When summer vacation starts in Miami, many families visit Latin America since the children are out of school. Do you know your ABCDs? With these 4 simple reminders from The World Health Organization, you can prevent malaria while traveling abroad.
Understand A B C D in advance of your trip:
- Awareness
- Bite prevention about mosquitoes
- Caution to take medication exactly as prescribed to prevent infection
- Diagnose and treat infection promptly
1. Awareness – is Malaria in your region?
The CDC has a general map of locations where malaria prevention is needed when traveling. Better still, a visit with a travel medicine physician can help determine your risk based on your family’s travel plans.
2. Fight the Bite – clothing and Rx prevention
Mosquitoes that carry malaria typically bite between dusk and dawn. Avoid outdoor evening exposure but if you must, wear long sleeves and long pants made of cotton fabric and use insect repellents with 30% DEET or 20% Picardin.
3. Caution about your medication
Most physicians will want to prescribe a medication dose which is precisely right for you. Your expert in travel medicine will match the medication to your specific situation.
4. Diagnosis – watch for warning signs
Your symptoms may not appear right away but if you develop a fever, chills, sweats, fatigue, nausea, headaches and/or body aches, visit a doctor immediately and request a blood test.
Interested in more information? Contact our urgent care clinics for expert medical advice.
