ISSN: 2640-2653
Prevention of Malaria Infection in Travelers: A Review
Malaria is dangerous if it is not treated as soon as the first peaks of fever appear and deaths are always linked to a delay in the administration of anti malarial drugs. During the transmission season in countries and territories where there is a risk of malaria, all non-immune travelers exposed to mosquito bites, especially between bedtime and sunrise, are at risk of malaria. Although well-managed anti malarial chemoprophylaxis provides about 90-95% protection, personal protective measures remain one of the essential pillars of malaria prevention. Many regions are therefore newly considered as low or moderate risk areas for malaria. The International Congress of Tropical Medicine 2015 in Quebec City has helped revive the debate and oppose three political currents. Preservatives (represented by the Centers for Disease Control in the United States) advocate the need for chemoprophylaxis prevention due to its efficiency. The Liberals (represented by Holland) offer protection against mosquito bites only to avoid the risk of non-severe side effects of chemoprophylaxis. The Swiss offer a reserve treatment to take in case of feverish condition waiting for a medical consultation because chemoprophylaxis in these areas puts the traveler at greater risk of suffering from the side effects of prophylaxis than of malaria itself.
Keywords:
Malaria; Travelers; Chemoprophylaxis; Personal protective measures; Prevention
