In northern Brazil, malaria is endemic, so if you intend to visit the Amazon must take serious precautions. In recent years, the rate of infection is increased because of greater resistance to insecticides by mosquitoes, which, each year, results in death, avoidable, some unwary tourists.
In fact, just a few simple precautions to minimize the risk of contracting malaria, even in areas with high prevalence. Moreover, with appropriate treatment, an attack of malaria is no worse than a strong influence.
However, keep in mind that if you do not follow the precautions and carried malaria prophylaxis before, during and after the passage in the Amazon, the disease can kill.

In Brazil there are two types of malaria: falciparum, the most serious but less common, and vivax, both transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito, which is the most active at dawn and one hour after sunset. Even in areas with high prevalence, only about 5% of Anopheles is infected by parasites of amalaria, so minimizing mosquito bites, it significantly lowers the risk of contracting the illness.

Make use of insect repellents, the most common of which in Brazil is the 'Autan, to be used in conjunction with the Johnson's Baby Oil to relieve skin irritation. The most effective mosquito repellent, it is desirable to obtain before starting, contain DEET (dietitoluamide), a substance very active, so you have to follow the manufacturer's instructions, in particular for use in children.
If you have very sensitive skin, a natural alternative is citronella, but it should still use DEET on clothing and mosquito nets. Wear long sleeved shirts and pants, socks and shoes, especially at times when mosquitoes are most voracious. Sleep under the sheets and use a mosquito net above.

Those for hammocks (mosqueteiro rede para) cost about $ 15 and are easily found in the Amazonian city. Mosquito coils also help ward off insects.

If you absolutely have made ​​prophylaxis prior to follow a pattern of recruitment, to start before departure and continue even after the return, ask your doctor for advice. Since there is increasing drug resistance to the chloroquine, prophylaxis recommended for anyone who goes to Brazil became mefloquine, the trade name Lariam, but is controversial because it involves use of heavy side effects. The site www.cdc.gov/travel/ is a useful source that provides advice on risk areas of Brazil and the best methods of protection.

Malaria has an incubation period of about two weeks. The first symptoms of malaria are very similar to those of flu, with muscle and joint pain, accompanied by feelings of exhaustion, which last for a couple of days before manifesting the true malarial fever, which may appear in some months later.
If suspected of having contracted the infection, go immediately to a hospital or clinic where you will submit to a therapy and a blood test immediately to identify the strain. The anti-malarial therapy is the only field of public health where Brazil stands out. Amazon are scattered throughout the small stations of malaria control (instead of SUCAM) and malaria clinics managed by the organization that, despite having a very subdued air, have an expert and knowledgeable staff that knows the local strains better than any specialist citizens .

The therapies in somministrative Postos are free, so if you were to fall ill, take someone into one of these surgeries as quickly as possible and do not stay in the hammock in the grip of fever chills waiting to pass. It is true that often disappear, but it is also true that malaria can be fatal.