Malaria: backpackers lack malaria knowledge and treatment
5 June 2009
Many foreign backpackers travelling in malaria-prone parts of South-East Asia don’t use prevention against the disease.
A Thai survey of 434 backpackers (median age 28 years) revealed that, as well as 40 per cent saying they used no prevention against malaria, many did not know how the disease was spread or where the higher risk areas were located (Journal of Travel Medicine, 2009;16:101-106).
About 35 per cent believed they could contract malaria after eating contaminated food. (Malaria is caused by parasites that are transmitted by the bites of infected mosquitoes.)
Half of the backpackers believed malaria could be completely prevented by chemoprophylaxis (taking antimalarial medication). Despite this belief, at least 30 per cent stopped using antimalarial medicine prematurely.
‘This behaviour can lead to greatly increased risk if they still believe that they are fully protected against malaria,’ the researchers said.
Chemoprophylaxis mainly prevents Plasmodium falciparum (the species of malaria parasite that causes the most serious form of malaria), the researchers said. But a large proportion of cases in South-East Asia are due to Plasmodium vivax (another species of malaria parasite), which it will not prevent.
The authors expressed concern that only half of the 65 backpackers who had travelled into forest regions had used insect repellent regularly and 30 per cent slept without a proper mosquito net.
Last Reviewed: 05 June 2009
- 1. Piyaphanee W, Wattanagoon Y, Silachamroon U, Mansanguan C, Wichianprasat P, Walker E. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices among foreign backpackers toward malaria risk in southeast Asia. Journal of Travel Medicine 2009;16:101-106
