What do you do against malaria?

Jeroen

Poll suggestion:

What do you do against malaria?

1. Lariam
2. Doxycycline
3. Malarone
4. Metakelfin
5. whatever the Indian pharmacy sells
6. other medicine
7. no medicine, just sleeves + deet + mosquito net
8. nothing at all

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'To see the world in a grain of sand; and heaven in a wild flower; to hold infinity in the palm of your hand; and eternity in an hour'

VerityWorthington

Hm....when I was based in Kolkata, as a long term volunteer with the Missionaries of Charity - it used to amaze me how the type of anti-malarials varied considerably depending on which part of the world you originated from! Here in the UK, I was always advised on Chloroquine and Paludrine (2 x chloroquine once a week, and 2 x paludrine daily.) I never persisted with this because the paludrine gave me mouth ulcers and the chloroquine made me sick. I didn't use a net, but did use plenty of deet, and touch wood have been okay. All the Auzzies were given Doxcylcine, but here in the UK, it is so expensive. We used to advise volunteers to get the medicine in India because it was so much cheaper!

freemanx

years ago when i was in thailand i took lariam, but it made me so
sick that i stopped taking it. another time i tryed resochin, but didnt like it either.
so i dont take any malaria pills now.
just use a net insect repellent and whatever.
i read that 80% of all malaria cases happen in the north-eastern
states in india. as im not planning to go there i think chances are
not bad getting away without catching malaria.

bhabilinda

I'm on some Chloroquine i believe.... but don't know the word in english so I can't vote.....

freemanx

hi jamila,

chloroquine is the right name.

but if you decide to take it you should also take paludrine or maloprim cause there are chloroquine-resistent stains in india.

you could vote for other medicine, as chloroquine is not mentiond
in this poll.

bhabilinda

This is very interesting indeed, as this was what was prescribed by our doctor. (and only this)
Do you know if the "chloroquine-resistent stains" is a geographic area? If so, where? Hopefully we are ok, but better not take any chances on this one.

Tomi

Yes, Jamila, chloroquine is not good in India.

Look at the many threads on this subject right here in Indiamike, and take this seriously, or go to the American, Canadian, Australian, etc. web sites on travelers' health. It is not unusual for the average doctor or nurse to know absolutely nothing about this.

Lariam and Malarone are misspelled in the poll, in case you want to do a search.

picklepak

Choloquine gave me serious headaches like I'd never experienced before in my life... at first I thought it was just being at sea-level vs. the 2000ft I'm used to. Nope.

I made the mistake of getting some 99% DEET -- nasty stuff! At that concentration it eats through anything, and it's probably very bad for you. Put it on, wash your hands four times, and you'll still taste it when you take food. As I understand it now, 99% DEET is just for washing your clothes and bug net in.

Personally I think the Indian brands of bug cream, such as Odomos, are much safer to use and smell nicer too... the 24% DEET stuff is effective but the concept of chemicals like DEET always reminds me of DDT, quite horrid.

A bug net is essential. You'll roast under that thing in the south, but it's worth it. Getting a good sleep is the pinnacle of good traveling.

wonderwomanusa

Doxycycline is very inexpensive in India: I paid Rs396 for 100 tablets at some pharmacy in Connaught Place -- about US$9 at the time.

I carry DEET-containing repellant that comes in "stick" form -- I went through 1=1/2 of them in 12 weeks, because I also needed to use it against DAY-biting mossies in Delhi at the time of the dengue epidemic.

And I use the nets when they are provided -- though the only place I had them was at my hotel in Puri.

__________________
The map is not the territory. --Alfred Korzybski

freemanx

hi jamila,

here you go

http://w3.whosea.org/malaria/chloroquine.htm

in my opinion malarone seems to be the best for india, but its
a bit expensive and you cant get it in india, just in europe and usa,
as far as i know. its about 4 euro a day.

dont worry to much, use a net at night, insect repellent and long
sleeves. but thats just my opinion.

its important that you are comfortable with whatever you do.
so make up your mind what is best for you and than stick to it
and dont worry

all the best to you

Ben

Sorry, don't agree with freemanx. Malarone is not only expensive, but has bad side effects. Doxycycline is as effective, cheap and I never had any problems.

sandym

50mg once a day a month before travel of vit B complex then once a day whilst out there. As recommended by my homoeopath....

notyouraveragedame

I took Doxy when I was in northern India in January. I had to eat something with it or it made me sick to my stomach, and I did notice extra sun-sensitivity. I wore sunscreen and was fine, except for a rash on the tops of my hands. I couldn't keep sunscreen on my hands because I was washing them so often. Once I got home and wasn't in the sun anymore, the rash went away. The real downside to Doxy is that you have to take it for several weeks after returning home. Since I was only in India for 2.5 weeks, I ended up taking the Doxy at home for longer than I took it in India! Overall, I'd use it again if I go to India in the summer. Next time I go in the winter, I won't bother with medication.

__________________
Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime. - Innocents Abroad, Mark Twain

edwardseco

I am not sure if Ben was mistaking Malarone for Larium (Mefloquine) but the published indications of side effects from Malarone are modest (and fairly extensive for Larium). Doxy is somewhere in between. Also no one size fits all. Something that is easy on one person may harm another. You have to try a particular prevention and see how it suits you. I used Doxy which does have side effects including the famous sun sensitivity. I get that too but I adjust a few days later. There are many conditions for taking each type. Doxy isn't for young children, for those on the pill, should be taken after a meal, etc. An intelligent user is a necessity with these things. You have to read the literature. Just remember the alternative..

freemanx

hi sandym,
i remember reading this years ago, but had forgotten about it.
now that you mentioned it i think i will give it a try.
if i remember it right it is supposed to prevent you from getting bitten.
will be interesting to see if it works.

edwardseco,
i also think it is possible, that ben has mixed up malarone with mefloquine, cause all i read about malarone sounds real good.
apart from the price.