Malaria tablets recommended?

Suryapet · Mar 26th, 2009, 04:47

Coming from the UK to visit in Hyderabad before heading over to Kerala. I was told I did not need any malaria protection other than DEET and long sleeved shirts etc. My wife (different doctor) has been given anti malaria treatment.

Should I see my doctor again?

edwardseco · Mar 26th, 2009, 05:20

Big issue and it depends on who you ask. It takes some research IMHO to decide the risks of the several such regimes. I use Doxy for Hyderabad because my inlaws would kill me if I took Malaria again. It works well for me despite some sun sensitivity and even better for the rest of the family who are darker than I. However, for a short visit I usually don't recommend such (I know I got it on a short visit but if I didn't have bad luck I wouldn't have any at all). At the bottom of this page you will find a wealth of information on related past threads..

Haylo · Mar 26th, 2009, 06:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suryapet

Coming from the UK to visit in Hyderabad before heading over to Kerala. I was told I did not need any malaria protection other than DEET and long sleeved shirts etc. My wife (different doctor) has been given anti malaria treatment.

Should I see my doctor again?

You may as well ask "Should my wife throw her malaria tablets away?"

Whether or not to take them for those areas is purely a judgement call, and it will be partly based on whether the patient is likely to bother with DEET and wearing sensible clothing. Maybe your wife's doctor thought her less likely to wear long sleeve shirts!

I was advised that malaria tablets were not necessary but wanting to be uber-careful I bought them anyway for my first India trip, however they made me feel queasy so I threw them away. Some doctors believe malaria meds should always be taken, my doctor told me that the latest research shows that taking malaria meds makes people very careless about preventing mosquito bites which actually puts them at GREATER risk of Dengue fever, a serious and potentially fatal illness which, unlike malaria, cannot be treated.

obione980 · Mar 26th, 2009, 06:35

The areas in which you'll be travelling have a low incidence of Malaria - however - they are malarial.

We are careful about mosquito 'defence' - use a 40% DEET repellant and all that - but always take doxycycline as a Malaria prophylactic when in any malaria area. Falciparium Malaria is super deadly - and I would not risk it.

Doxycycline is cheap; readily available throughout India; and has few side effects - all of which have simple 'work-arounds'.

Nick-H · Mar 26th, 2009, 15:06

Read the UK's own book on the subject downloadable -->here and decide.

Check the HPA's site for updates (eg Goa has been up-rated in danger) as well.

Mar 26th, 2009, 04:47	#1
Suryapet Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Scotland Posts: 3	Malaria tablets recommended? Coming from the UK to visit in Hyderabad before heading over to Kerala. I was told I did not need any malaria protection other than DEET and long sleeved shirts etc. My wife (different doctor) has been given anti malaria treatment. Should I see my doctor again?

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Mar 26th, 2009, 05:20	#2
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 5,841	Big issue and it depends on who you ask. It takes some research IMHO to decide the risks of the several such regimes. I use Doxy for Hyderabad because my inlaws would kill me if I took Malaria again. It works well for me despite some sun sensitivity and even better for the rest of the family who are darker than I. However, for a short visit I usually don't recommend such (I know I got it on a short visit but if I didn't have bad luck I wouldn't have any at all). At the bottom of this page you will find a wealth of information on related past threads..

Mar 26th, 2009, 06:35	#4
obione980 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Brisbane Posts: 379	The areas in which you'll be travelling have a low incidence of Malaria - however - they are malarial. We are careful about mosquito 'defence' - use a 40% DEET repellant and all that - but always take doxycycline as a Malaria prophylactic when in any malaria area. Falciparium Malaria is super deadly - and I would not risk it. Doxycycline is cheap; readily available throughout India; and has few side effects - all of which have simple 'work-arounds'.

Mar 26th, 2009, 15:06	#5
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,189	Read the UK's own book on the subject downloadable -->here and decide. Check the HPA's site for updates (eg Goa has been up-rated in danger) as well.