how neccessary are malaria tablets?

kiwi_razz

What would I do? What does it matter? I haven't stated my opinion on whether to take them or not. I'm just presenting a balanced viewpoint to the "I never took them, never got malaria" view.

Exactly. If you read my earlier post, you would see that that is my point.

No one argues against cycle helmets because you have only 3% chance of serious head injury if you're hit by a car. No one argues that they wore a cycle helmet and still got head injuries when hit by a car.

By the way, I also know a guy who's life was very much saved by his bicycle helmet when he was hit by a bus.


Are anti-malarials necessary? Of course, not. They are optional.

leem

Last year, when discussing this with the travellers medical and vacination centre Dr here in Adelaide I decided to buy (not cheap!) a packet 12 100mg tablets of malarone as a precaution. The idea being that if you come down with malaria symptoms you take four tablets once daily for three consecutive days.

Naturally I didn't need them in the end. Perhaps this is an idea for those people who dont want to worry about side effects but would like a "plan b".

This was my fifth trip to the sub continent. First time took the tablets, forget which ones, no side effects. Next three trips couldn't be bothered with the expense but did the things people talk about here re mossies.

sticky

I ended up spending a fortune in that place too (the one on ward st, nth adelaide?). Was told i had to get them in oz as you would not be able to get them reliably where i was going, which was absolute crap.

__________________
->->->->->->->->->->->->->->->->->->->->

Flashpackers: Backpackers doing it in style.

andygoodyear

Is it a myth that eating Marmite, keeps the mossies away?

goangoangone

Yes, they love it

__________________
GoanGoan......here

Karma Queen

i heard taking garlic tablets and vitamin b1 keeps them away, as they don't like it. but i got bitten to hell, so i don't know how affective this approach is!

andygoodyear

well they say you either love it or hate it!

edwardseco

For those that believe that the lack of development of a vaccine for malaria is because there is no money in it?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4419835.stm

Keep those aluminum foil hats on..

goangoangone

A programme the other night had a guy travelling round the world collecting samples of what the locals use as natural repellants,to test in London at the School of Tropical Hygeine and Medicine.He took leaves from the neem tree from India.
There's no do$h in it for the drug companies so those bastards won't save us.

Nick-H

Edwardseco: thanks, interesting link.

Goan'; did the neem leaves work? Someone here told me that burning neem leaves would get rid of mossies, someone else told me it's an old wive's tale and doesn't work at all. Certainly the large neem tree outside my house doesn't seem to put them off

__________________
.


Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Sama

I will be in Chennai in September, which I have read is a hotbed for malaria mosquitoes. I will take meds with me, but have decided not to take them as a "precaution", the reason being, I've read about too many weird side effects (really not into having psychotic reactions).

A friend of mine was in Chennai last year and did not even bring repellent with her, altho she used others'. She said she was more afraid of the pesticides that were sprayed around her hotel everyday than contracting malaria. Also know people who go to Mysore every year, and they bring the meds, but do not take them as a precaution. I just plan on using lots of repellent, since mosquitoes look at me and say "lunch has arrived".....

__________________
My India, 2005-2008
sama: Pali/Sanskrit: that state of consciousness which reflects neither attachment nor aversion

Sama

My gynecologist is from Bangalore and she told me this today: she ALWAYS takes malaria meds (chlor...whatever) when she goes home (she's going this June), as does her husband (also Indian), and he goes to India 2 or 3 times a year. Plus, she said everyone in her family in Bangalore takes the meds, and she has never seen any side effects from malaria meds in her life.

She also advised me to take lots of repellent and a mosquito net for the bed.

so there ya go.

goangoangone

Nick, they didn't have any results so far..........

phobal

Of course you may get sick from taking malaria tabs. It inserts a small form of the virus to build up and teach your immunity from malaria, just like flu shots and mennegitis vaccinations. Is this minor and explainable side effect worth weeks of annoying illness and treatment that can remove me from work? Well, being that I'm not living off government handouts, yes!

Naturopaths typically get their education from an uncredited school. Requirements to get certification vary, and naturopaths don't even have governing bodies that have authority on registered naturopaths.
Medical doctors go through a rigorous application process, spend years learning their widely accepted craft, and graduate with a credited bachelor/masters/phd from an accredited school. Acceptance as a doctor also involves going through a governing body, like the Canadian Medical Association.

Naturopaths say not to take malaria tabs. Repellent, in spite of repellent being defined as: "serving or tending to drive away or ward off" not "consummately preventing", will stop those mosquitos.
Medical Doctors say to take them. You're human, you'll forget to put deet on one day or one night, and it's a cog in the wheel of preventitive health care. Malaria is not a fun illness to catch.

I think I'll take the word of my medical doctor, thank you.

sticky

malaria isn’t a virus, its a parasite – anti malarials work by disrupting a stage of the parasites life cycle