Malaria Tablets in Cambodia

Hello there, im just wondering if its necessary the Malaria tablets in Cambodia. Thank you.

Malaria Tablets in Cambodia

Yes, literally all of Cambodia in malarial. I just went to see my travel doctor last week and they%26#39;ve prescribed me Malarone, which is a popular choice for Cambodia.

Malaria Tablets in Cambodia

Theoretical risk of malaria in a large part of the country, including angkor wat

…uiuc.edu/cdc-malaria/Default.aspx

PP is considered safe

As to whether you take medication, it depends on where you are going, whether you plan to travel into the jungles etc.

if you are staying to the main SR/PP areas, then its up to you. some take the meds, some don%26#39;t (prefering to use deet/nets etc). In which case, don%26#39;t let what one person does or doesn%26#39;t do sway your desicion, what is right for one, isn%26#39;t necessarily right for another

We went to vietnam in 2004 with our kids and I did the goog mummy bit and got malaria tablets (lariam or laramine or something like that) for everyone. Our youngest daughter and i both had really horrible side effects - her on the day we flew and me the next week. I stopped taking them and so did the rest of the gang.

My husband and I went to SR in Septamber last year and since ther was no way I was going to set myself up for a repeat of Vietnam we didn%26#39;t take any. We were very particular about applying (and reapplying) deet based insect cream. Not one bite.

I%26#39;d vote for the no tablets based on my experience but you should talk to your doctor.

Helen

I volunteer in Cambodia every year and have also been to Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand numerous times and woull never consider taking the meds. Simply not necesary. Keep your body covered up in the morning and evening hours (when malaria mozzies feed) and wear mosquito repellent by day (when dengue mozzies feed).

This forum is not the place for this question.You will always get at least 2 opinions.I am working in North Qld at the moment and in the last 4 weeks we have had 2 men admitted with malaria who had been in Cambodia for 2 weeks.Neither had taken prophylaxis.The youngest had read on a travel forum that malaria prophylaxis was not needed but to take precautions against mosquito bites such as is often given here.The result-had to be admitted to ICU with renal failure,liver problems,brain involvement and needing exchange blood transfusions due to overwhelming parasite load.

Yes the statistical risk is low but if you lose the lottery it can be terrible.So please go to a reputable centre for advice.

I%26#39;ve just returned from a 23 day trip to Cambodia, although 5 days were spent in BKK. I%26#39;ve been taking Malarone all the trip and as its last Thursday I left there have just finished the course. I spoke to countless tourists on this subject there and I Couldn%26#39;t believe that my wife and I were the only ones that seemed to be taking anti-malarials. We visited Angkor and went most of our trip in Sihanoukville, we were bitten alot but rest assured our tablets were covering us, although of course not all mozzies carry the parasite. I have to say although it could have been contamination from water and food, I had a couple of side effects like the runs and stomach pains almost a third of my trip which obviously put a dent on the visit. I still think its important to be protected because there is a risk out there, some places maybe not so much, like cities but the outcome of catching malaria is absolutely terrible and we would take them again if in an area where malaria is present, but the point I would like to raise here is there is alot of misinterpretation over this issue and it needs to be made clearer for all travelling to places that there is a possiblity of picking up malaria.

iht.com/articles/…malaria.1-413412.php

Read this report all who wonder about malaria in Cambodia....and keep up with your malaria meds.

drron:

Excuse me, but I beg to differ. This is EXACTLY the forum to discuss this. The fact that the question appeared gave you an opportunity to educate; not everyone heads straight for their doctor before a vacation. I work in a resort and I%26#39;m frankly surprised that some people appear to have never left their backyard and don%26#39;t prepare for their vacations. By raising the question, those who never thought of the possibility of needing vaccinations now have the opportunity to investigate the issue with their doctors. Not knowing how to pack is the smallest problem; health concerns should be vital but a lot of people don%26#39;t know that. Isn%26#39;t awareness part of the solution?

I think you should reread Drron%26#39;s post.

And I agree with him that people should not take advice from travel forums UNLESS they have also sought professional medical advice.

Your health professional is essential.

And Forum advice should be as you say to enhance knowledge.

The problem is there are a lot of people travelling on dimes and cents.And are loathe to spend dollars with health professionals and on the sometimes expensive malaria prophylaxis.

And grasp the advice of someone on a forum,who has been there, and done it without any problems, and then think there is little risk for themselves..

Malaria is a killer.6,000 travellers return to the UK with it each year.They probably all thought that there was little risk......or took advice from travel forums!

Laureninmtns-

Indeed it is important to have proper vaccinations, and keep those you have up to date. That said, a lot of folks spending time in 4 or 5-star resorts in areas that hardly pose as risk and are told to get shots for yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, rabies, typhoid et al are being advised by paranoid or unknowing doctors.

Jimshu-

Advice by health professionals in the area of TROPICAL MEDICINE is very very important, although those folks are few and far between. Nobody in the 4 hospitals I do work for here in western Japan even knows of such a physician. Regarding your remark on ani-malaria medication being expensive, well it%26#39;s not. Doxycycline costs pennies (especially if you pick it up at a pharmacy in Thailand) and is available wihtout a prescription in Southeast Asia. Malarone, on the other hand, is quite pricey, and cannot be purchased over-the-counter anywhere in Asia.

Folks, the main reason why those of us who live, work or travel frequently to countries where there is a malaria risk and choose NOT to take malaria meds is that they are not necessary! The other reason is that there are other safer preventative measures that do not include plying your body with drugs for a prolonged period. It is a personal choice whether to opt for taking the meds or not, and only YOU should make it.