| Sections on malaria treatment |
| Preventative medication |
Researchers do not guarantee 100 percent protection. In fact, the bad news
is that in many tropical regions, most particularly Southeast Asia, parasites
are becoming increasingly resistant to many antimalarials. When one begins
taking one's medication, one must follow the instructions exactly. An overdose
of antimalarials can be fatal.
| Treating malaria |
If one does come down with a case of malaria, one will most likely be treated
with antimalrial drugs. These will be administered first intravenously (through
one's veins) and then orally. Chloroquine is the antimalarial most commonly
used, but in areas where the plasmodium parasite is resistant to this drug,
doctors often prescribe good old quinine (often accompanied by antibiotics)
in one of its many forms.
| Chloroquine |
Chloroquine is the most widely used antimalarial drug to treat malarial infections. It is also the cheapest, time tested and safe anti malarial agent. Chloroquine will not prevent the development of dormant liver stages of vivax and ovale malaria.
For more information:
Chlroquine
Chloroquine
Phosphate (ARALEN) - PDF format
| Mefloquine hydrochloride (Lariam) |
Lariam is indicated for both the prevention and the treatment of acute malaria caused by P. falciparum or by Plasmodium vivax. However, it does not eliminate exoerythrocytic (hepatic phase) parasites to prevent relapses.
For more information on Lariam.
| Atovaquone with proguanil (Malarone) |
Malarone is recommended by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
as a prophylaxis for being effective in preventing P. falciparum and
well-tolerated in both adults and children.
For more information Malarone
| Pyrimethamine with dapsone (Maloprim) |
Given once weekly, there is a risk of agranulocytosis if the recommended
dosage is exceeded. It is of value in travelers, especially children, with
epilepsy going to areas where there is low or moderate resistance to chloroquine.
