Antimalarials

What is Antimalarial? 

Malaria is a serious infection and needs immediate medical attention if infected. This infection is spread from an infected mosquito and just one bite can be life-threatening. Some people are more susceptible to malaria than others, these people are:  

• Pregnant women 
• Young children 
• Adults 65 years and older 
• Someone who has a weakened immune system 
• Someone who does not have a spleen 

As this infection can be extremely dangerous, in some cases, advice from our pharmacist may be to avoid travelling to high-risk areas or to take antimalarial treatment. 

Why would I need antimalarial medicine?  

Antimalarial medicine is needed to protect you from getting malaria. When you visit us in-store for treatment, our pharmacist will also offer you advice on how else to avoid this infection. 

If you’re travelling to a tropical region, the risk of malaria is much higher. These areas include: 

• Large areas of Africa and Asia  
• Central and South America  
• Dominion Republic and Haiti  
• Parts of the Middle East 
• Some Pacific Islands 

Malaria is not usually passed from one human to another but, it can be from a pregnant mother to her baby during pregnancy and through needlestick injury (when a used needle accidentally punctures someone in the skin)  

Before you travel, be sure to check if your journey’s destination is at high-risk of malaria and promptly speak with our pharmacist for advice and treatment.  

How to avoid malaria?  

Malaria can be avoided, and visiting your local Allied Pharmacy offering this service can help! Visiting us at least four to six weeks before your trip, is sufficient time for advice and antimalarial medication to kick in and be effective.  

Other ways to avoid malaria when travelling include:  

• Apply insect repellent containing at least 50% DEET-based on your skin. 
• Sleep under a mosquito net that is treated with insecticide. 
• Wear long-sleeved clothing like trousers to ensure your arms and legs are covered. Especially in the evening, as this is when mosquitoes are most active. 

What are the symptoms of malaria?  

The symptoms of malaria are difficult to spot, which can be from its similarity to flu-like symptoms. This being: 

• A high temperature 
• Sweating 
• Chills  
• Feeling tired and sleepy (particularly in children) 
• Nausea and vomiting 
• Diarrhoea 
• Stomach pain  
• A loss of appetite  
• Muscle pains 
• Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin)  
• Sore throat 
• Difficulty breathing 
• A cough 

This long list of symptoms that come from the malaria infection usually appears between 7 to 18 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. However, it could even take several months or rarely years for symptoms to show after travelling.  

If you’re experiencing these symptoms and you have travelled to a country within 12 months where malaria is common, get medical advice immediately. This applies while you are away! Malaria is an emergency and treatment is available.