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Antimalarials – Just what the doctor ordered?

Article By - Alex Roldan

You’ve just booked your first trip to Southern Africa; you’re excited and have marked the departure date on your calendar. Now it’s time to organise everything so you’re prepared for your adventure. Shopping for holiday clothes, hats, sunscreen, maybe even splashing out on a new pair of shades... Then you decide to check which vaccinations and medications you might need to have prior to leaving, so you book an appointment with your doctor. As soon as you say you’re going to Africa, they immediately prescribe you a course of Antimalarials and strongly suggest you take them. After all, it is better to be safe than sorry!

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However, not all areas of Southern Africa are high risk or even moderate risk areas for malaria. Don’t get me wrong, you may very well encounter mosquitoes and be bitten – but are you at real risk of malaria? That all depends on the area and time of year you are visiting. For example; if you are heading to Cape Town and spending your vacation around the Eastern Cape – it is extremely unlikely that you will need to take antimalarials.

But, if you are travelling further north; around the Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga or even venturing up to Botswana, Kenya – then yes, it would be advisable to begin a course before your trip.

There are several online sources of information which you can refer to, in order to check if the area you are going to is one that is low, moderate or high risk. Of course, take your doctor or GP’s advice but also, contact the lodges or local guides who you will be accompanying for more local knowledge. From all this information –you will be in a better position to make an informed decision whether or not taking medication is required. After all, there can be some major side-effects from antimalarials, such as; nausea, headaches, hallucinations and vivid dreams.

Obviously this advice isn't designed to negate that of your trusted medical professional, more like a prompt to also speak to people who live and work in the area you are travelling to as they will have the local knowledge and live there full time. If you are travelling to multiple locations – you should certainly take heed of the advice from people in the higher risk areas so you are prepared for your time there.

In short, buy a good insect repellent as you will more than likely encounter some insects which like the taste of tourists. But also do a little research in to whether or not to take a course of antimalarials – you may not actually need them. However; we would never, ever advise you not to go to your GP or doctor and take on board their advice.

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Article by: Alex Roldan

"Alex has a number of years' marketing and social media experience. He made the decision to leave the corporate world a few years ago to study and qualify as a Field Guide, to enable him to pursue a life-long ambition and change his career path to one where by he can be actively involved with eco-tourism and wildlife conservation and educating people about the importance of the natural world. He has experience of living, travelling and working in South Africa and enjoys getting back to Africa and the bush as much as possible. He has a huge passion for nature and wildlife photography and his camera is never far from his side."

Alex Roldan