Malaria

off piste

I am flighing into Delhi and then onto Leh, then Trekking for two weeks up to Stok Kangri. Would people recommend taking anti Malaria tablets on this route.

namaste_cat

I will be heading out that way as well in a few wks. In all my travels, I've never taken anti-malarial meds nor given them to my children b/c i don't like prophylactic use of drugs. But that's my personal choice, so I'm not proposing others do the same.

My kids were born and raised in the U.S., so it's not like they're used to Indian mozzies or anything. I do apply something like this:
http://www.herbalremedies.com/nathernatmos.html
Perhaps there is a similar product folks can find locally.
Another one I like is Burt's Bees Herbal Insect Repellent in spray form. Really works in my experience. Indian herb Neem is also fantastic as an insect repellant, but the smell deters humans too!

All that said, you're only going for 2 wks so it's a short enough time to take meds should you decide to go that route. Both my brothers and their families take anti-malarial drugs for several months when they visit home. They think I'm nuts, but then my kids and I don't suffer any side-effects while they do. To each his/her own, I say.

edwardseco

For Leh I doubt you will need such due to the altitude. Are you flying in or overlanding it? Are you planning to spend some time in Delhi? Never took such on the plains until my luck ran out. Now I do and have done so most satisfactorily. Used Burt's and have little positive to say about it. Herbals, well prayer is also useful. The exception being artemisin. The problem there is wisespread fakery..

namaste_cat

Neem which is indigenous to India has been used for centuries as an insecticide. It is hardly "fakery" There are some studies to back it up as as well e.g. this article from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) published in the Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association: “Two percent neem oil mixed in coconut oil, when applied to the exposed body parts of human volunteers, provided complete protection for 12 hrs from the bites of all anopheline (mosquitoes that carry malaria) species. Application of neem oil is safe and can be used for protection from malaria in endemic countries.”

My family and I also use this Herbal Outdoor Spray made by Organix which has neem oil. We wouldn't use it if it didn't work! Obviously milage varies, I see no reason for this scorn for simply sharing one's experience.

edwardseco

Perhaps I was unclear, since artemisin largely comes from China and China has very little respect for law the result is a great deal of adulteration and fakes entering the market. I am drawing from a research study on that topic..

Also, I will note that I use herbal remedies where they seem to work, cough syrups & certain pain remedies. I make no scientific claims and it may be a matter of faith which is an issue I am not sensitive about at all..

Per

No, there is no risk to catch malaria in Leh. No malaria mosquitos around. Delhi is also quit safe in this regard, though there is a nasty dengue fever in some parts of Delhi. Generally, you only take malaria profylax if you go to an area with a lot of mosquitos, no electricity, no fans, etc.

Nick-H

I think that is a misleading way of putting it. Malarial mosquitoes may well thrive, and bite you, in places that have all those things

However, most of central and Southern India is rated as low (but not no) risk, by the UK Health authority. Please note that Goa is an exception.

edwardseco

That is an odd paradox, mosquitoes spread Dengue as well as Malaria. Anyhow its wise to get a wide range of opinion on the net since a good bit of it is misinformed or anecdotal. Malaria is found in urban areas and a fan is no guarantee at all. What are you going to do? Walk around with an electric fan in front of all parts of the body? And if you really want to depend on a thin reed indeed, depend on electricity in India (viz sampla)!

The thin details mentioned would incline me to say the risks of not taking a malarial regime are probably worth doing so. But, there is a modest risk involved.

Now in disclosure I once, after an accident, ran back to a burning bus to retrieve my ancient electric fan. I was treated to a much deserved swearing out in Marathi by the conductor..

Per

Malaria is found in a lot of places, but the probability of getting infected varies tremendously. In certain contexts the risk is virtually nil, in others it is quite high.

That is a silly comment. Anyone that has been to south Asia knows that the risk for mosquito bites is virtually nil during day time, they are only out in the night and at dawn and dusk. Then, I simply follow local custom, wear long sleeves and long pants, have a little mosquito repellant on the ankles, sleep under a fan or a mosquito net.

I have spent more than six years in Asia without getting malaria. Only took profylaxis once, when we bicycled through Cambodia, the area is known for a nasty strain of restistant malaria. I would not consider taking profylaxis for a normal trip to India. On the other hand if I would go hiking in some swampy djungle in Assam or in the Nepalese Terai I would probably use it.

By the way dengue fever is spread by a different mosquito, and unlike malaria it is also common in urban areas. There have been several outbreaks in Delhi. It is something one should be aware of and take precautions against, particularly during monsoon time when there is a lot of standing water that function as breeding grounds for the mosquitos.

Nick-H

Here's a South Asian resident who can assure you that that mosquitoes bites can happen at any time! Even the ones who are supposed to be sleeping in the day don't seem averse to a snack if disturbed.

edwardseco

How many years have you spent there to make such a statement without foundation? I have been a resident as opposed to a tourist for several years. But, even a casual reading of the literature discloses otherwise. Its only a tendency for certain types of mosquitoes to bite at certain times. I prefer a less casual attitude about medical issues. They say youth hides the consequences..

All I can say about this is, duh. This is rather obvious! You seem to imply that there is no risk in the cities when the literature on mosquitoes indicates that they both thrive in urban areas where there is considerable sources of standing water and travel considerable distance.

The other stuff is purely anecdotal at best (and quite easily countered by other anecdotes, ie. I went down with big M. in the "twin cities" known as Hyderabad-Secunderabad) and irrelevant at worst, frosting is a kind way of putting it (eg. SEA experiences). My old guide used to say write what is needed and don't puff it. Given a recent post of mine, #8, I think its still relevant to me as well..



Note to the OP: You probably will be be fine for just a couple of days in Delhi & travel without the malarials. If otherwise I owe you a beer. But, I doubt I would have to pay up..

Per

Six years, in South Asia, long enough to learn that malaria profylaxis have various side effects, some are extremely unpleasant, far worse than a bad temper and unwarranted outbursts.

If you never heard of the side effects try google.

Nick-H

Side effects vary from none, through vomiting, to severe mental disturbance.So you'd better, if you are going to usefully talk about anti-malarial side-effects, be a bit specific.

Dark murmurings help nobody.

(By the way... actually, don't bother. Just about everything that can be said on this subject on this forum already has been. We are looking for a malaria-thread prophylaxis, but so far, even the latest from China has proved completely ineffective...)

edwardseco

What a presumptious.... I know quite well about side effects and they aren't all one type for all malarials or for all individuals nor was such a claim made! I think out of my recommendation that the OP NOT take a malarial you made a fabricated dispute. I call you on your uncivil and unhelpful approach to the OP's questions. Take your internet fighting to one of the newsgroup forums, alt soc, etc. The facts mam, not the attitude..

goangoangone

If Goa is anything to go by, malaria is not taken seriously by the authorities and definitely well under-reported. I would not put my health at risk using anything that is not tried, tested and proven to be prophylactic.

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