Pregnancy, Children and Malaria Prevention

Malaria increases the risk of adverse outcomes in pregnancy so should be avoided if at all
possible.

SAFE: Both Lariam and Chloroquine are considered safe in all stages of pregnancy.

UNSAFE: Doxycycline is not safe as it effect’s the teeth of babies and inhibits bone growth.
Primaquine passes across the placenta so can cause haemolytic anaemia in a G6PD deficient foetus.
Malarone is not to be used in pregnancy.   

CHILDREN 

Children are easy targets for mosquitoes so should take medication.
SAFE: Malarone,  11-20 kg  ¼ tablet per day
                            21-30 kg ½ tablet per day
                            31-40 kg ¾ tablet per day
Lariam,                 0-15 kg 5mg/kg/week
                            15-19 kg ¼ tablet per week
                            20-30 kg ½ tablet per week
                            31-45 kg  ¾ tablet per week
Chloroquine,        5mg/kg/week
Doxycycline,         2mg/kg/day

UNSAFE: Doxycycline is not suitable for children under the age of 8yrs as it can cause teeth staining.

The same pre and post trip times apply to children and adults.
Fever in a child in a malarious area should be taken very seriously as malaria can kill children very quickly.

SELF TREATMENT:

Malarone………4 Tablets per day for 3 days.