It is estimated that approximately 16,000 people in Europe contract the disease malaria every year. The main cause of malaria infection is traveling to risk areas. That is why good preparation for such a trip, especially to countries in the tropics that are affected by malaria, is inevitable.

Symptoms of malaria

Malaria is transmitted to humans by bites from the malaria mosquito and is usually fatal. The symptoms are very similar to a bad flu:

• cold shivers;
• very high fever;
• vomit;
• a paralyzing fatigue.

Although malaria still occurred in our country until the 1950s, the disease kills most people in tropical countries.

Preventing and treating malaria

With regard to the prevention and treatment of malaria, three periods must be distinguished:

• the period prior to the trip;
• the time spent in the malaria area;
• the time after the trip.

Possible problems and complications are discussed below.

Period prior to the trip

Undoubtedly, one has more than enough to arrange when preparing for a trip to a malaria area. However, to prevent malaria, one should absolutely take the time to consult a good tropical doctor to take the correct precautions. General practitioners generally have little or no knowledge to provide correct advice for preventing a malaria infection.And certainly do not postpone such a consultation until the last week before departure. Since various details are important for professional advice , the most important ones are listed below.

Points of attention to prevent malaria infection

• The purpose of the trip: the travel destination is therefore important because not only can the risk of contracting the disease malaria be estimated, but also because the choice of medication depends on the destination. In some countries the malaria parasite is resistant to certain medications. In other words, the medicines no longer work there. Because the situation can change quickly, above is a map (Source: WHO Malaria ) “Which countries are malaria areas ;
• Travel time : the travel time partly determines what type of chemoprophylaxis (prevention of diseases by administering chemical medicines) should be carried out and, above all, when it should start. During a long stay in certain countries, the doctor may advise against chemoprophylaxis due to possible side effects of the medications;
• Personal information : inform the doctor of any health problems. Some anti-malarials can only be used in emergencies for certain health conditions;
• Infants and pregnancy : special guidance must be provided for infants and women during or before pregnancy, on the one hand because there is an increased risk of infection with an unfavorable outcome, and on the other hand because certain medicines should not be used.

Emergency preparedness

• Ask your doctor how to proceed in the event of an acute malaria infection. If you cannot immediately go to a hospital at your destination, have yourself prescribed suitable self-medication. If you become ill at your destination, under certain circumstances you may no longer be able to obtain the right medicines;
• If you do not speak the language of the country and suffer from a health problem that may be affected by malaria drugs, ask your doctor, depending on your destination, for a short note in English or French in case you need treatment on site must undergo.

Other preparatory measures

In addition to a visit to the tropical doctor, you must make other preparations regarding the trip:

• make sure you have packed the correct malaria medicine for each person, including a full treatment dose;
• Be sure to purchase mosquito nets in good time because not all stores always keep these types of items in stock. Do not rely on being able to buy a mosquito net at your destination;
• make sure you have long clothes and enough change in your luggage. If you are traveling to a remote area, you can still get antimalarials but your credit card probably won’t be of much use here;
• take out additional insurance against illness abroad (including repatriation to the Netherlands), unless your travel and cancellation insurance already provides sufficient cover.

Your stay in the malaria area

Adhere to the recommendations provided with chemoprophylaxis. This reduces the risk of infection. If you nevertheless become ill, seek a doctor or hospital as soon as possible.The following overview provides further recommendations regarding possible infection:

• Medications : Make sure you always keep a full complement of malaria medications in reserve. In the event of an infection, you may no longer be able to get the right medicines;
• hospital/doctor : inform yourself immediately after arrival about the nearest hospital (in many countries the first doctor’s consultation takes place in the hospital) or a doctor. Make sure you know where that hospital is or at least have the name of the hospital written down;
• social network : if you travel alone, do not sleep in a hotel or stay in the country for a longer period of time, build a circle of acquaintances who can help you in an emergency. Make sure at least one person knows where you are staying. In the event of a malaria infection, there is a risk that you will retreat to your room and, in the worst case, will not be discovered there until it is already too late;
• Infection : If you suspect you are suffering from malaria, go to the nearest hospital immediately. If this is not possible, start the therapy yourself according to the instructions in the package leaflet of the malaria medicines and seek medical help as soon as possible. Please note that young children usually require much lower doses because they are at a much greater risk of drug poisoning compared to adults.

If treated promptly, malaria will probably not hit you harder than normal flu, but any unnecessary delay or delay, even just a few hours, can lead to death.