Ready to travel abroad? Let's learn exactly about Malaria Pills!

Are you planning to travel to a country soon? Especially if you are traveling to a country with a hot climate like Africa, Southeast Asia, or the Middle East, one disease you should definitely be aware of is malaria . It is a mosquito-borne disease that can be life-threatening if not treated properly. But don't worry, there are things we can do to protect ourselves from this disease. One of the most important of these is taking anti-malaria medications, or as we call them, " malaria pills ."

What is this malaria? What happens with these pills?

Simply put, malaria is a disease caused by a parasite that enters our bodies through mosquitoes. When it occurs, it can cause symptoms such as high fever, chills, and body aches . If not treated properly, it can become serious.

The malaria pills we're talking about are a medicine that you take to prevent the disease from developing before it occurs. In medicine, we call this 'prophylactic medicine' . That means you don't have the disease, but you take the medicine to protect yourself from developing the disease. It's like raising an umbrella before it gets wet in the rain.

Things you should do before traveling

It is very important for your safety to follow these steps before you travel abroad.

• Research the country you're traveling to: Check the websites of the World Health Organization (WHO) or the US CDC to see what the malaria risk is in the country you're traveling to. The risk is highest in areas such as sub-Saharan Africa, some countries in Southeast Asia, parts of Central and South America, and the Middle East.

• Know your travel details: It's important to know which parts of the country you're traveling to and what you're doing. The risk of malaria can vary from region to region, even within the same country. This information will also help your doctor choose the right medication for the type of malaria parasite found in each region.

• See a doctor: This is the most important thing. Make sure to see your doctor 4 to 6 weeks before your trip. Some malaria pills need to be started 2-3 weeks before your trip. So it is very important to go and get advice early.

How does this medicine work?

You will need to take this medicine before you leave, during your stay, and for about a week to four weeks after you return to Sri Lanka. This is because the malaria parasites, which enter your body when a mosquito bites you, can remain hidden in your body for a while.

What these medications do is destroy those parasites that have settled in your liver or red blood cells before the disease gets worse.

You can still get malaria even if you take these pills. However, if you take the medication correctly, you can reduce your risk of developing the disease by about 90% .

What are the medications for malaria?

Your doctor will select the recommended medication that is appropriate for the area you are visiting. Let's take a quick look at some of those medications in the table below.

What do you do if you get malaria despite taking medication?

If you develop symptoms of malaria (high fever, chills, body aches) during your trip or after arriving in Sri Lanka, seek medical attention immediately. You may need to go to an Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU). Time is of the essence. It is essential to start treatment before the illness becomes serious.

Your doctor will determine which type of malaria you have and prescribe the right medication for it. This is important because some malaria parasites are drug-resistant.

The medicine you are given will be determined based on factors such as:

• The type of malaria you have
• your age
• Your physical health status
• Did you take medicine to prevent malaria, and if so, what did it say?
• Are you a pregnant mother?
• Your other medical conditions and medications (medical history)

Usually, the same medicine you take to prevent illness will not cure the illness. So it's very important to tell your doctor exactly what medication you're taking.