Nobody has complete immunity to malaria.
You have a higher chance of getting malaria if you travel to a high-risk area. Get advice from your GP or local travel clinic before you travel.
You can usually avoid malaria by using the ABCD approach to prevention.
- Awareness of risk - find out if there is a risk of malaria where you are going.
- Bite prevention - reduce your risk of being bitten by using mosquito nets, insect repellent sprays, wearing long sleeves and trousers (especially in the morning and evening).
- Check whether you need to take antimalarial tablets - if you do, take them as prescribed.
- Diagnosis - get immediate medical advice if you have malaria symptoms.
Urgent advice: Ask for an urgent GP appointment if:
- you have malaria symptoms
Do this even up to a year after you've returned from travelling or if you've been taking antimalarial tablets.
People at higher risk
Get advice from your GP before you travel if you're at higher risk of getting seriously ill from malaria.
This includes:
- if you're pregnant
- young children
- older people
- if you have a weak immune system
- if you have no spleen
You may be prescribed antimalarial tablets, even if you're travelling to a low-risk area.
Preventing bites
Antimalarials do not completely reduce your risk of getting malaria. Taking steps to avoid bites is important.
Avoiding mosquito bites is the best way to prevent malaria.
There are things you can do to avoid mosquito bites.
Do
-
sleep under a mosquito net that’s been treated with an insecticide
-
stay in a room that has air conditioning and screening on the doors and windows
-
make sure the doors and windows closed properly
-
use insect repellent on your skin - make sure it's 50% DEET based
-
reapply insect repellent frequently
-
wear loose, long-sleeved clothing and trousers in the evening - this is when mosquitos are most active
There's no evidence to suggest that you can get protection against mosquito bites from:
- homeopathic remedies
- electronic buzzers
- vitamins B1 or B12
- garlic
- yeast extract spread (such as Marmite)
- tea tree oils
- bath oils
DEET insect repellents
DEET is a chemical that is usually used in insect repellents. It's not recommended for babies under 2 months old.
DEET is safe for older children, adults and pregnant women.
Apply DEET insect repellent according to the instructions on the label.
Do
-
use on exposed skin
-
wash your hands after applying
-
apply DEET after applying sunscreen, not before
Don't
-
do not apply to broken or irritated skin
-
do not spray it directly onto your face - spray it into your hands and pat it onto your face
-
do not let it come in contact with your lips and eyes
Content supplied by the NHS and adapted for Ireland by the HSE
