Malaria pills, mosquitoes, one guy's opinion

Take the pills or not? I am not a doctor and this post is not medical advice.

My wife and I recently returned from 3 weeks in S E Asia. Before we went we looked on various travel forums for information on Malaria issues. I was somewhat surprised at the responses urging people to not take anti malarials. It is obviously an emotional issue for some people. As I looked on the forums there were people who said no there is no need to take the pills, and others who said the opposite. I think a travel forum is not the right place to ask serious health questions.

Before we left for the trip, while surfing the web, I stumbled onto the story of a woman known as Kinga Freespirit. She was an ardent traveler and the term Freespirit seems to fit her well. At one point she hitch hiked around the world for 5 years, and wrote a book about it. On her last trip she was traveling through Africa when she contracted Malaria and died at age 33 in the best hospital in Accra, Ghana. Google her if you wish. According to my web reading, world wide, millions of people get Malaria each year, and a few million die, mostly children in Africa (see malaria on Wikipedia).

We consulted our travel doctor and after the Doctor looked specifically at where we were going, she said that we must take the pills. Our itinerary was: Luang Prabang, Vientiane, Siem Reap, then down the Mekong 7 days by boat to Saigon. I have taken Doxycyclin for years for a skin condition, so I continued that. Judy took Malarone. We both experienced no side effects. Beware, there is a very effective drug called Lariam that in some rare cases causes severe psychological side effects. Google it before you take it.

We also took with us lots of Deet and some long sleeved garments. The funny thing is that once we arrived in SE Asia, we saw very few mosquitoes. We were there in February, which is the dry season, and there were just not many mosquitoes around. We stayed in A/C hotels, but went out early and late, did not apply Deet religiously, and saw some mosquitoes, but not very many. There are more mosquitoes on my back patio in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, in the summer, than anywhere we went in SE Asia. Maybe someone more experienced than me can comment on if mosquitoes are significantly more abundant in the wet season.

So the correct answer for us was, take the pills, take precautions to avoid being bitten but to not obsess over it, relax and have fun, which we did. It was a thoroughly excellent trip.

I think anyone that has health questions regarding a foreign trip should consult a medical travel specialist. Then make up your own mind.

Jim

Malaria pills, mosquitoes, one guy's opinion

I agree with you Jim.Amazing how we Jims think alike!!

The problem with travel forums is you always get posts from people who have had some side effect and need to tell the world about it!Hey, look at me.I suffered a headache.....Who are always the most vociferous in stating their experience.But we hardly ever hear from the 1,000%26#39;s of travellers who took their meds and never suffered at all.The facts are that most people will not suffer any side effect.The facts are also, that those who do, will not suffer enough, to discontinue any meds.Switching to another may be the remedy.Or making sure you take them strictly as directed.

I repeat your last sentence- I think anyone that has health questions regarding a foreign trip should consult a medical travel specialist. Then make up your own mind.

But be aware, as you stated, malaria can kill...even the most experienced traveller.