A brief history
Malaria once affected areas well beyond today's tropical risk regions. Scientists identified malaria parasites in human blood in 1880; research in the late 1890s established the mosquito's role in transmission. These discoveries helped shift prevention towards mosquito control and medicines that act on the parasite.
How does it spread?
Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites, usually passed to people through the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito. It is not spread through ordinary contact with another person. Blood transfusions and contaminated needles can also transmit the infection.
Risk varies within countries and with the season and itinerary. Malaria-carrying mosquitoes mainly bite between dusk and dawn, so evening bite protection matters even when taking tablets.
Symptoms and possible complications
Early symptoms include fever, chills and headache and can resemble other infections. Severe malaria can cause confusion, seizures, breathing difficulty, severe anaemia and organ damage. Untreated falciparum malaria can deteriorate rapidly and become life-threatening.
Fever during travel or within a year of returning from a malaria-risk area needs urgent medical assessment. Tell the clinician where you travelled and which tablets you took. Do not dismiss malaria because you completed the course.
How an antimalarial medicine helps
an antimalarial medicine acts against parasites in the blood and is taken weekly, continuing for four weeks after exposure. Destination resistance and mental-health history are central to suitability. It can cause serious neuropsychiatric effects. This clinic currently does not supply an antimalarial medicine.
Where it may be relevant
- Destinations where an antimalarial medicine remains an effective recommended option
- Long trips where weekly rather than daily dosing might otherwise be considered
- Only people who pass a careful mental-health, neurological and cardiac assessment
Malaria risk map
Red highlights destinations with detailed malaria maps in our country guidance. Risk varies within countries and by itinerary; highlighting does not mean tablets are needed everywhere. Select a country for local advice and risk maps.
Dose schedules
The clinician will select the appropriate licensed schedule after reviewing age, health, previous doses and departure date.
Weekly prevention
Only clinically suitable travellers
Currently unavailable from this clinic. Starting early helps identify adverse effects before travel.
Who may be eligible
- A prescriber must confirm destination suitability and absence of contraindications
- Starting sufficiently early allows tolerance to be assessed before departure
Who may not be eligible
- Current or previous depression, generalised anxiety disorder, psychosis, schizophrenia, suicide attempt or other specified psychiatric disorder
- History of convulsions, severe liver impairment or blackwater fever
- Important cardiac conditions, interacting medicines, pregnancy and breastfeeding require product-specific assessment
Potential side effects
- Nausea, abdominal symptoms, dizziness, headache or sleep disturbance
- Abnormal dreams, anxiety or mood changes
- Balance problems may persist after stopping in some people
Important risks and precautions
- Potentially serious neuropsychiatric reactions can occur and may persist after discontinuation
- Stop and seek medical advice promptly if psychiatric symptoms, nightmares, marked anxiety, confusion or balance disturbance develop
- No antimalarial guarantees protection; bite avoidance and urgent fever assessment remain essential
Clinical references