Malaria

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Malaria is a serious tropical disease spread by mosquitoes.

Fill in our online travel clinic form and a member of our team will contact you. Click here to access the online form.

A single mosquito bite is all it takes for someone to become infected but the disease can be prevented by taking antimalarial drugs before visiting countries where you could be at risk.

If prevention is not taken, malaria, if not diagnosed and treated promptly, can be fatal.

Preventing malaria

Malaria can be easily avoided by taking antimalarial drugs before your trip.

An easy way to remember is the ABCD approach to prevention:

Awareness of risk – find out whether you're at risk of getting malaria before travelling.
Bite prevention – avoid mosquito bites by using insect repellent, covering your arms and legs and using an insecticide-treated mosquito net.
Check whether you need to take malaria prevention tablets – Information on the correct dose and when you need to start the course of antimalarial tablets will be provided at your appointment.
Diagnosis – seek immediate medical advice if you develop malaria symptoms, including up to a year after you return from travelling.

What causes malaria?

Malaria is caused by a type of parasite known as plasmodium. There are many different types of plasmodia parasites, but only five cause malaria in humans.

The plasmodium parasite is mainly spread by female Anopheles mosquitoes, which mostly bite at night. When an infected mosquito bites a human, it passes the parasites into the bloodstream.

Malaria can also be spread through blood transfusions and the sharing of needles, but this is very rare.

Malaria risk areas

Malaria is found in more than 100 countries, mainly in tropical regions of the world, including:

large areas of Africa and Asia
Central and South America
Haiti and the Dominican Republic
parts of the Middle East
some Pacific islands

The World Malaria Report, published by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2013, states that in 2012 there were 207 million cases of malaria worldwide and 627,000 deaths.

Malaria is not found in the UK, although about 1,400 travellers were diagnosed with malaria after returning to the UK from the areas above in 2012.

Symptoms of malaria

It is important to be aware of the symptoms of malaria if you are travelling to areas where there is a high malaria risk.

Symptoms include:
• a high temperature (fever)
• sweats and chills
• headaches
• vomiting
• muscle pains
• diarrhoea

Symptoms usually appear between seven and 18 days after becoming infected, but in some cases the symptoms may not appear for up to a year, or occasionally even longer.

To book an appointment at the Kingsbridge Private Hospital Travel Clinic, please call 02890 667878 or email info@kingsbridgeprivatehospital.com

If you would like to book an appointment or require further information on the options available to you, please do not hesitate to contact our private patient booking team on the details above.

Treatment Locations

Kingsbridge Private Hospital

811-815 Lisburn Road,
Belfast

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Yesterday's was a neck disc replacement operation. I would highly recommend this hospital like a hotel manner. Thanks again guys." Mr Phillips, Kingsbridge Patient

"As hospitals go this one is pretty amazing! Had surgery with Mr Molloy at the end of October and have another one the end of this month. Mr Molloy is a gentleman who puts you at ease right away and ensured my last procedure went smoothly! From start to finish all the hospital staff go above and beyond to make your stay as comfortable and stress free as possible. The facilities are brilliant with the rooms spacious and modern to recover in. Keep up the good work!" Ms Roulston, Kingsbridge Patient

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"EXCELLENT - Had surgery today under the very caring Dr Stewart and her team. I cannot thank her enough for all she’s done for me over the past few months. Everything was explained to me in detail and all my care was considerate, professional and compassionate. Everyone I’ve met today has been beyond kind from Will the Anaesthetist, the Nurses and theatre staff, the catering staff - there has been no exception. Thank you all for taking care of me so well today - look forward to getting home tomorrow x" Mrs McAleavey, Kingsbridge Patient