Prevention

Prevention of malaria involves protecting yourself against mosquito bites and taking antimalarial medicines. But public health officials strongly recommend that young children and pregnant women avoid traveling to areas where malaria is common.

To prevent mosquito bites, follow these guidelines:

• Limit your outdoor activity between dusk and dawn. Stay in screened or air-conditioned rooms.
• Wear protective clothing (long pants and long-sleeved shirts).
• Use insect repellent with DEET (N,N diethylmetatoluamide). The repellent is available in varying strengths up to 100%. In young children, use a preparation containing less than 24% strength, because too much of the chemical can be absorbed through the skin.
• Use bed nets (mosquito netting) sprayed with or soaked in an insecticide such as permethrin or deltamethrin.
• Use flying-insect spray indoors around sleeping areas.
• Avoid areas where malaria and mosquitoes are present if you are at higher risk (for example, if you are pregnant, very young, or very old).

If you use a bed net treated with insecticide and use insect repellents on your clothes, you will reduce your risk of becoming infected with malaria. Other steps that may be helpful in reducing the risk of malaria include using air conditioning and electric fans, wearing protective clothing, using aerosol insecticides in your house, and taking certain antimalarial medicines.3

---