Malaria prevention
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Summary

Malaria is a deadly illness that’s spread through mosquito bites. Prevention involves taking prescription-strength tablets before traveling to areas where malaria is common, and avoiding mosquito bites.

Reviewed on May 16, 2025. by
Dr Daniel Atkinson
Clinical Reviewer
GMC (No. 4624794)
Next review due on May 16, 2028
Dr Daniel Atkinson

Last updated on May 15, 2025

Find the malaria prevention treatment that’s best for you.

We’ve got a range of options, and our clinicians can help you find the one that’s best for your body and your budget.

Doxycycline

Doxycycline

8 Doxycycline Tablets in a Blister Pack.
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Taken daily to treat and prevent malaria. Used alongside quinines to increase treatment effectiveness.

Starting at $89.95

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Malarone

Atovaquone + proguanil

10 Malarone tablets in a blister pack
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(12)
In stock

Daily antimalarial pill that’s effective in most regions.

Starting at $254.95

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Atovaquone + Proguanil

Atovaquone + Proguanil

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Out of stock

Helps prevent and treat malaria. Generic version of Malarone.

Starting at $114.95

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Malaria prevention

What is malaria prevention treatment?

Malaria prevention treatments keep you from getting malaria even if you get bitten by an infected mosquito. They’re designed to be taken prophylactically (preemptively) by people who travel to places where malaria is endemic.

Who needs malaria prevention?

Anopheles mosquitoes transmit malaria in over 100 countries across the world.[1] Anyone who travels to an area with active malaria transmission should consider using preventive treatment. These areas often include countries in Africa, parts of the Middle East, and Central and South America.

If you’re planning to travel internationally, you can use the CDC Malaria Database to see if there’s malaria transmission where you’re going, and make sure you speak to a physician to get a prescription for antimalarial treatment before you go.

How common is malaria?

Despite increasing efforts to limit the spread of malaria, it still remains a common infection.

About 249 million people were infected with malaria in 2022.[1] Some areas have much higher rates of transmission than others. Malaria infections in African countries account for 94% of cases worldwide and 95% of deaths.[1]

Treated trusted source:

  1. World Health Organization (2021). Malaria. Who.int.
Dr Daniel Atkinson 719
This page was medically reviewed by Dr Daniel Atkinson on May 16, 2025. Next review due on May 16, 2028.

How we source info.

When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.

Malaria prevention

What causes malaria?

Malaria is caused by being bitten by an Anopheles mosquito that has been infected with Plasmodium parasites. There are five parasites that can cause malaria, but most cases are caused by just two: Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax.[1]

Once you’ve been bitten by an infected mosquito, the parasite travels to your liver to mature and release merozoites, which are a different form of the parasite.

These merozoites enter your bloodstream, where they infect and destroy your red blood cells. [2] Every two or three days, the infected blood cells burst, releasing more parasites into your bloodstream to repeat the cycle. [2]

What are the symptoms of malaria?

Shortly after infection, there aren’t that many symptoms of malaria. In fact, it can lie dormant for weeks or months. In some very rare cases, it can be years before you start noticing any strong symptoms.[3] When someone becomes symptomatic, they can experience:

  • Muscle aches
  • Joint pain
  • Fatigue
  • Chills
  • Diarrhea
  • Stomach pain
  • Coughing
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Increased heart rate
  • Rapid breathing

The earliest someone might experience symptoms is around seven days after a mosquito bite.[4]

Can malaria lead to other problems?

Untreated malaria can be fatal, or at least lead to serious complications. Without treatment, you could develop pulmonary edema, cerebral malaria, kidney failure, bleeding, or severe anemia. [5]

Treated trusted source:

  1. World Health Organization (2021). Malaria. Who.int.
  2. ‌Medlineplus.gov. (2015). Malaria: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.
  3. ‌Marteau, A., et al. (2021). Severe long-delayed malaria caused by Plasmodium malariae in an elderly French patient. Malaria Journal, 20(1).
  4. CDC (2024). Symptoms of Malaria. Malaria.
  5. ‌Trampuz, A., et al. (2003). Clinical review: Severe Malaria. Critical Care, 7(4), p.315.
Dr Daniel Atkinson 719
This page was medically reviewed by Dr Daniel Atkinson on May 16, 2025. Next review due on May 16, 2028.

How we source info.

When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.

Malaria prevention

What medications are there for malaria prevention?

There are a range of options available to prevent malaria, such as Malarone (atovaquone/ proguanil), Mefloquine, and Doxycycline. Different treatments might work better for some strains of malaria than others. Depending on drug resistance and which parasite is transmitted in a given area, your physician will prescribe the best treatment for you.

Is there a ‘best’ treatment for malaria prevention?

A variety of factors will determine which treatment could be best for you to avoid getting malaria. Your personal health history, as well as specific details about the strain and severity of malaria that’s transmitted where you’re going, will help your physician to prescribe the right medication.

How are malaria treatments different?

The length of treatment can vary depending on the drug you’re using. People who take atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone), doxycycline, and primaquine to prevent malaria can begin to take them a day or two before they travel. However, people who take Mefloquine will need to start one or two weeks before they travel.[1]

These treatments also differ in how long you’ll have to carry on taking them for once you’ve returned. Some drugs, like Malarone and Primaquine, only need to be taken for seven days after you get home. Whereas Doxycycline and Mefloquine have to be taken for another four weeks after you return. [1]

Do you always need malaria prevention?

Any time that you travel to a place with active malaria transmission, you’ll need malaria prevention drugs. You should still take steps to avoid mosquito bites if you’re taking prophylactic treatments. Using bug spray, mosquito nets, and clothing that covers your arms and legs will help to prevent unpleasant mosquito bites.

Treated trusted source:

  1. CDC (2024). Choosing a Drug to Prevent Malaria. Malaria.

How we source info.

When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.

Malaria prevention

Malaria prevention: FAQ

Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.

Are there different types of malaria?

Answer:
Yes, five different parasites can cause malaria, and the severity of the symptoms depends on the parasite that causes it. Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax cause the majority of cases, and Plasmodium falciparum is also the most deadly strain.[1]

Different strains are transmitted in different regions. For example, Plasmodium falciparum is mainly transmitted in sub-Saharan African countries because these parasites can’t thrive below 20 degrees Celsius.[3]

This is why it’s important to tell your doctor where you’re traveling so that you can receive the most suitable malaria prevention treatment.

Does malaria prevention treatment always work?

Answer:
You’ll need to make sure that you take an antimalarial treatment that’s suitable for where you’re going, and that you take it correctly, for it to be most effective. And even though it won’t prevent malaria in every case, malaria prevention treatment is highly effective when used correctly and when combined with avoiding mosquitoes.[2]

Can you get side effects from malaria prevention treatment?

Answer:
There are a range of side effects associated with prophylactic malarial medications, and they can be different depending on which drug you take. Common side effects include headaches, diarrhea, stomach pains, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, insomnia, and mood changes.

The side effects are usually mild, but more severe side effects can sometimes include lung inflammation, allergic reaction, vision loss, and some heart conditions.

These side effects can vary depending on how you react to them, and different treatments can come with different side effects.

How is malaria diagnosed?

Answer:
Your doctor can diagnose you with malaria by looking at your symptoms, doing blood tests, and by asking you about your travel history. Prior to your travel plans, make sure that you discuss malaria prevention options with your doctor. If you can safely take medication during your trip, you should prevent long-term side effects from malarial infection.

Treated trusted source:

  1. World Health Organization (2021). Malaria. [online] Who.int.
  2. CDC (2024). Choosing a Drug to Prevent Malaria. Malaria.
  3. CDC. (2024). Malaria – About Malaria – Where Malaria Occurs. [online]

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