Staying Malaria Free while visiting Diani Beach and Maasai Mara

Staying Malaria Free while visiting Diani Beach and the Maasai Mara

Nobody wants to fall ill during their holiday especially if that illness is malaria. Visiting the Diani beach and the great Maasai Mara exposes you to considerable risk  of malaria and therefore precautions should be taken. Malaria is caused by a parasite known as plasmodium that is spread by female anopheles mosquitoes.

Symptoms of Malaria

For  a start , it is necessary to be aware of  the symptoms just incase you start to feel unwell while you are holidaying. Malaria’s symptoms are a fever and flu-like illness, including chills, headache, muscle aches, and tiredness. Nausea, vomiting may also occur and in advanced cases, malaria may cause anaemia and jaundice (yellow colouring of the skin and eyes). Infection with one type of malaria, P. falciparum, if not promptly treated, may cause kidney failure, seizures, coma, and death. Nonetheless, the is no reason to be afraid when you visit Diani Beach as a simple dose of anti malarial pills will keep you safe.

Anti-Malaria Medicines
Malaria, maybe dangerous and life threatening but it  is easily curable and avoidable. Malaria can be cured or prevented with prescription drugs. The type of drugs and length of treatment depend on which kind of malaria is diagnosed, where the patient was infected, the age of the patient, and how severely ill the patient was at start of treatment. Generally, the following medications are used to prevent Malaria and easily available from the pharmacies at Diani Beach.

• Chloroquinne
• Mefloquinne
• Atavoquone-proguanil
• Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine

Before travelling to Kenya and other tropical countries where Malaria is prevalent, consult your doctor for the right anti-malarial dose and medication. Some caution is required if you are taking anti-malarial drugs and pregnant. Taking these pills will prevent you from an infection in the event of a mosquito bite. During the rainy season at Diani Beach -March to July. Mosquitoes breed fast and naturally cases of malaria are high in those months. The reverse is also applicable with few infections in the dry months of  December-February.

Mosquitoes spread Malaria

Mosquitoes bite at any time of day but the anopheles bites in the night with most activity at dawn and dusk. If you are out at night wear long-sleeved clothing and long trousers or apply some insect repellent on your skin .

Mosquitoes may also bite through thin clothing, so spray an insecticide or repellent on them and always sleep under a mosquito net whenever you are at Diani Beach. All the villas, hotels and accommodation places in Diani Beach will always have a mosquito net.

Taking anti malaria drugs is a sure way of staying safe and these vary from country to country but best to ensure that the regimen is be taken before your journey begins. Consult with your doctor to get the best prescription and stay safe from Malaria while you holiday at Diani Beach.

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