Understanding malaria

What can I do to avoid malaria?

The simplest way to avoid malaria is to make sure that you do not get bitten by mosquitoes, which usually only feed at night:

	Apply insect repellent to exposed skin. Use one containing DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide), IR3535® (3-[N-acetyl-N-butyl]-aminopropionic acid ethyl ester) or Bayrepel® (1-piperidinecarboxylic acid, 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-, 1-methylpropylester). Follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully, and do not apply too much, especially on young children. Refined lemon eucalyptus oil on skin also repels mosquitoes.
	Wear long-sleeved clothing and cover your legs and feet if you go out at night. Light colours are less attractive to mosquitoes.
	If your room is not air-conditioned or screened, use a mosquito net over the bed. For even better protection, buy a mosquito net treated with insecticide. The net should be long enough to fall to the floor all round the bed or be tucked under the mattress. Check that there are no holes in the net.
	Remember to spray insect repellent over your clothing, because insects can bite through thin material.
	Spray your room with insecticide before going to bed.
	Some types of insecticides can be vaporised overnight, using an electrically heated mat. Alternatively, you can burn mosquito coils (these contain a slow-burning mixture of repellent and insecticide).
	Don’t walk through scrub or long grass after dark.
	Don’t bother with sonic devices - they don’t work effectively and mosquitoes may still bite you.

Note: Your doctor may have prescribed drugs that can prevent the disease developing, even if you get bitten by a mosquito. You must follow the instructions carefully - it can be dangerous if you don’t. Alternatively, your doctor may prescribe medication that you can take with you to use in an emergency if you think you have caught the disease.