The world's first anti-malarial tablets specifically formulated for children are launched in the UK on Wednesday.

Malaria can be particularly serious, even life threatening, in children. It is a major killer in tropical climates, but is also becoming an increasing problem in the UK.

A new option to protect against the most severe form of this disease is extremely valuable

Dr Delane Shingadia

Research by St George's Hospital, London, has found the number of cases of the most serious type of malaria - caused by the parasite Plasmodium falciparum - in UK children has risen by almost a third over the last two decades.

It is estimated that 300 children a year now contract malaria in the UK - and more than half the cases are of the most serious form of the disease.

This is largely due to a big increase in foreign travel to countries where malaria is a problem.

However, just 41% of children who show signs of the disease at hospital have taken any sort of preventative medicine.

Also some parents, originally from a malarious country, mistakenly believe their children have natural immunity to malaria despite raising them in the UK.

The new medication, Malarone Paediatric Tablets, has proved to be 98% effective in preventing the most serious form of malaria in clinical trials.

It need only be taken only one day before arrival in a malaria-infected country, during the stay and for one week after leaving.

Dr Delane Shingadia, an expert in child disease at the Royal London Hospital, said: "Malaria can quickly become fatal in children and a new option to protect against the most severe form of this disease is extremely valuable.

"I would urge any parents considering taking their child to a malaria-endemic area to consult their GP surgery or Travel Health Clinic for expert advice."

Dr Richard Dawood, a travel medicine specialist at the Fleet Street Travel Clinic, London, said the new paediatric version of Malarone was well tolerated by children, and very effective.

He said previously he had estimate an appropriate dosage for children by crushing up Malarone pills designed for adults.

Many of the more traditional anti-malaria drugs carried a risk of side effects when given to children. Often they are also bitter to the taste.