Malaria is passed on by the female Anopheles mosquito biting a person who has malaria parasites in their blood. Malaria symptoms occur at least seven to nine days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Fever in the first week of travel in a malarial risk area is unlikely to cause malaria, however ill travelers should still seek immediate medical care. Although malaria is unlikely to be the cause and you must evaluate some other fever. The most common antimalarial drugs include:
• Chloroquine (Aralen)
• Quinine sulfate (Qualaquin)
• Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil)
• Mefloquine
• Combination of atovaquone and proguanil (Malarone)
Malaria blood smears taken at 6 to 12 hour intervals confirm the diagnosis.