{"id":7440,"date":"2019-07-06T08:45:54","date_gmt":"2019-07-06T08:45:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=7440"},"modified":"2021-06-15T18:18:19","modified_gmt":"2021-06-15T18:18:19","slug":"14-useful-tips-to-avoid-protect-yourself-from-malaria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/14-useful-tips-to-avoid-protect-yourself-from-malaria\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Useful Tips to Avoid & Protect Yourself From Malaria"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Malaria is a parasitic condition that can cause a large number of symptoms, ranging from jaundice and headaches to fever and vomiting. Malaria is extremely serious if left untreated, and while it is curable, it can be extremely unpleasant to endure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is especially true if you are abroad when you first notice the symptoms. Being in a hot climate away from civilization while dealing with fever, vomiting, dehydration, headache, and even seizures are very serious indeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In other words then, it is better to avoid malaria rather than attempt to treat it after the fact. While it\u2019s impossible to completely avoid the condition, the good news is that there are several things you can do to reduce your likelihood of contracting it. In this post, we\u2019ll take an in-depth look at 8 of those which can help you to travel more safely and to stay healthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1 Travel Cautiously<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The first option to include on this list should, of course, be to limit your travel. Of course, this might be a disappointing thing to read \u2013 after all most of us enjoy visiting interesting locales and getting to tick places off our travel lists. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While there is some risk of contracting malaria <\/a>when traveling, many will see this as a measured risk and will choose to visit those countries nevertheless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But with that said, if you are someone who is particularly concerned about contracting illnesses, then you might choose not <\/em>to travel to places where malaria is rife. This is a decision that each person has to make on their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the very least though, making sure to do your research and to be fully informed about any potential illnesses and diseases in the regions you\u2019ll be traveling to is one way to be safer. This way you can take the necessary precautions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Likewise, within the country there are areas and places to avoid. You might choose to stay away from water for example. While you can\u2019t get malaria from water, bodies of water do tend to attract more insects, which increases your risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2 Insect Repellent<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Insect repellents<\/a> are one of the most powerful tools available for combating the spread of malaria. These use a scent or substance that is designed to be off-putting and unpleasant for the insect (mosquitos in this case), thereby helping to keep them away from you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While there are many different types of insect repellent, the type that is considered the most effective is that containing DEET, or N, N-Diethyl-m-polyamide. This substance is a broad spectrum repellent against mosquito bites and is known to have a low risk of any side effects. It can be purchased in a number of different concentrations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These affect the amount of time that the repellent will last before needing to be topped up. You can experience 1-3 hours of protection with 20% DEET for instance, up to 6 hours with 30% DEET, and up to 12 hours with 50% DEET. Beyond this point, increasing the concentration does not increase the length of protection. Be savvy and make sure to keep topping up and adding more repellent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other kinds of repellent include Icaridin, and you can even make your own using lemon eucalyptus or oil of citronella.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3 Protective Clothing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Wearing the right clothing can go a long way to reducing your chances of a mosquito <\/a>bite. For instance, if you want to protect your arms and legs, then you should wear long sleeves and long pants \u2013 even if this makes you feel hot and uncomfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the best tips is to make sure that you choose loose-fitting clothing. You do not necessarily need thicker materials for your clothes, but clothes that are loose-fitting and that hang away from the skin will leave a gap between the bite and the skin, preventing it from transferring saliva and the infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also look into the use of additional layers of clothing. For instance, hats with nets attached can be useful for helping you to keep mosquitos away from your face, while gloves can cover your extremities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4 High-Quality Hotels <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While there is no guarantee that staying at one hotel or another will be able to prevent mosquito bites and subsequent malaria, what is true is that a high-quality hotel that is well maintained will reduce your risks of contracting the illness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s because many things a hotel can do to improve comfort and the condition of the room will also be able to improve the protection against mosquitos and infection<\/a>. For example, air conditioning is very useful for creating a sealed environment, for making the climate cooler, and for altering air pressure. All these things make mosquitos less likely to enter.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Likewise, general hygiene and health and safety practices can reduce the number of insects attracted to an establishment in the first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5 Mosquito Nets<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Mosquito nets of course work by providing a useful protective barrier to prevent insects from passing through and attempting to bite the individuals therein. Mosquito nets and screens can come in a number of different forms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A mosquito screen, for instance, is useful for attaching to an open window in order to keep insects <\/a>out. On the other hand, a bell-shaped net can be useful for placing over the top of things such as tents or hammocks. Wedge shapes are more useful for those on the move with just one hanging point.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When using mosquito nets, it is important to check them for holes. You can fix these using mosquito net repair kits or duct tape. It\u2019s also important to tuck the edges in or to tape them down. This removes the gap where mosquitos can otherwise crawl through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6 Vaccine<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Malaria vaccines <\/a>exist and while not 100% effective, they can nevertheless reduce your likelihood of contracting the condition. When you combine a vaccine with the measures outlined in this article, the risk of contracting the condition reduces significantly. First, you would need to be unlucky enough to be bitten by a mosquito in the first place, and then you would need for the vaccine not to be effective against the infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For these reasons, you should speak with your doctor before visiting tropical and subtropical climates. They will be able to suggest the vaccine and administer it. You may require booster injections if traveling for long periods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vaccines work by injecting a tiny amount of the parasite that the body can then learn to combat against. This ensures it will be prepared the next time you experience an infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7 Pyrethroid Products<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pyrethroid <\/a>products include the likes of plug-ins, candles, and oils. These work by creating scents that act as deterrents for the insects. Plugin options will, of course, require electricity and so cannot be used outdoors. Methylated burners and the likes are generally recommended for outdoor use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Again, while you shouldn\u2019t rely solely on a pyrethroid product, it can be very effective when combined with other strategies on this list. If you are wearing insect repellent if your room has a net and air conditioning if you are using a plug-in pyrethroid product, and if you have been vaccinated\u2026 then you are as safe as you possibly can be. You are now far less likely to contract the condition and there is no reason not to enjoy a holiday to somewhere exciting and exotic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8 Looking Out for Symptoms<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Once you are home, it is crucial that you be on the lookout for symptoms. Even if you have no obvious insect bites, it is still important to be vigilant. The earlier you are able to catch malaria, the greater the chances of it being treated and cured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Malaria causes a number of symptoms. Normally these begin 7-14 days after the bite and will then occur in cycles of around 3 days. Malaria causes fevers, chills, vomiting and diarrhea<\/a>, headaches, jaundice, low energy, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Malaria is caused by parasites that reproduce and infect the blood. There they will find and inhabit red blood cells, multiplying until they burst open, and creating large amounts of toxic waste products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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