Medication to Prevent Malaria and How to Use It

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 many cases of malaria. To find out what are the antidote to malaria and how to use it, let's look at the following review. Malaria is a disease that is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito that has been infected with the Plasmodium parasite. This disease is dangerous because it can cause severe complications, even death. In Indonesia, malaria is an endemic disease, especially in Maluku, East Nusa Tenggara, Sulawesi Papua, West Papua, and in parts of Kalimantan and Sumatra. Therefore, people who will travel to the area are recommended to take malaria prevention drugs.

This is the medicine for preventing malaria

For people who live in areas with rare cases of malaria and want to visit an endemic area of ​​this disease, malaria prevention drugs should be taken for 4-8 weeks. Starting from one week before going to a high risk place for malaria, to 4 weeks after returning home. Medication must be taken every day at the same time, including while living in endemic areas. The following are some types of malaria prevention drugs and how to use them:

1. Atovaquone / proguanil

This drug is the most recent malaria prevention drug, and is effective against P. falciparum. Atovaquone / Proguanil is suitable for you who will be traveling in the near future, because it can be used 1-2 days before traveling until 7 days after returning home. Side effects of this drug are abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, but it rarely happens. Atovaquone / proguanil should not be used by pregnant, lactating women and people with kidney disorders.

2. Doxycycline

This drug is known to be effective against P. falciparum, and is used starting 1-2 days before traveling up to 4 weeks after returning from malaria endemic areas. Side effects can include digestive disorders, itching on the skin, headaches, dry mouth, and vaginal discharge in women. Doxycycline is not recommended for children under 8 years because it can affect bone growth and change the color of the tooth layer. The duration of administration of this drug is a maximum of 6 months. Dosage doses can cause irritation of the esophagus. Therefore, it is recommended to increase drinking water when taking this drug, and the drug should not be taken before bedtime. In addition, the dose of the lining also makes the skin more sensitive to sunlight.

3. mefloquine

This drug can be used in pregnant women in trimesters two and three, as well as babies over the age of 3 months. Mefloquine is consumed starting from 1 week before traveling up to 4 weeks after returning home. Side effects of these drugs 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 drug 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 up to 4 weeks after returning home. Side effects that can arise from the use of this drug are blurred vision, ringing in the ears, and hearing loss. At present, chloroquine is rarely used because many P. falciparum are already resistant to this drug.

5. Primakuin

This drug is good for preventing P. vivax and P. falciparum, and can be given to children, but not to pregnant women. Primakuin is consumed 1-2 days before traveling up to 7 days after returning home. Possible side effects are digestive disorders, such as abdominal pain and nausea, vomiting. In people 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 that you are going to, also based on your health condition. Remember, malaria prevention drugs need to be taken according to the dose and time period that has been determined by the doctor.

Tips for Protecting Yourself from Mosquito Bites

Taking malaria prevention drugs alone does not guarantee a person will avoid this disease. To reduce the risk of malaria, you also need to protect yourself from mosquito bites, especially at night until morning. Here are tips to avoid mosquito bites:

1. Use anti-mosquito lotion containing 30-50% DEET (N, N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide) or picaridin (KBR 3023).
2. Use mosquito nets or wire on the doors and windows of the house, and mosquito nets on the bed. Also, make sure the doors and windows are tightly closed to prevent mosquitoes from entering the room.
3. Use anti-mosquito spray in the room or room.
4. Limit outdoor activities, especially in the afternoon and evening.
5. Use long-sleeved clothes, long pants, and socks to protect the body, especially at night.
6. Use bright colored clothes.
7. Keep the environment clean, for example by diligently draining and cleaning the bathtub, and not hanging clothes in the house.

Malaria should not be underestimated. If you experience a high fever accompanied by chills for 1 week or more, while in an endemic area of ​​malaria or within a period of 3 months after leaving the area, immediately see a doctor to get an examination and treatment.