Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde vol:66 issue:13 pages:633-637
Prevention and treatment of malaria in travelers: what’s new?
Malaria remains a real and serious risk for millions of travelers to regions where it is prevalent. Prevention of malaria involves measures to protect the traveler against exposure to mosquitoes as well as drug prophylaxis. Because of resistance against chloroquine and currently also against mefloquine, drug prophylaxis depends on the destination, the traveler and the journey: options may be chloroquine, atovaquone-proguanil, doxycyline and mefloquine.
No preventive measure offers complete protection, thus a high degree of suspicion for malaria remains necessary. Early diagnosis and treatment are required to reduce the risk of complications and death. Because of the emergence of resistance, ease severity, Plasmodium species and the geographical origin of the infection.
For treatment of severe malaria a significant advantage of artesunate over quinine has been demonstrated, certainly in specific groups. Depending on the general context, optional treatments for non-severe malaria may be chloroquine, atovaquone-proguanil or artemether/lumefantrine.