Which Antimalarial Tablets Should You Take Before Travelling Abroad?
Malaria is a disease spread by infected mosquitos that are common in tropical and subtropical areas. Parasites infect these mosquitos in the wild. Sweating, vomiting, headaches, chills, and diarrhoea are some of the unpleasant symptoms of malaria. If left untreated, malaria can be fatal. Continue reading to learn more about antimalarials in Bebington.
Malaria medicines, fortunately, provide protection against the sickness. If you want to travel outside of the country, make sure you check to see if the country you’ll be visiting is malaria-infested. For the best protection, take malaria tablets before, during, and after your intended travel.
What are the symptoms of Malaria?
Malaria can be difficult to detect, although, symptoms include the following:
– A fever, sweats, and chills
– Headaches and confusion
– Feeling sleepy and very tired (particularly in children)
– Tummy pain and diarrhoea
– Lack of appetite
– Muscle pains
– Yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes
– Coughing, a sore throat and difficulty breathing
After being bitten by an infected mosquito, these symptoms usually manifest 7 to 18 days later. However, it’s possible to not experience symptoms for months, if not years, following your trip.
What are antimalarials in Bebington?
These are tablets that protect you from malaria by allowing your body to fight the parasite that causes the disease.
Malaria medications, nevertheless, must be taken in conjunction with a few other precautions, like avoiding mosquito bites, in order to provide the best protection. If they are not taken as prescribed, their efficiency is considerably reduced.
Want to delay your regular period so that it doesn’t interfere with your travels? Learn more here:
How can malaria be avoided?
Malaria can be prevented and treated with medication such as antimalarials. Take these tablets before travelling to malaria-infested places where you’re at risk of contracting the disease.
It’s preferable to do this at least 4 to 6 weeks before your trip, but if you need to, you can still receive help at the last minute.
Antimalarial medications may be provided to minimise your chance of contracting malaria, as well as instructions on how to avoid mosquito bites.
These tablets can reduce your risk of contracting malaria by over 90%.
In order for a pharmacist to determine which type of antimalarial tablet to administer, the following information is normally required:
– Your destination
– Any relevant family medical history
– A traveller’s medical history, like any medication allergies
– Any medication being taken at the time
– Any antimalarial medication issues you’ve previously had
– Your age
– Your pregnancy status
Prior to jetting off, you may be asked to complete a trial course of antimalarial medications. It’s usually a quick test to see if you have any negative reactions or side effects. Alternative antimalarials might be administered to you before you go if you experience major side effects.
When should you start taking antimalarials in Bebington?
As directed by your travel health professional, you should begin taking malaria tablets before arriving in a malaria-risk area.
Some antimalarial tablets can be taken a few days before travelling, while others a week or more before you leave. This will ensure you have enough antimalarial medication in your system to begin preventing infection as soon as you reach your destination.
Take the tablets as instructed by your pharmacist; failure to do so can result in malaria infection.
Even if you are no longer in a region where malaria is widespread, it’s vital to complete the full course of medication. Stopping the medication early can result in malaria infection if the parasites are already in your body.
Which antimalarials in Bebington are the best?
The following are some of the most commonly prescribed antimalarial medications:
– Chloroquine phosphate. Chloroquine is the best choice of treatment for all parasites that are sensitive to the medicine.
– Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs). ACT is a blend of two or more medicines that work to prevent malaria parasites in various ways.
– Atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone).
– Quinine sulfate (Qualaquin) with doxycycline (Oracea, Vibramycin).
– Primaquine phosphate.
Can you get malaria tablets over the counter?
Malaria tablets are usually only available with a prescription. You can, however, avoid the difficulties of going to your GP by getting them from The Pharmacy Bebington.
Even though malaria tablets require a prescription, there are a few exceptions:
– Chloroquine and/or proguanil, which can be purchased from local pharmacies.
– Atovaquone/proguanil, which is also available at local pharmacies (some restrictions may apply).
If you’re not sure which antimalarials are best for you or your family, see a pharmacist or a travel health specialist.
Malaria treatment options
You can expect a full recovery if malaria is recognised and treated promptly with the appropriate treatment. When a blood test reveals that you have the disease, it’s critical to begin treatment right away. The best way to treat Malaria is through antibiotics. However, you should seek medical help as soon as possible if you feel like you have symptoms of Malaria.
Call us today to book your consultation for antimalarials!
This blog post was written on behalf of The Pharmacy Bebington by Pharmacy Mentor.