Malaria Travel Care

Malaria is an infection of the blood that is caused by mosquitoes that carry the blood from person to person. It is still prevalent in the tropics. About a million people die of malaria each year, and in the US alone, hundreds of cases are reported.

Causes: A protozoan of the genus Plasmodium causes malaria which begins with an innocent bite from an infected mosquito. This parasite then travels through the mosquito to your liver, where it reproduces. From the liver, it goes to the bloodstream and infects the red blood cells and destroys them and releases more parasites into the bloodstream. If another mosquito bites an infected person, it can carry the infection to another person.

The four species of Plasmodium that infect humans are:

  • P vivax: This is commonly found in India and Central and South America and has an incubation period of 8-13 days. Infection by this species can cause life-threatening rupture of the spleen. If treated with chloroquine, it can mask itself in the liver and recur later.

  • P ovale: Found chiefly in Africa, it has an incubation period of 8-17 days and hides in the liver of partially treated people only to recur later.

  • P malariae: This is not as common as other malarial forms and has an incubation period of 2-4 weeks. If left untreated, it can last many years.

  • P falciparum: This is the commonest and most life-threatening form of malaria. It has an incubation period of 5-12 days.

Malaria can also be contracted through blood transfusions or organ transplants, IV drug users who share needles. Babies can get it from mothers who didn’t know they were infected.

Symptoms: High fever that comes and goes over several days is the chief symptom of malaria, accompanied by flu and body aches, headache, nausea, rigors, sweating and weakness. As the infection grows, the fevers abate and you think you are recovering.


These are the different types of malaria:

  • P falciparum: You can suffer from hemolytic anemia, coma, kidney failure and death.
  • P ovale:One symptom of this kind of malaria is anemia, but this infection is hardly ever life threatening.
  • P vivax: Anemia and a ruptured spleen that becomes life threatening are the hallmarks of this type of malaria. The patient may also have a relapse after a few months after the initial illness because the dormant forms of this malarial type still reside in the liver.
  • P malariae: Though this infection is not really life threatening, yet if it is a long-standing disease, it can lead to kidney failure. If untreated, it can stay with you for life.

    • Exams and tests: The doctor will perform blood tests to determine if you have malaria and, if so, which type. These tests sometimes are difficult to complete and may have to be repeated or the results sent to another hospital. Doctors also may perform DNA tests.

    When to seek medical care: People who recently have traveled to a country in which malaria exists and who develop a high fever or other symptoms that may be malaria should call their doctor or go to a hospital's emergency department. In much of the world, malaria is treated at home with oral medications and fluids. Severe infections require IV drug therapy. In the US, the disease probably should be treated first in a hospital. The most important aspect of home care is to make sure you drink lots of fluids and do not become dehydrated.

    Prevention: For people traveling to areas where malaria exists, prevention is perhaps the most important aspect of managing the disease. See your doctor well before you travel, because some medications need to be started before you travel. Several medications are used to prevent infections during foreign travel. The pattern of drug resistance to these medications is constantly changing.