Malaria: when is too late for prevention? Posted: 09-08-06 15:23pm
My husband has just been diagnosed with
malaria. We just returned from Africa 5
days ago and neither took anti-malaria
meds. (A year ago we went to Africa and I
got sick on the anti-malaria meds.) Can I
now take something to help prevent getting
malaria, or is it too late?
Malaria is an infective disease caused by
the parasite "Plasmodium". There are 4
types of plasmodium (vivax, oval, malariae
and falciparum) that cause different types
of malaria. Plasmodium falciparum is the
most dangerous one and the most resistant
to medicines. Malaria can be prevented by
using anti-malarial drugs 2 weeks before
going into a malaria zone. Anti-malaria
meds should be taken during the whole stay
in such a zone and for 4 weeks after
returning from such a zone. Prevention is
not 100% secure. Chloroquine has been the
drug of first choice for protection from
malaria. With emerging resistance, it is
now only indicated for use in areas where
Plasmodium vivax, P. oval, and P. malariae
are present. Falciparum malaria is
becoming increasingly resistant to
anti-malarial medications. For travelers
going into areas where Falciparum malaria
is known to occur, there are several
options for anti-malarial treatment,
including mefloquine,
atovaquone/Proguanil, and doxycycline.
In your case, it is too late to prevent
infection. There are 2 possibilities:
either you are not infected at all or you
are in the stadium of incubation.
Incubation (a period without symptoms)
usually lasts 8-20 days but it may also
last from a few weeks to a few months.
This means that even if you are not having
symptoms at the moment, you may still
develop malaria in the next few weeks or
months. That’s why you HAVE TO take
anti-malaria drugs during exposure. And
you must consult an infectologist for
further action.
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