General advice

There are specific personal behavior patterns as well as mechanical measures and chemical prophylaxis and treatment that can seriously help to reduce the risk of an infection.

Certain important and personal behavior patterns:

• Avoid going out between dusk and dawn when Anopheles commonly bite.
• Wear long-sleeved clothing and long trousers when going out at night and avoid dark colors that attract mosquitoes.
• Stay whenever possible in well-constructed and well-maintained buildings in the most developed part of town.

Mechanical measures:

• Insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITN)
• Specially designed door and window screens that prevent mosquitoes from entering the house.
• Drainage of natural ponds, pools and large puddles since these are the ideal breeding grounds for Anopheles eggs.

Chemo-prophylaxis
By taking a malaria prophylactic product the pathogen proliferation in the human body is inhibited in case of an infectious mosquito bite. There are several chemical prophylactic options such as mefloquine. However, the decision on which prophylactic treatment will be adequate depends a lot on the geographical region and the dominant pathogen. For detailed information please contact your doctor or national travel health center. Link: www.who.int

Chemotherapy

If, in spite of numerous prophylactic measures, a malaria infection occurs, the infection can be chemically treated. However, due to the fact that more and more plasmodium strains develop resistance to one or several chemical compounds, artemisinin based combination products such as artesunate and mefloquine (Artequin™) will be the preferred first line treatment in many endemic areas.
It must be borne in mind that malaria is a life-threatening disease but with adequate, state-of-the-art treatment the infection can be controlled and patients cured without further problems.