Health and safety forum

malaria - not a hard & fast rule, but fever tends to spike at regular intervals (usu 48h or 72h, duration depends on strain) that are in sync with the parasite's life cycle inside you. fever spikes whenever it reaches the stage where a new generation of parasites bursts forth into the bloodstream.

For Dengue, you generally does up on paracetamol and rest, but if it's Malaria then you had better get to the closest quality medical clinic ASAP (which would mean curtailing the trip).

dengue - can end up with dengue haemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome & require treatment like platelet transfusions. people still die of it even in countries with relatively advanced medical care (e.g. Singapore).

there are different strains of dengue, & unlike malaria, it's common to have 2-3 strains circulating in the same area. unlike other diseases where previous exposure helps build immunity, previous exposure to one strain of dengue results in a higher chance of death from other strains.

A friend of mine came down with a bad fever in the Togians and I mistakenly thought it was probably dengue because one of the main symptoms (apart from fever, chills, lack of appetite etc) was excruciating joint pains. Turned out that she had falciparum malaria.

I think a blood test is really the only way to be sure. There are malaria test kits available but they aren't always very accurate.

That answers the question then I guess.

Thanks all!

I am going to take Doxy though and plan on taking a mozzie net (impregnated with permethrin) as well as long trousers and sleeves etc, so hopefully minimise my chances of getting mozzie borne diseases.

Seriously, too much reading about bugs and diseases before travel must be a bad thing! I read yesterday about the dangers of swimming in fresh water in SEA due to some creature that lays worms in your body that can get onto your liver and even spinal cord! I was horrified until I read that the worst regions got this are north and south Africa. As a South African, I have been swimming kn fresh water for years without issue...

Dude -- totally get where you are coming from. I have stopped reading these blogs myself. My sister and her husband did 6 months through SEA and did not take anti-malarials (whether that makes them idiots or not), and never had one problem the entire way! You may call them lucky, but they in fact are the norm.

I have had my last vaccine injection before my travels (rabies, although I am sure it's not actually necessary!), and now I am ready to go.

I cant wait! There is so much good stuff to experience out there that Western Europe would be like sitting in a McDonalds all Summer!

Have a great trip!