Malaria is a protozoal infection carried by mosquitoes

   Malaria is a threat to those who travel abroad. As many as 30,000 visitors to tropical
   countries are infected every year.

   Malaria is caused by an infection of the red blood cells with a tiny organism or parasite,
   called a protozoa. There are four important species of the malaria protozoa (Plasmodium
   falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale, or Plasmodium malariae), and each causes a
   slightly different picture of illness.

   These organisms are carried from person to person by the Anopheles mosquito. When it bites an
   infected person, the mosquito sucks up blood containing the parasite, which may then be passed
   on to the mosquito's next victim. So malaria occurs where the Anopheles mosquito breeds -
   predominantly in rural tropical areas.

   What are the symptoms?

   The main symptom of malaria is a fever that occurs in regular episodes, with sweating and
   shivers (known as rigors), exhaustion (because of anaemia) - and in some cases, cerebral
   involvement or kidney failure.

   How dangerous is it?

   Malaria is a major killer in many tropical countries where the resources for prevention,
   proper diagnosis and drug treatments are often lacking. But it can easily be treated if
   diagnosed promptly. The problem is, the symptoms can be vague and, UK doctors may not be
   thinking about tropical infections.

   Nearly 3 million die, mostly children under five. About 90 per cent of travellers who contract
   malaria do not become ill until after they return home. Only about 12 per cent of these will
   become seriously ill. The most severe form of the disease is cerebral malaria, which is fatal
   in up to six per cent of adults, mainly because it's not diagnosed until it is too late.

   Prevention is critical - there are four main steps to take:

    1. Before you go, check whether there is a problem in your holiday destination. Find your
       destination on the Scottish Centre for Infection & Environmental Health:
       www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk.
    2. Take the recommended anti-malarial drugs - for maximum protection, you'll need to take
       these one week before travelling until one month after your return, but even then, these
       drugs are not 100 per cent effective. One of the major problems is the steady increase in
       resistance of the infection to the drugs used in both prevention and treatment. There's
       also been some controversy about possible side effects. Always talk to your doctor if you
       are worried - don't just stop taking anit-malarials without getting medical advice.
    3. Take steps to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes - this is the MOST IMPORTANT thing you can
       do!
    4. Get help quickly if you develop symptoms and don't forget to tell the doctor you've
       travelled to a malarial area.

   And don't think you are safe if you have lived in a malarial region - you may build up some
   immunity to the disease but, this can be lost quickly. And, if you have children born in the
   UK, they'll have no immunity at all. If you're going to visit, travel through, or even just
   stopover in a malarial country you'll be at risk, even if you have lived there before.

   In the past decade, considerable progress has been made in the search for a malaria vaccine,
   and it's hoped one will be available within the next seven to 15 years. Meanwhile, many global
   initiatives are working hard to beat malaria.