Complete Malaria Information for Kenya and South Africa
9/02/2010 - Optimized for Firefox 3.6.8
I am NOT a Doctor - Consult a Travel Doctor
Use this information at your own risk - it may be outdated or wrong
I Have NO medical training - YOU Do or do Not do things at YOUR OWN risk
Feel free to link to any of my pages
"Malaria is an ancient disease probably originating in Africa. The malaria
parasite (plasmodium) is transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes. ..." - mosquito.org
See also Complete information about MOSQUITOES
ONE OF MY TRAVEL DOCTORs DIS-AGREED WITH THESE PREVENTATIVE MEDICINES -
CHECK WITH A TRAVEL DOCTOR ABOUT YOUR SPECIFIC TRAVEL VACCINATION NEEDS.
COLORS to WEAR and to AVOID and Other Precautions
AFRICA - Traveler's Health Information
Travel Vaccinations
MD Travel Health - Kenya - vaccinations, malaria, safety, and ...
All travelers should bring along an antibiotic and an antidiarrheal
drug to be started promptly if significant diarrhea occurs.
Malaria - mdtravelhealth
One option for emergency malaria self-treatment is to take a combination
of artemether and lumefantrine, marketed as Coartem in the United States
and as Riamet in Europe.
Malaria Tablets - Which To Take for a Safari Trip?
Malaria - MedicineNet
Malaria Info - FitForTravel.nhs.uk
New Malaria Vaccine Initiative Aims to Stunt Parasite within Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes Declare War on Mount Kenya
MALARIA in SOUTH AFRICA
Malaria occurs in limited areas in South Africa, mainly in the low altitude
(below 1000m) areas of Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North Eastern KwaZuluNatal.
Malaria is distinctly seasonal in South Africa, with the highest risk being during
the wet summer months (October to May).
Wear long sleeved clothing (preferably light colored), long trousers & socks.
How To Avoid Malaria
PROTECTING YOURSELF AGAINST MALARIA IS IMPERATIVE ON A TRIP TO SOUTHERN AFRICA
Malaria in South Africa: Introduction and Advice -2006 - may be out-of-date???
sulfadoxinepyrimethamine & chloroquine can no longer be used as a single treatment.
Both mefloquine (mefliam) & doxycycline REQUIRE Prescriptions.
Malaria & anti-malaria tablets (prophylaxis) for South Africa - either mefloquine (mefliam) or doxycycline
Guidelines For the Prevention of MALARIA in SOUTH AFRICA
Health Information for South Africa - CDC Travelers' Health
South Africa Malaria Risk Areas
Malaria - Kruger - virtualtourist
Malaria - traveldoctor
NOTE - temporarily borrowed from THIS paper - while safari planning:
"Efficacy and adverse reactions of recommended prophylactic regimens
more on: Doxycycline
A high percentage of travellers who take malaria chemoprophylaxis will report
side-effects, the majority of which are mild and self-limiting. In general, the
incidence of mild to moderate and serious adverse events is similar for
mefloquine and the combination of proguanil and chloroquine.
The rate of serious adverse reactions is in the order of 1:10 000 for both
regimens. However, the types of adverse events differ. The combination of
proguanil and chloroquine commonly causes gastrointestinal adverse events,
and mefloquine appears to cause more disabling neuropsychiatric events.
Travellers discontinue their drugs because of adverse events at a similar rate
for all the recommended regimens.
Mefloquine
Mefloquine is active against P. falciparum parasites that are resistant to
chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and the other three plasmodial
species that affect humans8. Weekly dosing should encourage compliance. It
is recommended for use for up to 12 months but has been safely used for
more than 2 years.
Adverse effects associated with mefloquine include insomnia, strange
dreams, mood changes, nausea, diarrhea and headache. These would
usually be experienced within the first three weeks of medication and
do not become worse in subsequent weeks of use. If they are not
experienced during the first use of mefloquine they are unlikely to appear
during subsequent use for prophylaxis. Severe neuropsychiatric reactions
(psychosis, convulsions) are infrequent with prophylactic doses and occur in
approximately 1/10 000 to 1/13 000 persons. The frequency of mild
neuropsychiatric effects is probably much higher. These effects may be
sufficiently severe for the individual to discontinue prophylaxis. To forestall
this event it is suggested that when mefloquine is to be taken for the first time
that prophylaxis should commence three weeks before exposure to malaria to
enable a change to be made timeously to another drug should side effects
occur.
Rare cases of suicidal ideation and suicide have been reported, thought no
relationship to mefloquine has been confirmed.
There is inadequate experience of the safety of mefloquine taken during the
first three months of pregnancy. It should not be used during this time but in
the event of a pregnancy, available safety data does not support
termination. Taking mefloquine while breastfeeding is not recommended
because of lack of data.
Mefloquine may cause spatial disorientation and lack of fine coordination and
should not be used where fine coordination is required, e.g. for pilots,
underwater diving.
Doxycycline
May cause an exaggerated sunburn reaction, which limits its usefulness
in the tropics. Sunscreen is essential. For women, an antifungal
medication should be included in the medical kit, in case of yeast
infection.
Doxycycline is effective against all four species of human malaria parasites
and has comparable efficacy to mefloquine.
Doxycycline also treats cholera. During cholera epidemics, 90 per cent
of those who get ill would be okay if they drank large amounts of water.
This drug affects bone formation during early life and should not be given
during pregnancy, breast-feeding and the first eight years of life. Adverse
effects including gastrointestinal symptoms and candida infection of the gut
and vagina and may be severe enough to discontinue prophylaxis. Severe
skin sensitivity to sun burn may develop, excessive exposure should be
avoided and the use of sunscreen preparations is advised. Other rare
symptoms include dizziness, headache and blurred vision.
There is limited experience with long-term use of more than 4-6 months."
Mefloquine. (weekly). Start at least one week before entering a malaria area.
Doxycycline. (daily). Start one day before entering a malaria area.
These regimes must be taken for FOUR weeks after leaving the malaria area.
KENYA - MALARIA in
Health Information for Kenya - CDC Travelers' Health
KENYA - Chloroquine resistance very widespread.
HIGH RISK MALARIA COUNTRIES (at least part of the Country)
KENYA, Mozambique, Swaziland, Zair, Zambia
SOUTH AFRICA - North east, low altitude areas of Mpumalanga and Northern
Provinces, Northeast KwaZulu-Natal as far south as the Tugela river.
Risk IS present in Kruger National Park.
Zimbabwe - The Zambezi Valley.
Preferable regimen:
Doxycycline
It is related to Tetracycline.
The most common reported side effect is increased sun sensitivity
so make sure you take all precautions to avoid sunburn. Mild nausea,
vomiting, diarrhea, trouble swallowing, or vaginal yeast infection
are some other possible side effects.
doxycycline - anytestkits
Malaria in South Africa: Introduction and Advice - South Africa
The length of the regimen can have adverse effects on the digestive tract,
however, which can be alleviated to some degree with probiotics like Inteflora.
(NO that's silly - just take over the counter Acidophilus or Bifidus)
OR
Mefloquine = Lariam (mefloquine hydrochloride) = Mefaquin
Side effects include headache, nausea, dizziness, difficulty
sleeping, anxiety, paranoia, vivid dreams and visual disturbances.
If you're worried about the side effects, it's a good idea to start
taking the tablets more than a week prior to your safari to see
if/how it will affect you.
Mefloquine may have severe and permanent adverse side effects.
It is known to cause severe depression, anxiety, paranoia, aggression, nightmares,
insomnia, seizures, birth defects, peripheral motor-sensory neuropathy,[2]
vestibular (balance) damage and central nervous system problems.
For a complete list of adverse physical and psychological effects
— including suicidal ideation — see the most recent product information.
Central nervous system events occur in up to 25% of people taking Lariam,
such as dizziness, headache, insomnia, and vivid dreams.
OR
MALARONE = is a combination of two drugs (atovaquone and proguanil HCI).
It’s called Malanil in South Africa; both brands are manufactured by Glaxo Smith Kline.
Side-effects, which are typically mild, may include abdominal pain, nausea,
vomiting, headache, diarrhea, or dizziness. Serious adverse reactions are rare.
Malarone (Atovaquone and Proguanil Hcl) Drug Information
Malarone Information from Drugs.com
Atovaquone - Wikipedia
Malaria in South Africa: Introduction and Advice
ALTERNATE REGIMEN
Chloroquine
PLUS
Proguanil - (limited protection)
MALARIA in other African Countries
Zimbabwe - Areas below 1,200 metres - November to June. All year long in the Zambezi Valley
where Doxycycline, Mefloquine or Malarone are preferable. Risk is negligible in Harare and Bulawayo.
Risk in parts of the country Some chloroquine resistance present:
Botswana,
Zimbabwe - Areas below 1,200 metres - November to June. All year long
in the Zambezi Valley where Doxycycline, Mefloquine or Malarone
are preferable. Risk is negligible in Harare and Bulawayo.
RELATED MOSQUITO INFORMATION
MOSQUITOES - General Information
Mosquito BITES - Treating
MOSQUITO REPELLENTS & INSECTICIDES
DEET - (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide) - Mosquito Repellent
DEET SELLERS, of
METOFLUTHRIN - Insecticide repellent NOT applied to human skin
OFF! Clip-On Mosquito Repellent uses Metofluthrin.
OIL of LEMON EUCALYPTUS - OLE - a Repellent
PERIPEL - Repellent
Permethrin Insecticide - keep off your skin
PICARIDIN (KBR3023, or Bayrepel) - REPELLENT
RID - An Australian insect Repellent - said to also work on Tsetse Flies
MOSQUITO NETTING
MOSQUITO (electrified) SWATTERS (Zappers)
WEST NILE VIRUS
METOFLUTHRIN - Insecticide repellent NOT applied to human skin
Metofluthrin is highly effective for repelling and killing mosquitoes?
METOFLUTHRIN is CONTAINED IN OFF's INSECT REPELLENT FAN
RESEARCH ON THE EFFECTS OF OFF's CLIP-ON INGREDIENT, METHOFLUTHIN
Metofluthrin, like other pyrethroids, is neurotoxic in rats, rabbits, and dogs - EPA.
OTHER INFORMATION