Which malaria prevention tablets are suitable for women during pregnancy?
A. Malaria during pregnancy is a serious illness for both the mother and the foetus. Pregnant women should be advised against travel to an area with malaria, particularly it there is chloroquine resistant Plasmodium falciparum. Doxycycline and atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone®) are both unsuitable for use during pregnancy. Results of animal studies indicate that tetracyclines cross the placenta, are found in foetal tissues and can have toxic effects on the developing foetus (often related to retardation of skeletal development). Evidence of embryotoxicity has also been noted in animals treated early in pregnancy (SPC). The safety of atovaquone and proguanil hydrochloride when administered concurrently for use in human pregnancy has not been established and the potential risk is unknown. Animal studies showed no evidence for teratogenicity of the combination. The individual components have shown no adverse effects on parturition or pre- and post-natal development (SPC). Women should be re
