If you are traveling to Africa what type of malaria medications are recommended if visiting all areas of the country over several months?

Answer 1

WHENEVER YOU travel to a foreign country, you should always speak to your healthcare professional about the proper innoculations required for the area you will be travelling to. Certain countries require different preventive innoculations than others. About malaria, which is any group of diseases characterized by attacks of chills, fever and sweating, is contracted by mosquitoes carrying the disease. Once in your bloodstream, it attacks your red blood cells. Since mosquitoes are everywhere, a doctor can check reference books and see which countries are more dangerous than others for getting malaria. You should carry QUININE pills and take them as a preventative measure, which your doctor can prescribe for you. More up to date antimalarial drugs are: atovaquone/proguanil; doxycycline; and mefloquine. Drinking quinine water (regular tonic water) is also a good idea. ALSO, if you are travelling with children, make sure that they see their pediatrician for innoculations and advice about possible diseases; some diseases that make adults sick, can kill a child (and also the elderly). As long as you are prepared with the proper innocculations and information before you travel, you can enjoy the trip instead of worring about getting sick in a foreign land. Hope you enjoy your trip, and have found my answer useful! A web site that is a MUST SEE for foreign travel, including specific destinations and vaccinations is: www.cdc.gov/travel An important fact to remember is that you need to get vaccinated WEEKS before travel so that the medication has time to take effect. Some medication you need to continue taking for a set time period AFTER you return home. ALSO, some parts of Africa (and probably other countries as well) you actually have to carry certain VACCINATION CERTIFICATES with you in order to be allowed into the country and travel around. Well it depends if it's a high risk region or not... but since you said all areas of the country (I assume you mean continent :P ) I'll give you the information for a high risk area. The most potent combination for this region would be a combination of chloroquine and proguanil. For adults 300mg chloroquine once weekly, starting one week before going, then weekly whilst your there and for six weeks after returning and 200mg proguanil once daily, starting one week before going, daily whilst there and for four weeks after returning. These would need to be prescribed by a doctor. I don't know about other countries, but you'd have to pay the price of the actual drugs rather than the standard prescription charge in the UK. Hope this helps. If you want to give me details about areas and the age of the travellers I could give you more accurate information.