Malaria meds for kids

travellingmum · May 13th, 2007, 23:30

Hi all,

Getting conflicting advice from health professionals, travel clinics etc wrt which malarials the children should be taking on our trip.
They are 7 and 4 and weigh 22 and 25lbs respectively, our route takes us to India (Mumbai, Goa and Rajastan), then Vietnam, south to Cambodia, across to Thailand, south thru Malaysia to OZ. London to Thailand (BKK) will take around 10-12 weeks. Hubby and I took Mefloquine for 3 months in Africa 10 years ago with zero side effects.

So I had thought Mefloquine for us (tried and tested) and Malarone for the kids would be the drugs of choice (despite being assured by Trailfinders and Nomads that C+P was fine for India incl. Goa...), then Nomads nurse said actually mefloquine would be poss for the children, as long as they had no psychiatric history, and as it has been around for so long the anecdotal evidence is good, compared to relatively short term data for malarone. She suggested a 3 week trial first.

So what think you? Firstly would Mefloquine provide adequate cover for the places we're visiting, and also anyone got any advice for the children ?

Many thanks

Rachel xx

edwardseco · May 13th, 2007, 23:42

Mefloquine (Larium) If it doesn't prove suitable and leads to lasting psychotic damage in your children how will you notice it at the time our feel about it later?

My attitude is on the lines of an expensive vaccination. We passed on it bnecause of the expense. But, we paid the money for our child. Malarone is expensive but by far the best for children.

Doxycycline is not suitable for such young children although we used it for ours at 11 (but not for 4 & 7) because of the high risk of our area in Hyderabad.

As always monitor the children for side-effects no matter what..

dhans · May 14th, 2007, 00:39

No need for lariam in India. In line with the advice of the Dutch Government and the WHO when we went there as malaria prophylaxis we used Proguanil hydrochloride (Paludrine). For more information see our journal http://www.indiamike.com/india/journ...urnal&j=9 402.

Hans

Anders · May 14th, 2007, 00:49

I would try to stay away from Mefloquine as much as possible to make sure the kids don't go crazy. There is also Mefloquine resistance in Cambodia.

federica · May 14th, 2007, 02:56

Just wanted to add that there is a special Malarone for children, "Malarone Junior". As stand-by-medication for self treatment you have to use the normal Malarone (no Malarone Junior")
(source: Tübingen University, Germany, institute for tropical diseases)

In general you will get very different advices from different countries here.... p. ex. in Germany they don't recommend Malarone for more than 4 weeks...

edwardseco · May 14th, 2007, 06:27

For Malarone I asked the company (somehow they thought I was a doctor) why they didn't suggest it for long term. They said because they hadn't tested it for that. But, there were no contraindications or reports otherwise. Their website suggests the levels for childrens' dosages should you need to split pills..

May 13th, 2007, 23:30	#1
travellingmum Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: UK Posts: 2	Malaria meds for kids Hi all, Getting conflicting advice from health professionals, travel clinics etc wrt which malarials the children should be taking on our trip. They are 7 and 4 and weigh 22 and 25lbs respectively, our route takes us to India (Mumbai, Goa and Rajastan), then Vietnam, south to Cambodia, across to Thailand, south thru Malaysia to OZ. London to Thailand (BKK) will take around 10-12 weeks. Hubby and I took Mefloquine for 3 months in Africa 10 years ago with zero side effects. So I had thought Mefloquine for us (tried and tested) and Malarone for the kids would be the drugs of choice (despite being assured by Trailfinders and Nomads that C+P was fine for India incl. Goa...), then Nomads nurse said actually mefloquine would be poss for the children, as long as they had no psychiatric history, and as it has been around for so long the anecdotal evidence is good, compared to relatively short term data for malarone. She suggested a 3 week trial first. So what think you? Firstly would Mefloquine provide adequate cover for the places we're visiting, and also anyone got any advice for the children ? Many thanks Rachel xx

May 14th, 2007, 00:39	#3
dhans Uru Buru member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,370	No need for lariam in India. In line with the advice of the Dutch Government and the WHO when we went there as malaria prophylaxis we used Proguanil hydrochloride (Paludrine). For more information see our journal http://www.indiamike.com/india/journ...urnal&j=9 402. Hans __________________ Tips for trips to India with (young) children: India with kids Stories about our travels in India: Journal

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May 13th, 2007, 23:42	#2
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 3,586	Mefloquine (Larium) If it doesn't prove suitable and leads to lasting psychotic damage in your children how will you notice it at the time our feel about it later? My attitude is on the lines of an expensive vaccination. We passed on it bnecause of the expense. But, we paid the money for our child. Malarone is expensive but by far the best for children. Doxycycline is not suitable for such young children although we used it for ours at 11 (but not for 4 & 7) because of the high risk of our area in Hyderabad. As always monitor the children for side-effects no matter what..

May 14th, 2007, 00:49	#4
Anders Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: England Posts: 630	I would try to stay away from Mefloquine as much as possible to make sure the kids don't go crazy. There is also Mefloquine resistance in Cambodia.

May 14th, 2007, 02:56	#5
federica Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Bavaria Posts: 808	Just wanted to add that there is a special Malarone for children, "Malarone Junior". As stand-by-medication for self treatment you have to use the normal Malarone (no Malarone Junior") (source: Tübingen University, Germany, institute for tropical diseases) In general you will get very different advices from different countries here.... p. ex. in Germany they don't recommend Malarone for more than 4 weeks...

May 14th, 2007, 06:27	#6
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 3,586	For Malarone I asked the company (somehow they thought I was a doctor) why they didn't suggest it for long term. They said because they hadn't tested it for that. But, there were no contraindications or reports otherwise. Their website suggests the levels for childrens' dosages should you need to split pills..

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