BootsnAll Travel Community

Hi all

This question or similar has probably been asked lots before but I really need some advice please:-)

Me and my boyf are heading on our travels at the end of August and our first stop is Thailand. We'll probably be there for about 3 weeks.

We'll be in Bangkok, then may travel up to Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai and then down to Singapore.

Should I definately take Malaria tablets?? The thing is that I've heard some freaky stories about them and the side effects.

I definately don't eant Malaria but for where I'm going to, do I need the vaccine??

Many thanks
JoeyJoJo

there's no actual vaccine, it's just a pill you have to keep taking daily to keep malaria out of your system. it's cheap, but you should be aware that different areas have resistance to different drugs. just go talk to your doctor.

having said that though, i didn't bother with it. as long as you stay in the city, you should be fine. i was in bangkok and chiang mai for a couple weeks, and i was fine but that doesn't mean that everyone that goes there won't get malaria.

have fun!

JoeyJoJo, I take my malaria meds with me in malaria high risk areas. Like xoom said, talk to your doc and ask them about the different medications available for the area. Each has different side effects. I think the one you have heard of is Lariam/Mefloquine, for having psychosomatic effects -- hallicinations, vivid dreams, etc. There are other medications that you can look into taking for the malaria.

Check out the Malaria Guide for some handy info.

Take them. There is much debate about taking them, but if you have ever had malaria, the decision is easy ("hey, I have to go have a malarial episode now, but let's do dinner at 10!)
R

If you stay in the cities, Malaria isn't much of a problem at all. There are malaria alert areas, and they are the ones to watch for. Malaria in Singapore? Na. Even the sneezes of the singaporeans are anti-malarial>Its just about the cleanest city you will ever see, and it IS one big city/shopping mall. No livestock to be found in the entire area.

thanks all

I have made an appointment with my GP to get my jabs so I'll discuss the best anti-malaria tabs to take

Thanks again

JoeyJoJo

It appears that Chang Rai and Chiange Mae are on the border of high risk and minimal risk malaria areas and Bangkok is no worry at all. I saw a travel doc who gave me great malaria maps for all the areas I'm travelling to, including Thailand. If I were you I probably wouldn't take them unless you're spending a lot of time in the rural areas.

I'm going to be travelling all over SE Asia, India and parts of Africa, so it was recommended to me to take anti-malarials the whole time. You continue to take them for 28 days after you leave a malaria area, so by the time 28 days pass I'll likely have entered another high risk area. It looks like I'll be on them for approximately 6-9 months. I was given Doxycycline and told that in SE Asia Doxycycline and malarone are the best options as resistance is very very high. Doxycycline is used for a ton of things (severe acne, MS symptoms, antibiotic) so many people take it for prolonged period of time without any side effects.

I've been wondering about Malaria too. I'll be travelling round SE Asia for 2 months and I'm sure I'll enter high risk areas.. I'm not keen about taking AB's for that length of time but I guess I'll probably just have to suck it up.

I've heard you can get doxycyline over the counter in Thailand (of course being very careful that it actually is doxy you get given) however I'm reluctant to take doxy because of the sunburn/hypersensitivity factor. I already burn incredibly easily and don't want to have to spend my entire trip hiding from all forms of natural light.. However, I was wondering if anyone knew if Malerone could be purchased over the counter there too... it's bloody expensive here.

Those of you who have already done the SEA thing.. Who bothered with anti-malarials and who didn't? Would you take / not take them again? Did anyone get malaria?

From my understanding, doxycycline has many purposes. People with severe acne take it on a regular basis, as well as people with lyme disease. Seeing that people do take it so regularly I'm under the impression that if you act with caution when going into the sun you should be fine. I think the reccomendations that are always in effect (sunscreen and hat, avoid high noon sun) are sufficient precaution.

quote:

Originally posted by Samanthia:
Seeing that people do take it so regularly I'm under the impression that if you act with caution when going into the sun you should be fine. I think the reccomendations that are always in effect (sunscreen and hat, avoid high noon sun) are sufficient precaution.

I'm not sure you understand just how easliy I burn!! I may well be the pastiest person alive!! and the last year of being locked away in an office where sunlight fears to tread sure hasn't helped.
I know that, for me, if photosensitivity is a side effect that doxy would be a last resort while I'm travelling and spending much more time in the sun than usual.

For what it's worth -- I took Malarone for a month while visiting rural South East Asia. I had no side effects what so ever. My doctor recommended it specifically because of the lack of side effects. You might want to ask your doc for a recommendation.

It appears that I am in the same boat as you guys. I went to a traveler’s vaccination clinic the other day and I have to choose between Doxy and Malarone. From my understanding doxy is way cheaper but has more unpleasant side effects. I think I am going to give doxy a go, I will be on it for 6 months

Malarone is quite expensive. I didn't have too many side effects from doxy. Just be sure to wear sunscreen with a high SPF, and you'll be fine.

I'm going to be in malaria zones for quite some time (4-7 months) and plan on taking Doxy. My doc gave me a couple weeks worth while i was still home to "test" for side effects... if you have time, maybe you could try that. I didn't burn at all, though I tan easily (luke you may wanna test for this). The only side effect I got from it was a bit of naseau and upset stomach if I took the pill on a empty stomach. Nothing big, but definitetly made doing anything unpleasant until I got some food in my system.

As for Malarone... it is the way to go, from what I've heard, but its so damn expensive everywhere.

I was doing some research and I found this site it shows that malarone Can be used for travel periods up to 28 days. (37 tablets) My travel clinic prescribed 140 tabs for 4 months I presume that they know what they are doing I hope

whatteeeeevver you do, do not take larium

I have never been more crazy/sick in my entire life.

quote:

Originally posted by T-:
I was doing some research and I found this site it shows that malarone Can be used for travel periods up to 28 days. (37 tablets) My travel clinic prescribed 140 tabs for 4 months I presume that they know what they are doing I hope

And it's not Melfequine? I'd go back and double check, as my research has come back with the same as that site says.

Monkey, it's my understanding that Malarone is approved in the US for travel periods of an unlimited length. I'm not sure about Canada (I presume that's where T is) but the website T links to is a UK site and in the UK it's only allowed for a 4 week trip. Malarone is a fairly new drug so I don't think there have been many long-term studies on it. The UK is probably just playing it safe.

And Enid, Lariam is a bit scary because when it goes bad it goes really bad - like in your case. But plenty of people take it and have minor or no side effects. I can't afford Malarone for long term trips and can't take doxy so I took Lariam for 6 months and only had insomnia and vivid dreams. It was far better for me than the major burns I get on doxy (even with sunscreen).

Interesting, thanks for the info!

I called my doctor and in Canada Malorone is accepted for long-term travel so I am not going to sweat it.

Insomnia would suck but vivid dreams do not sound so bad. Nope, not so bad at all