What to do when traveling to countries with malaria

What is MALARIA? Malaria is a parasitic disease, mainly caused by Plasmodium falciparum mosquitoes. It is also called a disease of poverty as it affects the poorest countries in the world like Africa and Southeast Asia. It is a major threat to children under the age of five and pregnant women.

Zack is a medical student. He is planning to go to Indonesia to visit his mother who is very sick. He wants to bring his 16 weeks pregnant wife and their 4-year-old daughter. What prophylactic medications for MALARIA should Zack and his family get? In some areas like Indonesia, all 4 types of malaria are present. Zack and his family may need prophylactic therapy to protect them from all malarial species, including chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum (CRPF) infections. To check which country is on the CRPF list or to get other relevant information on malaria prophylaxis, Zack should call the CDC Malaria Hotline. Pregnant women are at greater risk for malaria infection and its complications like severe hemolytic anemia and enlargement of the spleen. It is best to avoid travelling to areas endemic for malaria.

​References Koda-Kimble, Mary Anne. Applied Therapeutics: The Clinical Use of Drugs. 9th ed., Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2009. Tanner, Marcel, et al. "Malaria eradication and elimination: views on how to translate a vision into reality." BMC medicine 13.1 (2015): 1-22. Destinations | Travelers' Health | CDC CDC - Malaria - Travelers - Malaria Information and Prophylaxis, by Country CDC - Malaria - Malaria Disease Basics.