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Malaria prevention in infants — DTM&H MCQ

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ModerateTravel MedicineMalaria prevention in infantsDTM&H

A family travelling with a 6-month-old infant to rural sub-Saharan Africa for 4 weeks seeks advice on malaria prevention. The infant cannot take standard chemoprophylaxis. What is the most important protective measure?

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Correct answer: B — Insecticide-treated bed nets and protective clothing from dusk to dawn

For infants under 5 kg, atovaquone-proguanil is not licensed and mefloquine data are limited. The most important measure is barrier protection: sleeping under an LLIN, wearing long sleeves/trousers at dusk, and using DEET-containing repellent at appropriate concentrations (up to 50% DEET can be used on infants >2 months but should be applied to clothing rather than directly to skin). Advising travel deferral is appropriate for high-risk areas. Chloroquine alone is inadequate in chloroquine-resistant zones.

Reference: UKHSA ACMP Guidelines; CDC