BootsnAll Travel Community

Hi

I was in Cambodia for 12 days, and now I've been in Vietnam for 5 days from the 24th. I was taking malarone while in Cambodia, but then forgot to take it one day on the first or second day in vietnam. I took it for another day then stopped since I only got bitten twice in cambodia (as much as I could tell anyway...), and since being in Vietnam I hadn't seen a single mosquito (and still haven't!) + my guidebook said its pretty much eradicated in cities. I was only in Siem Reap, Angkor, Phnom Penh, and now Ho Chi Minh.

Whats annoying me, is malarial symtoms as far as I've read are exactly the same as 2302940234 other things that you can catch while your away. I had diarrhea on the 25th and 26th, then was vomiting really bad on the 27th; on the 28th, and now 29th im not vomiting anymore but I still feel a little unwell. It could of been loads of things: water, food (I had a dodgy burger), or just dirt on my hands (I still bite my nails, which are filled with god knows how many germs!).

Am I just being paranoid or should malaria be suspected, and if so how to get tested, how long does it take, and cost? I guess the only place you could say was a malarial risk was Angkor? + the movement between border areas, but that was over a week ago now.

Cheers, I have a treatment dose of Malarone, but I don't know if that would work since I was already taking it when I was infected (if I was)

EDIT: Sorry just realised this is in the wrong forum, move it I guess if need be, but will get a faster response here maybe o_O

I'm moving this to the travel health forum. You should get yourself to a doctor/clinic ASAP--don't take chances with your health!

Needless to say, you should have taken your malaria meds as directed. It is possible to get infected when you forget to take it (and also when you have acute diarrhea/food poisoning and the pill doesn't stay around for long enough to take effect). Most malaria meds (Malarone included) also have to be continued for a certain time after you leave the risk area.

So to re-iterate: get yourself tested.

I agree - no harm to get tested! I've had malaria and not only does it suck (alot) it gets worse with time.. it sort of seems to get better for a few days and then strikes again twice as hard!