"},"modified":"2020-07-15T19:31:47","modified_gmt":"2020-07-15T23:31:47","slug":"prepare-prevent-malaria-traveling-abroad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/prepare-prevent-malaria-traveling-abroad\/","title":{"rendered":"How to prevent malaria when traveling abroad"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every year, roughly <\/span>1,500 people<\/span><\/a> in the United States are hospitalized with malaria\u2014even though the disease is eradicated here. In <\/span>2016<\/span><\/a>, the U.S. reached the highest rate of malaria incidences since 1972. And the numbers have continued to go up every year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s causing this trend? It\u2019s pretty simple, actually. The rise in malaria cases coincides with a larger number of American citizens traveling to malarial countries without using preventive measures to avoid infection before it happens.<\/span><\/p>\n

Luckily, there are some easy malaria prevention steps you can take before you travel to avoid contracting malaria from pesky mosquitoes while you\u2019re abroad.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How to prevent malaria while traveling<\/b><\/h2>\n

1. Pre-treat your clothes with a permethrin spray before you pack.\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

You can find various brands at Walmart, Amazon, or outdoor equipment stores such as REI. Depending on the type you purchase, the treatment can repel mosquitoes and other bugs for several weeks\u2014even after washing your clothes.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Get <\/b>malaria prevention medication<\/b><\/a>.<\/b><\/h3>\n

Head to a travel clinic or your family doctor. During your visit, the healthcare professional will discuss your choices for chemoprophylaxis, aka antimalarial medication, says Vicki Sowards, a registered nurse and the director of clinical resources at <\/span>Passport Health<\/span><\/a>. The type of medication you are given is\u00a0 based on your medical history and travel plans.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Be sure to take your medication as it was prescribed.<\/b><\/h3>\n

Otherwise,\u00a0 it may not be effective. From my experience, if you take the pills with milk or a meal, they\u2019re easier on your stomach.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED<\/b>: <\/span>What vaccines you need before traveling overseas<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

4. Avoid mosquitoes.<\/b><\/h3>\n

During your travels, make sure to use bug spray, especially at dusk and dawn, Sowards advises. Take stock of your surroundings, too. You\u2019ll want to make sure you have a mosquito net for your bed, your room is air conditioned, and the window screens don\u2019t have any holes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Don\u2019t rely on \u201cimmunity.\u201d<\/b><\/h3>\n

And remember: Just because you once lived in a malarial area, that doesn\u2019t mean you are immune.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTravelers who are visiting family and relatives tend to not prepare for or take malaria chemoprophylaxis,\u201d Sowards says. \u201cThey lived in the area previously, [so] they feel they are immune.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

6. Check in with a physician.<\/b><\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re staying for a long time, make sure you regularly see a doctor. The embassy or consulate can help find a healthcare provider that\u2019s right for you.<\/span><\/p>\n

Post-trip, it\u2019s important to stay vigilant with malaria prevention as malaria can manifest up to a year after you get home.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you develop a fever up to one year after your travel and have no other reason for it, seek medical care ASAP,\u201d Sowards warns. \u201cBe sure to let the medical provider know that you did travel to a malarial area. Other diseases that can be contracted by mosquitoes can cause fever, so testing is needed for a definitive diagnosis.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Other symptoms to look out for include chills, nausea, headaches, vomiting, fatigue, muscle pain, a cough, sweating, and chest or abdominal pain.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bottom line: It\u2019s much easier to <\/span>prevent getting ill<\/span><\/a> in the first place, than to deal with malaria when you get home.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Also read:<\/span><\/p>\n