Taking medication prevents malaria Published March 24, 2010 By Tech. Sgt. Renni Thornton 451st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan -- Military members here were jolted by the news that two possible malaria cases had been reported at Kandahar Airfield March 16, but tests confirmed one case of malaria and one unsubstantiated case, said Maj. Jason Kelly, 451st Air Expeditionary Wing surgeon general and physician. "At this time officials are unsure if the disease was contracted here," said Major Kelly, "but there has been one civilian contractor diagnosed with malaria on KAF." As Benjamin Franklin said, "an ounce of prevention equals a pound of cure." Major Kelly agreed. The best way military members can prevent contracting malaria is to take the medication given to each person prior to deploying, he said. Often, military members don't do as well as officials would like when it comes to taking their medications. "I think there is a lot of bad press out there about the side effects of the medication and for many people it's hard to remember to take a pill if you are not sick. But it's better to take the medication to prevent being sick than to disregard it and come down with malaria." As recent as last month, military members were diagnosed with malaria and officials attribute that to complacency. "A lot of our military members think it won't happen to them. That a mosquito bite will not effect them that way," he said. "But it's better to be prepared than to be vulnerable and then have to be treated. It's not something that just goes away. Malaria is a treatable and curable disease when it is diagnosed." Symptoms of malaria include fever, chills, and body aches, said Major Kelly. "Because those symptoms resemble the flu, it is not the first thing people think of. They probably think they just have the flu," he said. According to the Center for Disease Control Web site, there are 300 million cases per year reported worldwide and one million deaths worldwide. For military members, the threat is real in Afghanistan. According to the CDC, this country is a high risk for malaria. Major Kelly recalled an instance when military members serving in Afghanistan were diagnosed with malaria. "In 2003, there was a Marine unit in Liberia and about 95 percent of the Marines were not taking their medications and had not treated their uniforms with permethrin. Practically the whole unit came down with malaria." There are two different medicines military members are prescribed, which have very little side effects. Mefloquine, prescribed in a weekly dosage, is said to give people vivid dreams, said Major Kelly, especially if taken before bedtime. "For some, it may cause upset stomach, but for the most part, it doesn't bother people." It can cause heart problems in people with pre-existing heart conditions, but they are screened for that before the medication is given, he said. The other medication, Doxycycline, is mostly distributed to pilots and air crews. It has a daily dosage and it's side effects include upset stomach and a propensity to sunburn easily, said Major Kelly. By following the requirements, military members should be able to protect themselves. "The uniforms we wear are pretty thick. By treating them with Permethrin, wearing DEET on exposed skin and taking the medication prescribed, all military members should be fine," he said. "It's when people stop taking the pills and don't do the other required things that they become more at risk." If a military member believes they may have contracted the disease, see the doctor. "Malaria is a treatable and curable disease," said Major Kelly. "But people have to do their part. It's not a disease that will send you home. A person can remain deployed while getting treated.