BootsnAll Travel Community

Ahhhhh.....

The new disease is the madness caused by trying to get quality information on Malaria prophylaxis options available, the different regions they are for, the side effects etc...

The advice I receive seems to differ from source to source. As an example the WHO Malaria Mapseems to point to the fact that I don't need any prophylaxis in Argentina, whereas other sources say I need it in the north (i.e Salta etc...).

Have your experiences been so frustrating?

Colm
.... slowing going mad!

Don't get frustrated! You're better safe than sorry. I try to check mutliple sources -- CDC and WHO, usually, for this info. And they also have this kind of info at the local travel clinic I've been to.

The CDC's website says to take Chloroquine for Malaria in Argentina. I took Chloroquine for a trip to Belize last winter, and had no noticeable side effects.

CDC

Marisa

http://www.geocities.com/mumsawas

Thanks Marisa!

Perseverance pays off and you are absolutely right – it’s better to be safe than sorry.
My girlfriend and I have consulted numerous sources about malaria prophylaxis. These included: CDC, WHO, MASTA, Health Clinic, Nomad Travel Advice Line (UK) etc…

It was frustrating as sometimes we got differing advice from different sources. However, finally it all just seemed to become clear. Especially after we contacted MASTA and paid for one of their ‘travel health briefs (including malaria advice)’, which are available on their website for £3.49 - definitely worth it!!

Again thanks for your calming response

Colm

If you go to donate blood be sure to mention what anti-malarial drugs you've taken - some of them make the Red Cross not want your blood for a couple years.

I don't say this to discourage your taking the drugs - there might even be new drugs in use now that aren't a concern (my experience with this is not recent).

Then again...if you've had malaria, apparently they don't want your blood EVER again!

I second that it is better to be safe than sorry!

Im going to be in an area of Costa Rica for 2 months and have been told I need to take anti malaria tablets. I just asked for the cheapest kind: Doxycycline, which you take daily. What are the major differences between these medications? Did I make a mistake?

Doxycycline is an antibiotic that is used for everything from an infection to acne. I have never known for it to be used for malaria, however, if your doctor told you this was an option, it must be.

Personal opinion: Go to a travel clinic, which deals specifically with vaccinations and medications. Certain areas need certain malaria drugs. I know, for instance, there are places in SE Asia where you cannot take one of the commonly perscribed ones because the strain is resistant. It never hurts to at least call them and ask.

Court

"The traveler sees what he sees. The tourist sees what he has come to see." ~G.K. Chesterton

I have to agree with Court. Yes, get as much knowledge as you can by reading the many web sources, but use this knowledge to have an educated conversation with your travel clinic doctor. At the end, I always trust the doctors advice best.

I did that when traveling to South America, and ended up not taking any medication, relying mostly on repelents and 'run to the hospital on the first sign of fever', which never really happened.

Just to clarify about doxycycline and all anti-malarials- they do not prevent you from contracting malaria. They keep it contained once you already have it and flush the beginning infection out of your system. Basically, in the case of doxy (and I believe the others as well), which is a common antibiotic, it kills the spread of the disease by having a small steady stream in your system, thereby making your body hostile to full fledged malaria.

The only way to definately prevent malaria is to not get bitten.

PC

Check out my RTW blog:
http://blogs.bootsnall.com/claudia

actually, doxycycline acts to kill sexual forms of malaria in your blood- gametocytes..

the best drug that i've used to treat malaria is artemisinin..a chinese drug..no side effects at all for me compared to takin chloroquine (horribly bitter), doxycycline (stomach aches)..which makes me feel not too good