Malaria
Malaria is a serious tropical disease spread by mosquitoes. If not diagnosed and treated quickly, it can be fatal. A single mosquito bite is all it takes to become infected. Seek medical help immediately if you develop symptoms during or after a visit to an area where malaria is found.
Symptoms of malaria
It's important to be aware of the symptoms of malaria if you're travelling to areas where there's a high risk of the disease. Symptoms include:
- a high temperature of 38°C or above
- feeling hot and shivery
- headaches
- vomiting
- muscle pains
- diarrhoea
- anaemia
- jaundice
Symptoms usually appear between seven and 18 days after becoming infected.
In some cases the symptoms may not appear for up to a year, or occasionally even longer.
When to seek medical attention
Seek medical help immediately if you develop symptoms of malaria during or after a visit to an area where the disease is found.
You should still seek medical help even if it's several weeks, months or a year after you return from travelling.
If there's a possibility you have malaria, a blood test will be carried out to confirm if you're infected or not.
You should receive the results of your blood test on the same day. If you have malaria, treatment will be started straight away.
Causes of malaria
Malaria is caused by a type of parasite known as Plasmodium.
There are many different types of Plasmodia parasites, but only four cause malaria in people.
The Plasmodium parasite is mainly spread by mosquitoes, which mainly bite at dusk and at night.
When an infected mosquito bites a person, it passes the parasites into the bloodstream.
Malaria can also be spread through blood transfusions and the sharing of needles, but this is very rare.
Malaria risk areas
Malaria is found in more than 100 countries, mainly in tropical regions of the world, including:
- large areas of Africa and Asia
- Central and South America
- Haiti and the Dominican Republic
- parts of the Middle East
- some Pacific islands
Malaria is not found in Northern Ireland, but it may be diagnosed in travellers who return to Northern Ireland from risk areas.
‘Airport malaria’ or ‘baggage malaria’ is rare but is possible — malaria imported to non-endemic areas by infected mosquitoes, hiding in planes or in baggage.
The Fit for Travel website has more information about the risk of malaria in specific countries.
Preventing malaria
Many cases of malaria can be avoided. An easy way to remember is the ABCD approach to prevention:
- Awareness of risk – find out whether you're at risk of getting malaria before travelling
- Bite prevention – avoid mosquito bites by using insect repellent, covering your arms and legs, and using an insecticide-treated mosquito net
- Check whether you need to take malaria prevention tablets – if you do, make sure you take the right antimalarial tablets at the right dose, and finish the course
- Diagnosis – seek immediate medical advice if you develop malaria symptoms (see above), as long as up to a year after you return from travelling
Speak to your GP if you're planning to visit an area where there's a malaria risk. It may be recommended that you take antimalarial tablets to prevent infection.
Treating malaria
If malaria is diagnosed and treated quickly, almost everyone will make a full recovery.
Treatment should be started as soon as the diagnosis has been confirmed.
Antimalarial medication is used to both treat and prevent malaria. Which type of medication is used and the length of treatment will depend on:
- the type of malaria
- the severity of your symptoms
- where you caught malaria
- whether you took an antimalarial to prevent malaria
- whether you're pregnant
In some cases, you may be prescribed emergency standby treatment for malaria before you travel. This is usually if there's a risk of you becoming infected with malaria while travelling in a remote area with little or no access to medical care.
Complications of malaria
Malaria is a serious illness that can get worse very quickly. It can be fatal if not treated quickly.
It can also cause serious complications, including:
- severe anaemia – where red blood cells are unable to carry enough oxygen around the body, leading to drowsiness and weakness
- cerebral malaria – in rare cases, the small blood vessels leading to the brain can become blocked, causing seizures, brain damage and coma
The effects of malaria are usually more severe in pregnant women, babies, young children and the elderly. Pregnant women, in particular, are usually advised not to travel to malaria risk areas.
More useful links
The information on this page has been adapted from original content from the NHS website.
For further information see terms and conditions.