Injections,
anti-malarials, staying healthy and preparing for
your trip to Malawi
If
you are planning a trip to Malawi (and if you are
we recommend a vist to the beautiful Sambani
Lodge!) then you will
need to be up to date with your immunisations. There
are a number that we recommend you have, and others
which, depending on what you will be doing, we recommend
you get. Bear in mind these are just for information
and this doesn’t constitute professional medical
advice. Please see your GP, Doctor or a specialist
travel clinic for more information.
Contents:
| Injections |
|
| Malaria
|
|
| Malarial
Tablets |
|
Recommended
Diptheria
– This is usually given in childhood,
you should have a booster every 10 years. Get this
any time before you leave for your trip
Hepatitis A
– (covered on NHS in the UK)
The Hepatitis A is two-course set of injections
and lasts 25 years. One injection before you go,
followed by a second 6-12months later. If you are
only going for a short trip (e.g. a 2 week trip
in Malawi.) You don't need the second one to be
immunised for your trip.
Hepatitis
B - costs £20 per course
The Hep B is three courses. After the 1st course,
you need another 1 month later, and then the third
course 5 months after that. Apparently i would
be fully immunised in malawi after taking just the
first two courses. The third course is more for
longevity of immunisation. Total cost £60.
Polio
- Another injection given in childhood.
Needs a booster every 10 years, so check when your
last one was before you take your trip.
Rabies
- costs around £35 per course
The rabies is a set of three courses. Following
the first course, you take a second 1 week later
and then the course is completed 3 weeks after that.
The total cost is £105.
Tetanus
- Another injection that is given in childhood.
This needs a booster after 10 years, so make sure
this is up to date before you go.
Typhoid
– (covered on the NHS in the UK)
The typhoid injection requires one injection and
it lasts for 3 years.
Back
to Top
Malaria
Malawians tend to get malaria two or three times
a year and the best way to avoid it on your travels
is to not get bitten! We recommend that, at the
times when the mosquitoes are most likely to bite,
i.e. dawn and dusk, you wear long sleeved shirts
and trousers. Mosquitoes love wrists and ankles
as the skin is thin, so if these are covered you
reduce the likelihood of being bitten exponentially!
Symptoms
Malaria
has many symptoms, including fever, chills and shivers,
headache, muscle aches and tiredness. Nausea, vomiting,
and diarrhea may also occur. Malaria has been known
to cause anemia and jaundice due to the loss of
red blood cells. Infection from the P. falciparum
strain of malaria can cause kidney failure, seizures,
mental confusion, coma, and in extreme cases, death
- if not treated promptly.
Malaria
tablets
Lariam
(cheap)
This is highly discouraged as it has very common
bad side effects, including psychological complications.
One chemist told us he wouldn't sell it even if
we asked for it!
Vibramycin
(Medium priced)
This has less traumatic side effects. Common ones
are headaches and vomiting, and clashes with the
contraceptive pill include inducing thrush. Your
skin also becomes very light sensitive and so will
be likely to burn easily.
Malarone
(expensive)
This is seen as one of the best anit-malarials and
possible side effects can be headaches, abdominal
pain and diarrhoea.
