With international flights becoming so normal for both holidaymakers and businessmen we tend to forget that conditions in those distant countries can often be so different to anything found here in the UK. One particular danger that is sometimes overlooked is that of contracting malaria. Most of us realise what malaria is and how it is spread by mosquitoes but too many travellers still choose to ignore the vital precautions and instead just believe that "It can never happen to me". Malaria is a terrible, sometimes deadly disease that is common in over 100 countries, mainly in Africa, South America and Southern Asia.
Malaria is a threat in over 100 countries, primarily in tropical and sub-tropical areas of the world consisting of large parts of Africa and Asia, Central and South America and odd bits of the South Pacific. It just takes a single mosquito bite for someone to become contaminated and in 2013 more than 1,500 travellers were identified with malaria here in the UK after coming back from a malarial area, 7 of these cases were sadly fatal. With these type of stats it's nearly past belief that such a chance is taken, especially when you know that you are visiting an area that is impacted by malaria. The 2013 stats show that of 1,501 malaria cases recorded in the UK, 1,233 of those people had visited Africa. Furthermore, the biggest percentage of those reported cases were people who had been visiting family in their country of origin. The website www.malariaprevention.co.uk has lots more information on Malarone Cost.
The significance of taking preventative measures against malaria, at the risk of sounding like your Mum, should really go without saying. It's just as easy as the option between leaving your house by the front door or the upstairs bedroom window; standard sound judgment should reign supreme. Yet still, due to numerous false impressions, visitors do not take adequate precautions against this deadly disease.
Travellers commonly disregard the danger that malaria presents, even when they are traveling to or through 'malarial hot-spots'. It is not unusual for a tourist from the UK to believe that the anti-malaria medicines have way too many negative side effects and that they are only going to be in a malarial hot-spot for a day or two. The actual reality is that the possibilities of contracting the condition are greatly increased for travellers from the UK who have built up no immunity to it and actually no-side effect, expense consideration or trouble is worth the danger of getting malaria.
In order to safeguard yourself from malaria during your travels it is necessary to adhere to the ABCD method;.
A = Awareness:
Figure out whether there's a risk of getting malaria before leaving on a trip. It is necessary to learn whether you will be travelling through or to a malarial hot-spot. Know where you are going to go and do some research on the existence of malaria in the region that you are going to visit. Some nations such as Malaysia and Indonesia are clear of malaria in some locations, yet in other areas malaria preventative measures are important.
B = Bite Deterrence:
Take steps to avoid mosquito bites by:
- Using insect repellent and re-apply often. The most efficient repellents contain a high concentration of DEET.
- Keeping windows and doors closed in resting locations after sunset.
- Ideally staying someplace with a/c and keeping it on during the night, conversely sleeping under an insecticide treated mosquito net.
C = Check:
Taking anti-malaria pills will substantially lower the threat of getting malaria. It is crucial to learn which medication is most efficient for you and if that medication is recommended for the area you are travelling to.
Make certain that you follow the directions provided with the anti-malaria drugs, take the correct dose, remember to start taking them before you leave on your trip and always finish the course.
There are 3 typical choices of anti-malaria drugs readily available by prescription in the UK, your GP will recommend the ideal one for you, but make certain that you consult them at least 1 month before taking a trip. A further possibility is to make use of a UK online pharmacy. Some of these have doctors on their staff and they are permitted to sell prescription only malaria drugs to a customer who has completed a questionnaire about where which area they are visiting plus some questions about your health. You are very likely to find that the prices charged by these online pharmacies are less expensive than buying the identical items with a prescription from your local chemist's shop.
D = Diagnosis:
If you have actually travelled to a malarial 'hot-spot' and consequently start to develop symptoms of malaria, for example; a high temperature, throwing up or chills and sweats then you need to find prompt medical guidance. Bear in mind that if the symptoms present themselves within 7 days of arriving in a malarial region then it's not malaria because it takes at least 7 days for malaria to show up following a bite from a malaria infested mosquito.
Also bear in mind that malaria can lay undetected in the human body for up to twelve months, so even though you're safely back home in the UK you should seek urgent medical attention should you begin to suffer any of the recognised symptoms within twelve months of your return. Malaria could develop extremely swiftly following discovery of the earliest symptoms, so it's essential if you believe there is any possibility that you could have gotten it, that it is detected and dealt with as quickly as possible.
Don't let malaria to wreck your journeys, make certain that you research your location carefully prior to taking a trip and take necessary safety measures. Know Before You Go.