There are several drugs that can be used to prevent malaria. You need to take these medicines before traveling to areas where there are still a lot of malaria cases. To know anything drug pget rid of malaria and how to use it, let's look at the following reviews.
Malaria is a disease that is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito Plasmodium. This disease is dangerous because it can cause serious complications, even death.
In Indonesia, malaria is an endemic disease, especially in Maluku, East Nusa Tenggara, Sulawesi Papua, West Papua, as well as in parts of Kalimantan and Sumatra. Therefore, people who will travel to these areas are advised to take malaria prevention drugs.
This is the medicine to prevent malaria
For people who live in areas with rare cases of malaria and want to visit areas where this disease is endemic, malaria prevention drugs should be taken for 4-8 weeks. Starting from one week before going to a high risk of malaria, to 4 weeks after going home. The drug must be taken every day at the same time, including during stay in endemic areas.
The following are some types of malaria prevention drugs and how to use them:
1. Atovaquone/proguanil
This drug is the newest anti-malarial drug, and is effective against P. falciparum. Atovaquone/proguanil suitable for those of you who will be traveling in the near future, because it can be used 1-2 days before traveling to 7 days after returning home.
Side effects of this drug are abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, but they are rare. Atovaquone/proguanil should not be used by pregnant women, lactating women, and people with kidney problems.
2. Doxycycline
This drug is known to be effective against P. falciparum, and is used from 1-2 days before traveling to 4 weeks after returning from malaria endemic areas. Side effects can include indigestion, itching of the skin, headaches, dry mouth, and vaginal discharge in women.
Doxycycline is not recommended for children under 8 years of age because it can affect bone growth and change the color of the tooth coating. The duration of this drug is a maximum of 6 months.
Dosicycline can cause irritation of the esophagus. Therefore, it is recommended to drink more water while taking this drug, and the drug should not be taken before bedtime. In addition, dosicycline also causes the skin to be more sensitive to sunlight.
3. Mefloquine
This drug can be used in pregnant women in the second and third trimesters, as well as infants aged over 3 months. Mefloquine is taken from 1 week before traveling to 4 weeks after going home.
Side effects of this drug are hallucinations, insomnia, and seizures. Mefloquine is not recommended for patients with heart disease or psychological disorders, such as depression and anxiety disorders.
4. Chloroquine
This medicine is only taken once a week, and can be used by children and pregnant women in all trimesters. Chloroquine is taken 1-2 weeks before traveling to 4 weeks after going home.
Side effects that can arise from the use of this drug are blurred vision, ringing in the ears, and decreased hearing. Currently, chloroquine is rarely used because it P. falciparum who are already resistant to this drug.
5. Primaquine
This drug is good for preventing P. vivax nor P.falciparum, and can be given to children, but not to pregnant women. Primaquine is taken 1-2 days before traveling to 7 days after returning home. Side effects that may occur are digestive disorders, such as abdominal pain and nausea and vomiting. In patients with G6PD deficiency disease, this drug can cause hemolytic anemia.
To determine which type of drug is appropriate for malaria prevention, you can consult a doctor. The doctor will choose the type of drug based on the pattern of malaria drug resistance in the endemic area you are going to, as well as based on your health condition.
Remember, malaria prevention drugs need to be consumed according to the dose and time period that has been determined by the doctor.
Tips to Protect Yourself from Mosquito Bites
Taking malaria prevention drugs alone does not guarantee that a person will avoid this disease. To reduce your risk of getting malaria, you also need to protect yourself from mosquito bites, especially at night and into the morning. Here are tips to avoid mosquito bites:
- Use a mosquito repellent lotion that contains 30-50% DEET (N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide) or picaridin (KBR 3023).
- Use mosquito nets or wire on the doors and windows of the house, and mosquito nets on the bed. In addition, make sure the doors and windows are tightly closed to prevent mosquitoes from entering the room.
- Use mosquito repellent spray in the room or room.
- Limit outdoor activities, especially in the afternoon and evening.
- Wear long sleeves, long pants, and socks to protect yourself, especially at night.
- Wear light colored clothes.
- Keep the environment clean, for example by diligently draining and cleaning the bathtub, and not hanging clothes in the house.
Malaria should not be taken lightly. If you have a high fever with chills for 1 week or more, while in a malaria-endemic area or within 3 months after leaving the area, see your doctor immediately for examination and treatment.
Written by:
dr. Asri Meiy Andini