Health and safety forum
doubts about Malarone and ideal treatment
Have questions? Jump to our menu of forum quicklinks
Add your reply
You need to be logged in to add a reply.
Not a member? you can join here.
Welcome to Travelfish, original Asia travel intelligence you can trust
Menu
sofiamacedo
Joined Travelfish
22nd June, 2012
Posts 2
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
Hello all,
i am with a big doubt about Malaria.
Next week i will go to Thailand and also Cambodia, Vietnam and maybe Indonesia.
On the hospital they only give me the Malarone to take just in case the syhtonms appear and i have no doctor around.
But my friend who will go with me, in other hospital (and country) was recommended to start to take the Malarone and do the treatment, before she lives.
Malarone is so toxic and expensive that i really need an advice and opinions about that question.
Do you think that i should buy and start the treatment?
Because even with other doctors, i get different opinions.
Thanks a lot
Sofia
#1 Posted: 22/6/2012 - 07:24
savorygal
Joined Travelfish
16th July, 2010
Posts 114
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
I have travelled extensively through out SE Asia & Indonesia & never taken anti malarials. and unless you are going to be in remote areas I don't think it's necessary. That being said, Malaria prophylaxis is a personal choice. check out the World health organization & make your own decision.
http://www.who.int/en/
happy travels
#2 Posted: 22/6/2012 - 08:23
------------------------------
www.savorygal.wordpress.com
Advertisement
busylizzy
Joined Travelfish
31st December, 2007
Location New Zealand
Posts 1903
Member profile
Profile page
Private message
Good advice from savorygal with respect to it being personal choice. Many come on here asking for 'medical advice' which most of us are not qualified to give. Best thing is to be informed about the risks - do your research. Consider the areas that you are visiting, and the season (rainy = more mosquitoes), and the type of travelling. Generally speaking, if you are keeping to the main tourist trail, you probably don't need it. If you are going to go bush-whacking in some remote regions of Indonesia, for example, you will want to look into things more closely.
Whether or not you decide to take malarials, you are still potentially at risk of dengue fever, also carried by mosquitos. It's pretty nasty if you get it. There is no preventative medicine/vaccinations so sensible advice is to avoid mosquito bites regardless - cover up, insect repellant, etc.
I traveled for 6 months through SEA, and whilst I carried around doxycycline with me, I could never bring myself to take it. I made the choice to do my best to avoid mozzie bites in the first place.
With respect to malarone, it was my understanding that you only take it while in the areas of concern - no need to take it ahead of time, I thought. Again, do your research on that.
#3 Posted: 22/6/2012 - 17:02
------------------------------
As you grow older, you'll find the only things you regret are the things you didn't do.
goonistik
Joined Travelfish
7th January, 2010
Posts 471
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
lThe reason you get varying opinions is that the risk varies even within a country. In general, risks are higher near the rainforest/rural areas. It also depends on your activities and length of stay.
There is a country table here:
http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/travelers/country_table/a.htm
And some guidelines to help you understand.
http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/travelers/risk_assessment.html
There is a more concise table here:
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/travel/malaria_prevention/south_east_asia.htm
The advise of a travel doctor or a tropical disease specialist is best.
Malarone must be taken 1-2 days before entering a risk area and for 7 days after leaving the risk area.
#4 Posted: 23/6/2012 - 00:13
altmtl
Joined Travelfish
18th May, 2009
Location Earth
Posts 768
Member profile
Profile page
Private message
I don't take anti-malaria meds when I travel to SEA anymore.
#5 Posted: 23/6/2012 - 06:13
altmtl's social networks[Twitter] [Facebook]
------------------------------
Join the FB Group: South East Asia 2013 - Travel buddies and more...
sofiamacedo
Joined Travelfish
22nd June, 2012
Posts 2
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
Thanks a lot
I know it's a personal choice, that's whay i'm trying to get all th info that i can and decide
Because is not even the money, Malarone is soooo toxic - and malarone is th only option that they give to me in the hospital!
And i want to go to chiang mai and chiang rai (in the north, close to Birmania) and because is next week (i can't wait) will be in the rain season...
... i really need to take a decision.
But one more time thanks all for the info
xxx
Sofia
#6 Posted: 23/6/2012 - 11:01
goonistik
Joined Travelfish
7th January, 2010
Posts 471
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
CDC tables says there is no risk in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai (which means malaria is rare). There are large areas of South-East Asia where the risk is low and mosquito avoidance is enough.
#7 Posted: 23/6/2012 - 20:00
sitata
Joined Travelfish
5th July, 2012
Location Earth
Posts 5
Member profile
Profile page
Private message
goonistik has provided excellent advice. Generally, we recommend Malarone for short trips and doxycyline for longer trips, but only if the person is going to be visiting a malaria containing area. If you do decide to take Malarone, the recommended adult dosage is usually one tablet daily, starting one or two days before travelling into an area containing malaria. The dose should continue throughout the stay and then for another 7 days after leaving the malaria containing area.
#8 Posted: 5/7/2012 - 16:07
sitata's social networks[Twitter]
SaltwaterGem
Joined Travelfish
4th January, 2013
Posts 18
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
To reiterate what someone else said...
Anti-malarials are a personal choice but dengue is just as common without a preventative medicine... focus on preventing mosquito bites as much as anything else.
#9 Posted: 19/2/2013 - 11:32