Malaria Tablets: Do I take LOTS of tablets for a 5 month stay?

mikedll

I just got a prescription for 5 months worth of doxycycline - I think it's going to be expensive. I plan to be in Bangalore, though I may travel by rail to visit other cities.

After reading some past threads and the CDC website, I am still in disbelief about how people handle longterm stays. I can understand people taking anti-malaria tablets for a few weeks, returning home, then stopping.

What do people do when they are going to live in India for a long time? Is the entire cultural elite of India on Malaria tablets for all their life? Do people indefinitely renew their prescriptions?

My Doctor had never prescribed such a large prescription for such a long period of time, so he and I just played it safe. But, I would like to hear what others do. This is new to me.

snehansu-love2travel

Bangalore has some of India's best hospitals. If you feel a shiver its generally a matter of minutes to go to a hospital , register ( around 200/500 Rupees) and get to see a doctor and get medicines.
Latest news I can give you , there are no malaria reports on news(no malignant ones at least). There are a few cases of Dengue(mosquito again).
So try to avoid mosquito infested areas, buy some mosquito repellent( like cream /coils etc) for trains/bus.

__________________
Snehansu


http://snehansu-love2travel.blogspot.com

theicarus

Please tell you you were being rhetorical.

You should save that money and make sure you're well protected against mosquito bites. Which means, make sure you stock up on Odomos (a cream available everywhere in India), carry "All Out" or "Good Night" repellents that can be plugged to the wall socket, and if you're in places with no electricity make sure you have a "tortoise" mosquito coil (and matches).

If you're travelling by train, and if you don't mind it, travel air conditioned.

I've spent half my life abroad and in India and I've never contracted malaria. There are plenty of drug-resistant strains of malaria all around, so your only bet is preventing yourself getting bitten.

Cheers

Wildhorse

I am really surprised that any doctor prescribes an antibiotic for such a long period just as a prophylactic. Taking doxycycline for such a long time is bound to have a lot of side effects. But even if it was some other malaria prophylactic: All these tablets are supposed to be taken for shorter periods, all of them can have serious side effects and one should weigh the advantages against the disadvantages. I don't think a doc who is experienced in the field of tropical diseases would suggest to take malaria tablets for such a long period of time.

Apart from that, India south of Goa used to be malaria-free but this might have changed, I'm not sure.

Anyway, as other posters have already said, it is much more important to protect yourself from being bitten by wearing adequate clothing and sleeping under a mosquito net, if possible.