Do malarial drugs engender joint pains?

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QUESTION

I am now over 50 and I lived all my life in Africa during which time I have had a considerable incidences of malarial attacks. Each time I took any anti-malarial drug I experienced some side-effects including blurred vision, fatigue and joint pains. The pains especially have since become a permanent part of me and even severe enough to hamper my mobility. Does my condition sound to have any relationship with the several quantity and varieties of anti malarial drugs that I took almost all my life?

ANSWER

There are no known long-term side effects to taking modern anti-malarial drugs. However it could be that you have had a reaction or allergy to the specific kind of anti-malarials you have used in the past. For example, quinine sulphate is associated with joint pain in rare cases. However, in Africa these days, the World Health Organisation recommends only the use of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs, such as Coartem) as the first-line treatment for malaria. The side effects of ACTs tend to be mild, and limited to nausea, dizziness and vomiting. As far as I am aware, joint pain and blurred vision have not been reported as side effects.

We at Malaria.com are very interested in hearing people’s experiences with antimalarial medication, so we would be very grateful if you would take the time to complete a survey on malaria treatment which we are running on the website. Thank you!

Malaria Prophylaxis in Pakistan

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QUESTION

Do I need antimalarials if i am returning to my home country in pakistan after two years?

ANSWER

That depends on where you will be going in Pakistan and how long you are planning on staying. Malaria is a risk at all areas under 2,500m of altitude. However, antimalarials are not recommended to be taken on a long-term basis, so if you are relocating home permanently and will be in an area at risk of malaria transmission, you should look into other preventative measures. This includes sleeping under a long-lasting insecticide-treated bednet at night, which prevents infected mosquitoes from biting you, and also potentially spraying indoors to kill mosquitoes. Making sure all rooms are well-screened can also keep mosquitoes out, and wearing long-sleeved clothing and insect repellent on exposed skin will further reduce bites. If you suspect you might have malaria (for example if you experience high fever, particularly coming in cycles interspersed with chills), you should immediately visit a doctor or clinic to test for malaria, so you can receive prompt and accurate treatment.

If you are staying in Pakistan for a short period of time (< 6 weeks) you could certainly consider taking an anti-malarial drug to prevent malaria. Doxycycline, mefloquine (sold as Lariam) and atovaquone-proguanil (sold as Malarone) are all recommended as appropriate prophylactic medications against malaria in Pakistan.