Children who live in areas where malaria is present
Malaria causes the death of thousands of children in certain areas of the world, especially sub-Saharan Africa. Young children are especially susceptible because they have not yet developed any immunity to malaria, which develops through repeated infections. The World Health Organization (WHO) is working to reduce the number of deaths. WHO encourages parents to seek prompt care and treatment, treat other health conditions, and use mosquito-proof bed nets.
Children who travel to areas where malaria is present
If you intend to travel to an area where malaria is present, try to prepare for your trip 4 to 6 weeks in advance. Learn about the prevention and treatment of malaria in children. The most current information about your travel destination and the risk of malaria is available from:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- Your local health department.
- Your doctor.
- A travel clinic (which can be located through the International Society of Travel Medicine's Web site at www.istm.org).
It is important to review this information, have your child's immunizations up-to-date, and get any other shots required for your destination. Children are sometimes given the same antimalarial medications as those given to adults to prevent malaria. The amount of medication given to a child is based on the child's weight. Overdosage of antimalarial medications can be fatal. Keep medications in childproof containers out of reach of children, and give dosages exactly on schedule.
Some health conditions may prevent a child from taking certain medications, and a less effective medication may be prescribed instead. If your child is unable to take a highly effective medication such as mefloquine or doxycycline, it may be best to avoid travel in chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum areas.
Also, certain insect repellents may not be safe for children. Some studies have shown negative reactions in children who use large amounts of the insect repellent DEET.1
Credits
| Author | Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Denele Ivins |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | W. David Colby IV, MSc, MD, FRCPC - Infectious Disease |
| Last Updated | May 16, 2007 |
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