Malaria risk in my itinerary

ponderingloz · Jan 22nd, 2006, 20:40

Hey there, I was just wondering if you could advise me on whether you think its worth taking malaria tablets with my itinerary. I would be intending to take all the general precautions - mosquito net, use deet, wear long sleeves etc.

Anyway heres the brief itinerary:
March - Low lying nepal for a couple of weeks (Pokhara, Chitwan, Kathmandu)
April - Annurpuna Circuit then into India....
May - Couple of weeks in Varanasi and Delhi then to Amritsar, Chandigarrh, the Mcleod Gang
June - More Mcleod Ganj then onto Manali, then to Leh
July - Trekking in Leh, then to Srinagar and Back to Delhi

To me it seems like I could get away with not taking any (I really would prefer not to) as Ill be at high altitude a lot of the time, but would it be really important in the lower areas, what do you all think?

PeakXV · Jan 22nd, 2006, 21:16

It's a tough call. The final decision is going to be what gives you the best piece of mind so that you can enjoy your trip and not focus on mossies or the alternative of chemical pill popping. You are going to run into mossies .... that's for sure and where there are mossies in malarial areas - there is a risk! I was in Nepal and North India for 6 months and didn't take them ..... BUT I live in the North Woods in Canada and deal with highly aggressive mossies in the summer all the time - so I have a sixth sense when they are around and/or when they lite on me .....that makes a big difference ... thus dealing with them in India is always a step-down and not a mental burden or physical challange.

Everybody is a little different in there awareness, dress, and yes even heat and odor emmissions that create a whole range of signals to that notorius little gnat!

When I slept in suspect areas I dripped deet on the bed covers so to thwart any midnight ambushes by the little buggers - with that I didn't feel I needed a net.

Check some of the threads on Mossies - see bottom of thread or here is a good one pertaining to the North: Above all have a great & safe trip!

malaria tablets necassary in the North?

phobal · Jan 22nd, 2006, 22:21

People (especially people on their first 1-10 posts) keep coming on this forum to ask for customized malaria advice from people that have little to no education in medicine about 3 times a week and we constantly tell these people to either
a) see a doctor and ask for their qualified advice
b) don't throw the dice and get the bloody pills.

wolverhampton · Jan 22nd, 2006, 22:27

Ignore the previous posters rudeness--
The bottom line is I got malaria and almost died--you dont want it believe me.My recommendation would be to take doxycicline--few side effects and has the nice bonus of fighting other bugs to.In nepal chitwan park area--malaria is rampant.

edwardseco · Jan 22nd, 2006, 23:23

I will reciprocate Wolv's sentiments as I also had that great idea, stuff taking pills. Now, I take them religiously. I will only add that there is no one size fits all program. There will be some people that react to any medicine. Since there are about 4 viable methods pick what is suitable as it works out.Malarone is expensive and has to be obtained out of country. Lariam some people like and I fear it. Each will have its drawbacks that you need to be alert for. The health branch of the Thorntree will have some good info and the archives here are useful mines of information..

ponderingloz · Jan 23rd, 2006, 01:34

thanks a lot. To be honest Id far prefer this advice to a doctors advice. All they are going to say is: "you are going to a malarial area, take these pills"

Its good to get a wide range of opinions, and they're all useful. Think I probably will just take the pills but hope they have a good effect on me. Im used to never taking any antibiotics or anything so im just a bit apprehensive to take a strong drug for a long length of time

Doxcycline sounds good to me, cheap and with "normal" un-weird side effects, what do you think?. My cousin got ME from Lariam so im definitely not taking that!!

wolverhampton · Jan 23rd, 2006, 02:16

I suffered from severe panic attacks (which I never have when I took Larium)My wife had hallucinations..A guest at a lodge we stayed at in Kenya became pysichotic and started stabbing himself as a result of larium..In the usa 60 minutes tv show had a segment on soldiers in Iraq who were committing suicide as a result of larium.The us government recently debated banning Larium--not sure of the results.Doxcy was fine for me--but stay out of the sun.

PeakXV · Jan 23rd, 2006, 02:24

Just a question. Does the average middle class Indian take Malaria Pills? And if no is it because long term usage of malaria pills is more of a health risk that than chance of acquiring malaria?

phobal · Jan 23rd, 2006, 12:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeakXV

Just a question. Does the average middle class Indian take Malaria Pills? And if no is it because long term usage of malaria pills is more of a health risk that than chance of acquiring malaria?

Maybe generations of middle class Indians are exposed to it, while middle-class Americans are exposed to the luxuries of treated water, planned subdivisions, and parks that are fumigated every year for mosquitos and the ever so dreaded west nile virus.

Indians in the same income bracket as me eat uncooked chicken off the street, and drink the tap water, so I guess its safe for my pale Canadian ass, right?

Let's try to avert a pissing match into the merits/flaws of Malaria tabs.......again.

Jan 22nd, 2006, 20:40	#1
ponderingloz Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: England Posts: 14	Malaria risk in my itinerary Hey there, I was just wondering if you could advise me on whether you think its worth taking malaria tablets with my itinerary. I would be intending to take all the general precautions - mosquito net, use deet, wear long sleeves etc. Anyway heres the brief itinerary: March - Low lying nepal for a couple of weeks (Pokhara, Chitwan, Kathmandu) April - Annurpuna Circuit then into India.... May - Couple of weeks in Varanasi and Delhi then to Amritsar, Chandigarrh, the Mcleod Gang June - More Mcleod Ganj then onto Manali, then to Leh July - Trekking in Leh, then to Srinagar and Back to Delhi To me it seems like I could get away with not taking any (I really would prefer not to) as Ill be at high altitude a lot of the time, but would it be really important in the lower areas, what do you all think?

Jan 22nd, 2006, 21:16	#2
PeakXV Naan.tering Nabob Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Abode of Glooscap Posts: 3,926	It's a tough call. The final decision is going to be what gives you the best piece of mind so that you can enjoy your trip and not focus on mossies or the alternative of chemical pill popping. You are going to run into mossies .... that's for sure and where there are mossies in malarial areas - there is a risk! I was in Nepal and North India for 6 months and didn't take them ..... BUT I live in the North Woods in Canada and deal with highly aggressive mossies in the summer all the time - so I have a sixth sense when they are around and/or when they lite on me .....that makes a big difference ... thus dealing with them in India is always a step-down and not a mental burden or physical challange. Everybody is a little different in there awareness, dress, and yes even heat and odor emmissions that create a whole range of signals to that notorius little gnat! When I slept in suspect areas I dripped deet on the bed covers so to thwart any midnight ambushes by the little buggers - with that I didn't feel I needed a net. Check some of the threads on Mossies - see bottom of thread or here is a good one pertaining to the North: Above all have a great & safe trip! malaria tablets necassary in the North? __________________ We shall not cease from exploration and at the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started ...and know the place for the first time. T.S. Eliot Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

Jan 22nd, 2006, 22:27	#4
wolverhampton Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: na Posts: 53	malaria advice Ignore the previous posters rudeness-- The bottom line is I got malaria and almost died--you dont want it believe me.My recommendation would be to take doxycicline--few side effects and has the nice bonus of fighting other bugs to.In nepal chitwan park area--malaria is rampant.

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Jan 22nd, 2006, 22:21	#3
phobal IM hoser Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: canaduh Posts: 519	People (especially people on their first 1-10 posts) keep coming on this forum to ask for customized malaria advice from people that have little to no education in medicine about 3 times a week and we constantly tell these people to either a) see a doctor and ask for their qualified advice b) don't throw the dice and get the bloody pills.

Jan 22nd, 2006, 23:23	#5
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 3,709	I will reciprocate Wolv's sentiments as I also had that great idea, stuff taking pills. Now, I take them religiously. I will only add that there is no one size fits all program. There will be some people that react to any medicine. Since there are about 4 viable methods pick what is suitable as it works out.Malarone is expensive and has to be obtained out of country. Lariam some people like and I fear it. Each will have its drawbacks that you need to be alert for. The health branch of the Thorntree will have some good info and the archives here are useful mines of information..

Jan 23rd, 2006, 01:34	#6
ponderingloz Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: England Posts: 14	thanks a lot. To be honest Id far prefer this advice to a doctors advice. All they are going to say is: "you are going to a malarial area, take these pills" Its good to get a wide range of opinions, and they're all useful. Think I probably will just take the pills but hope they have a good effect on me. Im used to never taking any antibiotics or anything so im just a bit apprehensive to take a strong drug for a long length of time Doxcycline sounds good to me, cheap and with "normal" un-weird side effects, what do you think?. My cousin got ME from Lariam so im definitely not taking that!!

Jan 23rd, 2006, 02:16	#7
wolverhampton Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: na Posts: 53	I suffered from severe panic attacks (which I never have when I took Larium)My wife had hallucinations..A guest at a lodge we stayed at in Kenya became pysichotic and started stabbing himself as a result of larium..In the usa 60 minutes tv show had a segment on soldiers in Iraq who were committing suicide as a result of larium.The us government recently debated banning Larium--not sure of the results.Doxcy was fine for me--but stay out of the sun.

Jan 23rd, 2006, 02:24	#8
PeakXV Naan.tering Nabob Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Abode of Glooscap Posts: 3,926	Just a question. Does the average middle class Indian take Malaria Pills? And if no is it because long term usage of malaria pills is more of a health risk that than chance of acquiring malaria?

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