Malaria pills necessary for December Rajahstan trip?

alfredm

We'll travel across Rajahstan between Dec 11-21 touching Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Mandawa. Will anti-malaria pills be necessary or will it be sufficient to bring some standby medication ?

I'm asking because I'd prefer to avoid taking such pills and by the time we are there it should be relatively dry (the monsoon will be over and we'll be travelling across semi-desertic and desertic areas). But on the other hand, if there is a substantial risk of catching malaria we'll take some anti-malaria medication (which one?).
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AM

wonderwomanusa

There are several discussions about anti-malarials on the board here; you can SEARCH for them.

alfredm

Yes, I have seen them. There seems to be no agreement on whether to take pills or not.

Perhaps I should rephrase my question and ask whether there are many mosquitoes in Delhi and Rajahstan in December. As I understand it, this is the dry and cool season, so perhaps there are not too many of them ?
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AM

pippie

I've just come from Dehli and at the moment I'm in Jaipur and there have been mozzies everywhere! i havent used malaria tablets but i'm using a hell of a lot of DEET!

Bryan

no need for malaria tablets
its dry its dusty and cold at night
No risk

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alfredm

Thanks - very encouraging...

So we should go for the malaria pills ? The question is which type to take.

• Lariam requires you to start with the treatment one week before entering the malaria area and continue until four weeks after. Cost (here in Germany) is 55 Euro.

• Malarone apparently is best, but you have to take it every day and take an overdose in the three days after leaving the malaria area. Cost is 165 Euro (!!!)

• Doxycycline is a simple antibiotic, which isn't specifically focused on malaria. You have to take it every day and I think up to 3-4 weeks after leaving the malaria area. Cost is moderate.

The big question mark for us is whether to take anti-malaria pills or not, given that we are staying a short time (10 days) and all these pills might have side effects. I have already tried Lariam years ago and didn't have problems, but my wife has an allergy against some antibiotics and has never taken anti-malaria pills, so we don't know how she would respond.
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AM

TracyB

Hi..Being as how i just got back from Rajasthan a few days ago, and took Malerone, I will let you know how it was..First of all, no, there were barely any mosquito's (but there was on the bus we were travelling in)..However, 3 times I was bitten was in the day (those are the Dengue Fever Mosquito's)..But i did have at least 1 in the evening..That could have been the one, I guess!! I don't think Malerone had many side effects..We started 1 day early, just to let it in our system to see how we would react, and the first day felt a little strange..After that, I did get headaches, but do not know if it was from the pills or not..We continued to take them for the 16 days that we were in India..And then the 4 after we got home. No side effects..

We were travelling with a group of 15..Probably half of the people did not take anti malarial tablets..Some did not even visit a traveller's clinic before they left and had no jab's whatsoever.

But in my opinion..Better safe than sorry..You woudn't want to wreck your experience in India by becoming ill if you can prevent it....Or just don't get bit..
It's a hard one to call, although I am sure it is minimal risk..But you just never know..

Enjoy your trip...

goangoangone

I have taken antimalarial tablets on many occasions and never had side effects. Try it, if you don't like it, try something else.

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