Malaria Tablets

What is Malaria?

Malaria is a serious, potentially life-threatening disease caused by Plasmodium parasites transmitted through bites from infected Anopheles mosquitoes. It is widespread across sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and parts of Central and South America. Symptoms include high fever, chills, headache, and muscle aches — onset typically occurs 7–18 days after a bite. Malaria is preventable with the right precautions taken in advance of travel.

Who Should Take Malaria Prevention Tablets?

Anyone travelling to a malaria-endemic region should discuss prevention with a travel health clinician. Those at particularly high risk include:

• Pregnant women
• Young children
• Older travellers
• Immunosuppressed individuals
• Those without a functioning spleen
• Individuals with complex medical conditions or co-morbidities

Available Medications

The most appropriate antimalarial medication depends on your destination, trip duration, medical history, and personal circumstances. Options available at Makewell include:

• Atovaquone/Proguanil (Malarone / Maloff) — Suitable for most destinations; taken 1–2 days before travel and for 7 days after return
• Doxycycline — A cost-effective option for longer trips; taken daily from 1–2 days before travel until 4 weeks after return
• Mefloquine (Lariam) — Weekly tablet; started 2–3 weeks before travel and continued for 4 weeks after return

Bite Avoidance

Tablets must be combined with bite avoidance measures. Use DEET-based insect repellent, sleep under an insecticide-treated net, wear long sleeves and trousers after dusk, and use plug-in mosquito repellents in your accommodation where possible.

What’s Included

Your appointment includes a travel health consultation to assess your itinerary, risk level, and medical history. Based on this, our clinician will recommend and prescribe the most appropriate antimalarial medication for your needs. Pricing varies by medication type and quantity — please contact the clinic for current costs.