Friday, March 11, 2011

Mosquitoes and Malaria


Everyone who travels wants a healthy arrival to their destination, and a healthy arrival home. No one wants to end up sick so it’s important to understand what infections can be caught during travel and knowing where travel clinics are located. 

As Spring approaches, summer will be here before we know it. With summer comes mosquitoes. Not only do they bite and leave us itching away, but they can also transmit malaria

Malaria, a potentially fatal blood disease transmitted by the infected Anopheles mosquito, is common in tropical and subtropical areas. The infection is heavily spread in Central and South America, parts of the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and the South Pacific. It is also heavily transmitted among travelers in the United States. The transmission occurs as mosquitoes become infected by other mosquitoes carrying malaria, and then biting humans who then become infected.

If you’re traveling and begin to feel sick with a fever, headache, chills and muscle aches for two to three days repeatedly then you should go to a clinic  immediately. Vomiting, diarrhea, coughing and yellow skin are also common symptoms.
There are no vaccines for malaria, but there are anti malaria medications and other simple ways to help reduce the risk of becoming infected.

In regards to medication, Malarone, Doxycycline, and Larium are all pills taken to help reduce the risk of receiving malaria. Each medication is taken on different occassions and each has different side effects so be sure to ask your doctor prior to use.

Simple prevention tips include always using bug spray when going outside during the daytime and nighttime. Also, wearing long clothing to cover your arms and legs helps prevent bites. Before any trip, be sure to get vaccinated and be examined by your doctor.

Links: travel clinics, malaria, clinic, prevent, Malarone, Doxycycline, Larium, vaccinated, examined. 



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