How to Prepare for a Video Visit About Malaria Prophylaxis Consultation

Audience: pediatric

Preparing for a video visit about malaria prophylaxis helps ensure your child receives the best advice to prevent malaria when traveling to areas where the disease is common. During the visit, a healthcare provider will discuss your child's health history, travel plans, and any medications they may already be taking. This information helps the provider recommend the safest and most effective malaria prevention medicines. To get ready, gather details about your child's medical history, current medications, and travel itinerary. Make sure you have a quiet, well-lit space with a reliable internet connection for the video call. Remember, telemedicine visits can provide valuable guidance but are not a substitute for in-person medical care if urgent issues arise. If your child shows signs of illness during or after travel, seek immediate medical attention.

Red flags — go in person / ER

• Child develops fever, chills, or sweats during or after travel — seek emergency medical care immediately.
• Child shows signs of allergic reaction to malaria medicine, such as rash, swelling, or difficulty breathing — stop medicine and get urgent care.
• Child experiences severe side effects like persistent vomiting, confusion, or seizures — get emergency help right away.

What telemedicine can do

• Discussing travel plans and health history for malaria prevention.
• Providing general advice on malaria prophylaxis medicines and their use.
• Answering questions about malaria prevention and side effects.

What telemedicine cannot do

• Diagnosing malaria or other illnesses requiring physical examination.
• Managing severe allergic reactions or emergencies.
• Prescribing medicines that require in-person evaluation or monitoring.

What is Malaria Prophylaxis?

Malaria prophylaxis means taking medicine to prevent malaria, a serious illness spread by mosquito bites in some parts of the world. These medicines help protect your child from getting sick during travel to areas where malaria is common.

Why Prepare for Your Video Visit?

Being ready for your video visit helps the healthcare provider give the best advice for your child's safety. Sharing clear information about your child's health and travel plans allows the provider to choose the right medicine and explain how to use it properly.

What Information to Have Ready

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How to Set Up for the Video Visit

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After the Visit: What to Do Next

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When to Seek In-Person Care

If your child develops fever, chills, sweating, headache, or feels very tired during or after travel, seek medical care immediately. These could be signs of malaria or other serious illnesses that need urgent attention.

How to prepare for your tele-visit

• Gather your child's full medical history and list of current medications.
• Have your travel itinerary details ready, including destination and dates.
• Find a quiet, well-lit area with a stable internet connection for the video call.
• Ensure your device has a working camera and microphone.
• Prepare any questions or concerns you want to discuss with the healthcare provider.

After your tele-visit

• Start malaria prophylaxis medicine as instructed by the provider.
• Monitor your child for any side effects or unusual symptoms.
• Keep a record of medicine doses and any reactions.
• Contact your healthcare provider if you have questions or concerns.
• Seek immediate medical care if your child shows signs of malaria or severe reactions.

FAQs

What is malaria prophylaxis medicine?

Malaria prophylaxis medicine is a drug taken to prevent malaria infection. It is usually started before traveling to areas where malaria is common and continued during and after travel as directed by a healthcare provider.

Can my child take malaria medicine if they have allergies?

It depends on the type of allergy and the medicine. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider about any allergies your child has so they can choose the safest option.

How soon before travel should my child start malaria prophylaxis?

Typically, malaria medicine is started 1 to 2 weeks before travel, but this can vary depending on the medicine prescribed. Your healthcare provider will give specific instructions.

Are there side effects from malaria prophylaxis medicines?

Some children may experience side effects like nausea, headache, or dizziness. Most side effects are mild, but if your child has severe reactions, contact your healthcare provider immediately.

Is a video visit enough to get malaria prophylaxis advice?

A video visit can provide good guidance and prescriptions for malaria prevention. However, if your child has complex health issues or develops symptoms of illness, an in-person visit may be necessary.

Sources

1. Malaria - Prevention — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
2. Malaria — MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
3. Malaria Prophylaxis — Mayo Clinic.
4. Malaria — World Health Organization (WHO).

This telemedicine guidance is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for in-person medical care. If your child experiences severe symptoms or emergencies, seek immediate medical attention from a healthcare professional.