Malaria in Goa?

Curly87 · Aug 27th, 2008, 18:07

hey all!

new to here, thought id say hello! ive been living in Pune for the last month working for a software engineering company for my university placement year, i originally come from the UK, live in devon and go to uni near london,

anyhow onto the question, im heading down to Goa on the 2nd of sept until the 7th, so at this time of year should i take malaria tablets??? i hear goa is a variable risk area, so i take it at different seasons its worse than others?

Im heading to Margoa btw, and that’s about all I know at the moment

travelling alone so will just have a bit of an explore

cheers,
Tim

Nick-H · Aug 27th, 2008, 19:21

According to the British health authority, Goa, or at least parts of it, is one of the higher-risk parts of India.

I live in India, do not take anti-malarials, but I would if visiting Goa.

(Or Assam, or the Andemans...)

GoanCanuck · Aug 27th, 2008, 22:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curly87

anyhow onto the question, im heading down to Goa on the 2nd of sept until the 7th, so at this time of year should i take malaria tablets???

Yes you should take the tablets.

poipleshadow · Aug 29th, 2008, 21:45

I went to the government hospital in Mapusa last week and they said they get 1 or 2 cases per day, most being labourers (due to the conditions they work in), I hope that gives you more info to make an informed choice...

Thanks

edwardseco · Aug 29th, 2008, 22:48

Standard advice is to know what you are taking and how to take it. But, don't ask, read the lengthy threads first to get that necessary background..

Curly87 · Sep 1st, 2008, 12:46

Cheers for the replies guys!

im now taking some malaria tablets, so all is well. will be heading down to goa tomorrow evening

byronic · Sep 1st, 2008, 13:06

This march I was reading in the local Goa paper that Malaria cases were increasing in the areas new hotels were going up, and the folks who where getting it were the laborers building the hotels. The living conditions for the laborers were outside tents with no proper sanitation , and the new construction caused a lot of standing water pools breeding mozzies.
The mozzies can be fierce, I didn't take malaria pills, but then skeeters don't seem to like me too much, and I stayed away from new construction sites. lol...
I wonder if dirty polluted water causes the malaria parasite more than any other water?

Nick-H · Sep 1st, 2008, 16:17

No, I don't think so. What causes the malaria parasite in a mosquito is biting a human carrier; the quality of the water in which it spent its childhood is just not relevant!

Mossies require still water, so fast-flowing streams or drains are no good to them. Stagnant water, espcially if it is close to humans, is likely to be dirtier, I suppose.

The tank on your roof, if not properly covered, is a prime breading place for mossies. They have no objection to clean water! They do not need much either, and even a discarded tire or coconut shell can accommodate them.

The mental thing of connecting dirt and disease is not really true for mosquito-born diseases, it is just an association we make in our minds.

Of course, the dirty places are the places where the stagnant puddles are most likely to be found, but it is the water, not the dirt, that is the factor.

I seem to remember that the mossie that carries chikungunia actually likes its water clean!

Firstclass · Oct 23rd, 2008, 16:54

Is there still a Malaria risk in the late December?
I mean, i have a net and I'd use spray.
For emergency cases I have Malarone, but seriously I dont want to take them for prevention

Nick-H · Oct 23rd, 2008, 17:11

Parts of Goa are rated as High Risk by the British Health authority, with taking anti-malarials recommended. Best to follow that advice.

Quote:

For emergency cases I have Malarone, but seriously I dont want to take them for prevention

Forget that 'emergency use' thing completely: in case of suspected malaria put yourself in the hands of a doctor or hospital, get the tests, and take the drugs recommended. It is almost impossible to diagnose without tests: do not mess with self-diagnosis or self-prescription.

Firstclass · Oct 23rd, 2008, 17:41

Thank you Nick, Ok i just searched a bit on indiamike.
And I'll probably take Malarone as prophylaxe, even its just a 3day stay.

Nick-H · Oct 23rd, 2008, 17:55

I would take something if I visited Goa, even though, as a permanent resident of Chennai, I do not.

Goa and Assam...

federica · Oct 23rd, 2008, 18:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

Forget that 'emergency use' thing completely: in case of suspected malaria put yourself in the hands of a doctor or hospital, get the tests, and take the drugs recommended. It is almost impossible to diagnose without tests: do not mess with self-diagnosis or self-prescription.

You can still use Malarone for emergency case after a test from the doctor. If you take it as prophylaxis, you need another medication in case you still get it. Just to think about it....

Firstclass · Oct 23rd, 2008, 18:27

So, federica, should I buy some additional Anti-Malarials here in India? I mean, they're probably quite cheap (in Germany a pack of Malarone costs 50 Euros for 12 tablets)

federica · Oct 23rd, 2008, 18:36

You don't get Malarone in India, that's the point. Buying additional anti-malarias in advance doesn't make too much sense, as I would recommend to take a medication only after the test with a doctor.

My prefered medication for treatment would be Malarone, as it seems to have low side affects. If you take it as prophylaxis and you still get the disease (I know this is only worst case scenario), then you need another medication for treatment, and most probably it would be one with more side affects.

Anyway, these were just my thoughts, as I am more concerned about severe side affects of Lariam than Malaria. I am no doctor at all, so better take my thoughts as just thoughts!

Aug 27th, 2008, 18:07	#1
Curly87 Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Pune for the next 6 months / came from the UK Posts: 8	Malaria in Goa? hey all! new to here, thought id say hello! ive been living in Pune for the last month working for a software engineering company for my university placement year, i originally come from the UK, live in devon and go to uni near london, anyhow onto the question, im heading down to Goa on the 2nd of sept until the 7th, so at this time of year should i take malaria tablets??? i hear goa is a variable risk area, so i take it at different seasons its worse than others? Im heading to Margoa btw, and that’s about all I know at the moment travelling alone so will just have a bit of an explore cheers, Tim

Aug 27th, 2008, 19:21	#2
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 28,420	According to the British health authority, Goa, or at least parts of it, is one of the higher-risk parts of India. I live in India, do not take anti-malarials, but I would if visiting Goa. (Or Assam, or the Andemans...) __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Aug 29th, 2008, 21:45	#4
poipleshadow Help Where You Can... Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Goa Posts: 183	I went to the government hospital in Mapusa last week and they said they get 1 or 2 cases per day, most being labourers (due to the conditions they work in), I hope that gives you more info to make an informed choice... Thanks __________________ Rob Trying to make the world a better place is really hard...

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Aug 29th, 2008, 22:48	#5
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 4,436	Standard advice is to know what you are taking and how to take it. But, don't ask, read the lengthy threads first to get that necessary background..

Sep 1st, 2008, 12:46	#6
Curly87 Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Pune for the next 6 months / came from the UK Posts: 8	Cheers for the replies guys! im now taking some malaria tablets, so all is well. will be heading down to goa tomorrow evening

Sep 1st, 2008, 13:06	#7
byronic back in the ussa Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Rang De Basantistan or Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 489	This march I was reading in the local Goa paper that Malaria cases were increasing in the areas new hotels were going up, and the folks who where getting it were the laborers building the hotels. The living conditions for the laborers were outside tents with no proper sanitation , and the new construction caused a lot of standing water pools breeding mozzies. The mozzies can be fierce, I didn't take malaria pills, but then skeeters don't seem to like me too much, and I stayed away from new construction sites. lol... I wonder if dirty polluted water causes the malaria parasite more than any other water?

Sep 1st, 2008, 16:17	#8
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 28,420	No, I don't think so. What causes the malaria parasite in a mosquito is biting a human carrier; the quality of the water in which it spent its childhood is just not relevant! Mossies require still water, so fast-flowing streams or drains are no good to them. Stagnant water, espcially if it is close to humans, is likely to be dirtier, I suppose. The tank on your roof, if not properly covered, is a prime breading place for mossies. They have no objection to clean water! They do not need much either, and even a discarded tire or coconut shell can accommodate them. The mental thing of connecting dirt and disease is not really true for mosquito-born diseases, it is just an association we make in our minds. Of course, the dirty places are the places where the stagnant puddles are most likely to be found, but it is the water, not the dirt, that is the factor. I seem to remember that the mossie that carries chikungunia actually likes its water clean!

Oct 23rd, 2008, 16:54	#9
Firstclass Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Munich - Chennai from Oct 08 Posts: 100	Is there still a Malaria risk in the late December? I mean, i have a net and I'd use spray. For emergency cases I have Malarone, but seriously I dont want to take them for prevention

Oct 23rd, 2008, 17:41	#11
Firstclass Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Munich - Chennai from Oct 08 Posts: 100	Thank you Nick, Ok i just searched a bit on indiamike. And I'll probably take Malarone as prophylaxe, even its just a 3day stay.

Oct 23rd, 2008, 17:55	#12
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 28,420	I would take something if I visited Goa, even though, as a permanent resident of Chennai, I do not. Goa and Assam...

Oct 23rd, 2008, 18:27	#14
Firstclass Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Munich - Chennai from Oct 08 Posts: 100	So, federica, should I buy some additional Anti-Malarials here in India? I mean, they're probably quite cheap (in Germany a pack of Malarone costs 50 Euros for 12 tablets)

Oct 23rd, 2008, 18:36	#15
federica Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Bavaria Posts: 1,102	You don't get Malarone in India, that's the point. Buying additional anti-malarias in advance doesn't make too much sense, as I would recommend to take a medication only after the test with a doctor. My prefered medication for treatment would be Malarone, as it seems to have low side affects. If you take it as prophylaxis and you still get the disease (I know this is only worst case scenario), then you need another medication for treatment, and most probably it would be one with more side affects. Anyway, these were just my thoughts, as I am more concerned about severe side affects of Lariam than Malaria. I am no doctor at all, so better take my thoughts as just thoughts!

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