Malaria Tablets

Nick-H

Is it?

Jeezzz... I'd better move innoculations to the top of the list, then instead of just thinking about it every few months

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Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

the opoponax

but Steam Buff, my point is that those innoculations are so ubiquitous in the US that i'm surprised MMMike's insurance company wouldn't cover them. they are considered extremely routine vaccinations here.

SteamBuff

Opoponax - fair comment

In the UK the Dip/Tet/Polio, HepA/B and Typhoid are free, you have to pay for all other Travel Vaccines or Maleria Tablets. (They are not included in UK insurance policys)

Barryjames

Malaria cases up 100% this year. (Herald)

Again I see the same old advice, empty containers like coconut shells, old tyres etc,etc. Almost every day the newspapers carry half page adverts on the preventative measures.

Building sites are deemed to be the culprits, leaving water containers opened etc.

My thoughts, have a look around any village/town at any time of the year and you will see the containers etc everywhere.

What has this to do with the building sites? My theory: the building sites are full of migrant workers who come from all over India, they bring to Goa the infection, they are then bitten by the local mosquito and then it in turn comes to bite me.

Fanciful? No that is exactly what happened to me. I spent six months in the valley, living with my in-laws, I was bitten daily many times, other than the itch, nothing. Moved into my own apartment a few miles away and on top of a hill. I am the only one living there at the moment (it is a complex under construction) (I have influential contacts). Left there to go to England for personal reasons. Two weeks later I was diagnosed with 'Chickungua' (Spelling) not life threatening but very uncomfortable.

All the labourers on site are immigrant labour. There are no water trapment areas anywhere?

It is obvious where it came from, perhaps ‘food for thought'?

~ I have decided to live forever, or die in the attempt~

Nick-H

No... little buggers would not offend, if you are speaking of the mosquitoes.

I find it hard to follow your point on this. You are saying that migrant workers really are 'to blame' for these diseases?

If so, then what?

If there was political will to eradicate the mosquito the diseases would not spread. If I lived in your house I could not catch your chikungunya without a mosquito visiting us both.

The chikungunya mosquito likes clean water: is your tank covered properly?

Everything that is said about eradicating all the breeding places is quite right and correct, but when the politicians cannot keep the waterways, canals, rivers, etc etc cleaned up and free of larvae then it seems a bit much to expect us to be so careful with our coconut shells

Barryjames

Yes I do blame the presence of the diseases on the presence of the migrant workers on the construction sites. However, I do not blame the workers themselves, I blame the system which makes it necessary for them to travel so far to work on the sites.

Oddly enough, looking through the Herald today, what do I find? ~

BY HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, JULY 12 — The authorities in Margao are going soft on builders, even as the city is in the grip of malaria -— primarily due to the presence of migrant labour at construction sites.

The house is a new one, and the area below my flat is the soon to be 'gym' at the moment it is occupied by about a dozen migrant families, cooking and everything else. I have not and will not complain about them the poor people do not have anywhere else to live whilst building for the 'well heeled'

I rest my case.

~ On the plus side, death is one of the few things that can can be done just as easily laying down~

trekkinmama

Looking over the available information I determined that Doxycycline was the best choice for me. Reasons include: 1. Few to no side effects (well tolerated) 2. Cheap and readily available. 3. Easy to take.
I had every vaccination on the list (4 in the left deltoid, 3 in the right!) just to be on the safe side. Aside from the expense (which should be at least partially covered by insurance) I couldn't think of any reason not to be protected. I have seen some pretty sick people suffering from Malaria, and don't even wish to venture there. I guess after my trip, I'll let you know if it was the best decision!

fsk9777

Great advice. This is one my biggest questions, in Africa I took malaria tablets and had to stop after 2 weeks of being ill every morning and having horrible side effects, I don't want to do it again. However, I am very worried, as I am prone to being attacked by mosquitos. I am in the US right now, which repellents/products would you recommend I buy here, I arrive in Delhi next week!

Barryjames

Use repellants on exposed skin, and for chickungunya, especially during the day, Possibly the best is DEET (N,N diethyl-m-toluamide), 50% is better. If you use lesser concentrations you will have to apply more often.

This substance is used by the UK and US military and to my knowledge if applied correctly is the most effective.

There are many other precautions and there are leaflets in all hospitals, doctors surgeries etc.

Don't worry too much, this stress lowers your resistance to all sorts of body malfunction.

Have speaks with your own doctor, not much great info to be gleaned from part timers such as myself.

Don't worry, be happy.

trekkinmama

The travel clinic I visited here recommended I spray my clothing with pyrethrins prior to leaving, and that this would remain in my clothes for up to 6 weeks. Though I don't relish the thought of wearing all that stuff, I certainly prefer it to Dengue or any of the other nasty viral mosquito-borne diseases. I don't really tend to worry alot about that when traveling, but would rather avoid whatever nastiness I can...
As far as Malaria is concerned, I know I can tolerate Doxycycline and plan to practice sun avoidance as much as possible, so I figure that will be best for me.

Nick-H

Sun avoidance? In India?

You can try, I suppose

Actually, seriously, the sunblock is as important for your health as the repellant. Even when the sky is cloudy, there is plenty of UV in our tropical sunshine.

But a guess that a Florida girl knows all about sunshine --- and mosquitoes?

wonderwomanusa

I always carry Cutter's -- a DEET preparation that comes in "stick" form. You can get it at camping and fishing stores. I think I used 1-1/2 sticks in three months, because I was using it day and night (dengue-bearing mosquitos bite in the daytime).

I take Doxycycline for anti-malaria; it has very few side effects and 3 months' supply was very cheap in Delhi. It's very cheap here in the US, too.