While your summer holidays might feel like they're still a distant dream away, making sure to book in for the relevant shots and tablets you need to take to prevent sickness is just as important as finding that perfect bikini or working out your itinerary. If you plan on taking a trip outside of mainland Europe, it's important to check to see if your destination is affected by malaria. On Malaria Awareness Day, we look at the symptoms and treatments associated with the disease. So what is malaria? Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite. While most people can avoid malaria when travelling, if you fail to take the proper medications or precautions, you could find yourself suffering some serious side-effects. So what are the symptoms of malaria? The symptoms of malaria can start to appear any time from seven days to 18 days from the time of the initial mosquito bite. It should be noted some people don't suffer symptoms before 10 weeks, or even up to a year after a bite, so it is important to take all precautions and to regularly use mosquito repellent. The initial symptoms of malaria include:

• High temperature
• Fever
• Headache
• Sweating
• Chills
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Muscle pains

How do you treat malaria? While symptoms of malaria can be flu-like, if you’ve been travelling to a country with high risk, it’s important to visit a doctor immediately. Most malaria can be treated with prescription drugs, but all symptoms must be checked by a doctor immediately. If malaria is left untreated, there is a risk you could quickly develop severe and life-threatening complications. These can include breathing problems and organ failure if not treated promptly. Where can I find out more information about protecting myself against malaria? If you are booking a holiday to a malaria affected country, ask your travel agent, doctor or book an appointment with the Tropical Medical Bureau to keep yourself safe. Research your itinerary online, and be sure to take medication administered for their full cycle as recommended and not just when travelling in the country.