Many travelers to regions with malaria will not take prophylactic medications for a variety of reasons. These usually relate to the perceived risk being greater than the benefit.
Reasons given for not taking antimalarial prophylaxis:
(1) adverse reaction to drugs (urticaria, photosensitivity, other)
(2) fear of adverse effects
(3) fear of masking symptoms of malaria
(4) prophylaxis not considered necessary since the area visited not high risk
(5) frequent travel to malaria region AND did not want to take medicine long term
Men traveling for business to an urban area may not perceive the necessity of taking prophylaxis.
To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.
