Malaria Prevention in Crewe
Travelling to Africa, Asia, the Pacific or South America? There is no malaria vaccine for travellers — prevention relies on the right antimalarial tablets and careful bite avoidance. Our NHS-trained clinicians assess your exact route and put a personalised plan together, all from our GPhC-registered pharmacy on Nantwich Road.
What is malaria?
Malaria is a serious, sometimes life-threatening infection caused by tiny parasites passed to people through the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito. These mosquitoes feed mainly between dusk and dawn, which is why evening and night-time protection matters so much. Malaria is found across large parts of the tropics and subtropics, with the highest risk in sub-Saharan Africa.
Every year travellers return to the UK with malaria, and some cases become serious because preventive measures were missed or stopped early. The good news is that malaria is largely preventable — with awareness of your risk, good bite avoidance and, where recommended, antimalarial tablets taken correctly for the whole course.
The ABCD of malaria prevention
UK health authorities recommend a four-part approach — and your consultation with us covers every step of it.
A — Awareness of risk
Know whether your destination — and the specific regions you will visit — carries malaria risk, and when. We check your full route against current UK travel health guidance.
B — Bite avoidance
Repellent, clothing, nets and screened rooms. Stopping bites is the foundation of prevention — and it also protects you against other mosquito-borne diseases.
C — Chemoprophylaxis
Antimalarial tablets, where they are recommended for your route. We match the tablet to your destination, medical history and trip, and explain exactly how to take it.
D — Diagnosis
Any fever during or after travel to a risk area needs prompt medical attention. We tell you what to look out for and when to seek help — before you leave.
Antimalarial tablets — which one is right for you?
The antimalarials most commonly used by UK travellers are atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone or a generic version), doxycycline and mefloquine. Each has its own starting time, course length and suitability — there is no single tablet that is best for everyone.
The right choice depends on things like:
- your destination and the specific regions on your route, including any drug-resistance patterns there;
- how long you are travelling for, and whether your trip includes rural or remote areas;
- your medical history, any other medicines you take, pregnancy or breastfeeding, and travelling children;
- practical preferences — daily versus weekly tablets, and cost.
All antimalarials are started before you enter the risk area and continued for a period after you leave it, and the schedule differs between tablets — we will confirm the exact timings for your chosen option at your consultation. For current costs, see our price list.
Bite avoidance — your first line of defence
No tablet is completely effective on its own, and mosquitoes in the same regions spread diseases that antimalarials do not prevent — so stopping bites always matters, tablets or not.
- Use an insect repellent containing DEET (typically 20–50%) on exposed skin, and reapply as directed.
- Cover up with loose, long-sleeved tops and trousers, especially from dusk onwards.
- Sleep under an insecticide-treated mosquito net, or in screened, air-conditioned rooms.
- Take extra care at peak biting times — malaria mosquitoes are most active between dusk and dawn.
Does your destination carry malaria risk?
Risk varies country by country — and often region by region within a country. Read a plain-English guide to the destinations below, or check any of 240+ countries with our free tool.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need malaria tablets for my trip?
It depends on exactly where you are going. Many popular destinations — including large parts of Africa, Asia, the Pacific and South America — carry malaria risk, but the risk often varies within a country: major cities and main tourist areas can be low risk while rural, forested or border areas are higher risk. Check your destination with our free vaccine checker or read our destination guides, then book a consultation and we will assess your exact route, season and activities before recommending anything.
Is there a malaria vaccine for travellers?
No. The licensed malaria vaccines are used in childhood immunisation programmes in high-burden countries, not for travel protection. For UK travellers, prevention relies on the ABCD approach: awareness of your risk, careful bite avoidance, antimalarial tablets where they are recommended, and prompt diagnosis of any fever during or after your trip.
Which antimalarial tablets will I be offered?
The common options in the UK are atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone or a generic version), doxycycline and mefloquine. There is no single best tablet — the right choice depends on your destination, the length of your trip, your medical history, other medicines you take and your preferences. Our NHS-trained clinicians will talk these through with you and recommend the most suitable option at your consultation.
When do I start the tablets, and how long do I take them for?
It varies by tablet. Some are started a day or two before you enter a malaria risk area, while others need to be started earlier — and all antimalarials must be continued for a period after you leave the risk area to stay protected. We will give you the exact schedule for your chosen tablets at your consultation, in writing, so there is no guesswork.
If I take the tablets, do I still need to avoid mosquito bites?
Yes. No antimalarial tablet is completely effective on its own, and mosquitoes in the same regions can also spread diseases that tablets do not prevent, such as dengue. Tablets and bite avoidance work together: use a DEET-based repellent, cover up in the evening and sleep under a treated net or in screened, air-conditioned rooms.
Can children and pregnant travellers take antimalarials?
Often, yes — some antimalarials are suitable for children and some can be used in pregnancy, but the options are more limited and the choice needs careful individual assessment. Tell us at your consultation if you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy, breastfeeding or travelling with children, and we will advise on the safest approach for your trip.
What should I do if I get a fever after my trip?
Treat it as urgent. Malaria can develop during your trip or after you get home — most often within the first few months — and falciparum malaria can become serious quickly. If you develop a fever, flu-like symptoms or feel generally unwell during or after travel to a malaria risk area, seek medical attention straight away and tell the clinician where you have travelled, even if you took your tablets correctly.
Travel protected against malaria
Book a consultation and we will assess your route, recommend the right antimalarial tablets and give you practical bite-avoidance advice — all in one visit. Leave six to eight weeks before travel if you can, but it is worth getting in touch even at short notice.