Malaria tablets- to take or not to take???

smith6 · Apr 17th, 2006, 16:32

Hi
Myself and my husband will be travelling to India in the Autumn with my four children and I have heard so much conflicting advice about taking malaria tablets. Some say that they themselves can make you very sick, and its better to spray with insect reppellent instead, but going out there with kids and no protection feels a bit scary! Would any of you seasoned travellers give me some insight into the level of risk along the Goan and Kerala coast and also what your opinion is on whether to take medicine /tablets or not.

Thank you

john.sw · Apr 17th, 2006, 16:37

Medical advice from complete strangers with no medical training on a travel forum?

If you want medical advice, ask a doctor.

smith6 · Apr 17th, 2006, 16:44

Whoa! you don't think I am looking for the definitive answer do you? Just doing some early research, and thought it would be interesting to hear other peoples point of view!

john.sw · Apr 17th, 2006, 16:53

There has been a lot of discussion here on Malaria Tablets...

There is a thread at:

What do you do against malaria?

and you can also do a search for "malaria" to find other threads.

Personally I don't take malaria tablets despite my doctor's advice that I should. But I'm an old fool who can make up his own mind!

It is different if you have young children...

Nick-H · Apr 17th, 2006, 18:11

Lots more conflicting advice here! Heaps of it.

Which reminds me, I should go take that pill!

edwardseco · Apr 17th, 2006, 20:14

Its just not an easy yes or no answer but involves research and reflection. Goa is less of a problem but I couldn't hazard a guess about Kerala. The age of the children matters also!!

wandering_kat · Apr 17th, 2006, 21:24

I don't know about this one for kids, but ask your doc about Coartem/Riamet (different names in different countries) - it's herbal, very effective, and used only if you have symptoms - not as a prophylactic. I carry it when i'm there; fortunately never had to use it though.

BaHaMo · Apr 24th, 2006, 15:23

Before going to India I read many forums with lively discussions about this. I must have read thousands of posts. My doctor advised me to bring pills with me but not to take them unless I got sick. I also bought a homeopathic remedy to use as a prophylacsis. I probabably paid something like 120 CHF (about 80 dollars) for the two combined.
But on my trip to Tamil Nadu (I just got back) I didn't see a single mosquito! And I slept with the windows open every night. Next time I would do it differently....

Malkers · Apr 24th, 2006, 15:55

I personally don't bother with them simply because I can't be bothered and don't personally think the risk is big enough to worry about. I've been all over the country and had thousands of bites but I like someone above am a not quite so old fool who can make up his own mind!

If it were my kids though, I'd think a bit more seriously about it!

Cheers
Malc

Apr 17th, 2006, 16:32	#1
smith6 Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Italy Posts: 12	Malaria tablets- to take or not to take??? Hi Myself and my husband will be travelling to India in the Autumn with my four children and I have heard so much conflicting advice about taking malaria tablets. Some say that they themselves can make you very sick, and its better to spray with insect reppellent instead, but going out there with kids and no protection feels a bit scary! Would any of you seasoned travellers give me some insight into the level of risk along the Goan and Kerala coast and also what your opinion is on whether to take medicine /tablets or not. Thank you

Apr 17th, 2006, 16:37	#2
john.sw Up in the hills with my head in the clouds... Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: India/UK Posts: 1,019	Medical advice from complete strangers with no medical training on a travel forum? If you want medical advice, ask a doctor. __________________ www.nilgiris.asia your guide to the Nilgiris, Ooty, Coonoor, Kotagiri and Gudalur

Apr 17th, 2006, 18:11	#5
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 25,811	Lots more conflicting advice here! Heaps of it. Which reminds me, I should go take that pill! __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Apr 17th, 2006, 21:24	#7
wandering_kat All India Permit Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Cape Town Posts: 342	I don't know about this one for kids, but ask your doc about Coartem/Riamet (different names in different countries) - it's herbal, very effective, and used only if you have symptoms - not as a prophylactic. I carry it when i'm there; fortunately never had to use it though. __________________ *Sorry, but my karma just ran over your dogma*

Apr 24th, 2006, 15:23	#8
BaHaMo Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Geneva, Switzerland Posts: 21	tough call Before going to India I read many forums with lively discussions about this. I must have read thousands of posts. My doctor advised me to bring pills with me but not to take them unless I got sick. I also bought a homeopathic remedy to use as a prophylacsis. I probabably paid something like 120 CHF (about 80 dollars) for the two combined. But on my trip to Tamil Nadu (I just got back) I didn't see a single mosquito! And I slept with the windows open every night. Next time I would do it differently....

Apr 17th, 2006, 16:44	#3
smith6 Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Italy Posts: 12	Whoa! you don't think I am looking for the definitive answer do you? Just doing some early research, and thought it would be interesting to hear other peoples point of view!

Apr 17th, 2006, 16:53	#4
john.sw Up in the hills with my head in the clouds... Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: India/UK Posts: 1,019	There has been a lot of discussion here on Malaria Tablets... There is a thread at: What do you do against malaria? and you can also do a search for "malaria" to find other threads. Personally I don't take malaria tablets despite my doctor's advice that I should. But I'm an old fool who can make up his own mind! It is different if you have young children...

Apr 17th, 2006, 20:14	#6
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 3,777	Its just not an easy yes or no answer but involves research and reflection. Goa is less of a problem but I couldn't hazard a guess about Kerala. The age of the children matters also!!

Apr 24th, 2006, 15:55	#9
Malkers Not So Bloody Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chipping Sodbury, UK (was Bangalore) Posts: 411	I personally don't bother with them simply because I can't be bothered and don't personally think the risk is big enough to worry about. I've been all over the country and had thousands of bites but I like someone above am a not quite so old fool who can make up his own mind! If it were my kids though, I'd think a bit more seriously about it! Cheers Malc

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Malaria tablets	wanderin_star	Tamil Nadu	11	Dec 8th, 2005 13:13
What would you do? Malaria tablets.	Grantaustralia	Health and Well Being in India	2	Nov 15th, 2005 13:42
Malaria tablets	Maz	Health and Well Being in India	2	Nov 13th, 2005 21:32
malaria tablets in goa	wafc	India Expat Area	3	Nov 8th, 2005 23:12
malaria tablets	rena	Health and Well Being in India	4	Nov 1st, 2004 08:53

User Name		Remember Me?
Password