hey guys, whats your views on taking malaria t

[renmaster]

hey guys,

whats your views on taking malaria tablets when crossing the border into mozam and heading to ponta. i usually dont take anything, but rather use lots of precautions ( spray ). but just spoke to a pharmcest and he said he knows someone has just been infected around that area..?????

what does everyone think????

R600 for Malarone tablets... 

 

[Serra Moz]

Renmaster, I would not take Malaria tablets (Just my personal opinion - eventhough I had Malaria twice, might wanna call me stupid?) I have used tablets whilst working in the Congo, it had various side affects on me.

Do a Google search and view possible side affects. I have never used Malaria tabs in Moz either, got Malaria once! I guess I was to blame for both the Malaria incidents, by not taking proper precaustions?

1. Use spray or roll on Tabbard

2. Mozzie nets

3. Spray your room/tent with Baygon about 30 minutes prior to knocking off for the night

4. When sitting a table - burn a mozzie coil under the table

5. I know it is very hot that time of the year, but try to wear a long sleeve shirt + pants at night.......... light weight clothing - Pay a visit to Cape Union mart ect...

6. Hopefully you got a fan in your chalet - set fan to blow over you. Even better with aircon - close windows.

7. Also close your vehicle's windows at night

Hope this will help you...   Serra

 

[Andre Laas]

Hi Renmaster

The malaria risk in Southern Mozambique has bee n drastically reduced and is now relatively low, although there is still some risk. The risk is also higher in the summer/wet season. The risk also depend on age and health and children under 12,  pregnant woman and elderly people is at higher risk, as is people with impaired immune systems due to medical conditions. If you are travelling with any of the above in the group, it may be advisable to speak to a travel doctor.

Serra Moz is spot on with his precautions against mosquito bites. Preventing the mosquito bite is the best precaution against malaria.

Some extra pointers:

- Make sure that the insect repellent that you use contains DEET (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide)

- Re-apply the repellent regularly

- Most bites occurs at dawn, dusk and early evenings, so be extra vigilant at these times.
​

Beware of the many myths of protecting yourself against malaria like drinking certain drinks (rum, gin, tonic etc) and eating certain foods (garlic etc) (there is also no reason to avoid these items either ;-)

Also be vigilant to the symptoms of malaria:

Early symptoms: Feeling weak, lethargic, dizziness, chills, sweats, fever, muscular and abdominal pain, vomiting and watery diarrhoea
​

Malaria usually have an incubation period of 7-14 days, but you should be vigilant of the symptoms for up to one year after your last potential infection.

 

 

[Serra Moz]

Well explained Critter..................

 

On a lighter note..........take care don't have too much 2M and Rum & Raspberry... passing out, outside your tent will lead to a certain headache and Malaria

 

Enjoy!

 

[Andre Laas]

LOL... yep, taking too much of those may result in you waking up with many early malaria symptoms!!!!

 

[renmaster]

thanks guys...

ya the R & R's at fernando's do seem to cause a few problems as well as the numerous ' bars ' between do oura and malongane.

just with your one point of taking malaria tabs if you have an impaired immune system.. 2 weeks ago i spent 4 days in hospital with a viral infection. although i've made a full recovery and have had 3 vit B jabs so am feeling good, do you think this is cause to rather be safe and take the tablets...

 

[Andre Laas]

If you are feeling healthy agian, and have no real signs of impaired immune function (minor wounds/scratches taking long to heal, sores in your mouth etc) you should be fine.

My advise would however be to go see your GP if you are having any doubts, it will put your mind at ease. Your GP will also know your medical history, and will be able to make much better recommendations as there are a variety of anti-malarial drugs available, all with different potential side effects, that will differ from person to person.

 

 

[RichardG]

Just as a matter of interest, we used to regulary use Indian Tonic Water on the border when we were in the Army, it contains quinine, which used to be the in thing those against malaria, but these little buggers have apparantly become immune to it, and thus the active ingredients have changed. Personally I have to take DOXYCYCLINE,I cant use conventional prophlylaxis, as I was diagnosed with Non-hodgkins lymphoma last year. I can't take any risks...
But yes, prevention is better than cure for sure!!

 

[Andre Laas]

Hi Richard.

It is a common misnomer that the quinine in Tonic water can protect you from Malaria. Yes, it is the same thing that is used in the treatment of some malaria cases, but the concentration in tonic water is so low that you would literally have to drink litres of tonic water daily to get a viable dose of Quinine. I don't have the exact numbers on hand, but the volumes involved is just about humanly impossible.

Sorry to hear about the Lymphoma! You are quite right, you should definitely not take any risks! Malaria and the Anopheles mosquito that spreads it, is extremely sneaky, and it is actually an immensely interesting, albeit scary, topic.

 

 

[Fin-S]

all good advice. I travel weekly into Africa and do not take the muti - rather avoid getting bitten. However, when the kids come with - it is compulsory for them. That is just not worth taking a chance over, even if it is just to Ponto.

 

[andrewrat]

The other thing to do is not take any anti-malaria tablets and if one becomes symptomatic take a course of coartem (spelling) it fixes you right away. You will be flat on your back for a day but will be hundreds the next day. Also it is cheaper.
Also prophylactics can lead to a false sense of security, i got malaria while on the pills and left it very late and nearly died. It is a bloody awefull sickness, i can remember being afraid that I was going to die, but after two days it was so painful i was afraid that I wasnt going to die. LOL

 

[fedu]

I've been reading the thread for a while now, my humble opinion is:

If you are going for a short period to a Malaria area, go to the doctor and see if you can take pills, do not take them if you have not checked with a doctor, some people have bad alergic reactions.

If going for long period or on a regular basis do not take the pills, they have some side effects (Liber problems), they were not made for long periods of medication.

At the first sign of syntoms,immediatly take the test, malaria is dangerous, cerebral malaria can kill in a couple of days.

With or without pills, avoid mosquito, use a lot of repellent before night falls.

Baygon in house and at sleeping quarters before night fall and or sleeping time.



Serra Moz and Critter posted some sound advice.


P.S. - I live in a malaria zone (Luanda), I travel regularly to heavy malaria areas, in many many years only got malaria once, but the result came 100 per field, stayed at the hospital for a whole week and lost 10 Kg....
Malaria can KILL!!!!

 

[RichardG]

Critter wrote:

Hi Richard.

It is a common misnomer that the quinine in Tonic water can protect you from Malaria. Yes, it is the same thing that is used in the treatment of some malaria cases, but the concentration in tonic water is so low that you would literally have to drink litres of tonic water daily to get a viable dose of Quinine. I don't have the exact numbers on hand, but the volumes involved is just about humanly impossible.

Sorry to hear about the Lymphoma! You are quite right, you should definitely not take any risks! Malaria and the Anopheles mosquito that spreads it, is extremely sneaky, and it is actually an immensely interesting, albeit scary, topic.

 

You are actually spot on there. The former doses of Darachlor etc were far higher doses than what you would find in indian tonic water....just shows you how naive we were...

 

[Bosbok]

Guys - have a look at the info in this file - best write up on the problem I have available - cheers

 

[fedu]

Thanks for the text.

That "Plasmodium Falciparum" is the one I was talking about when I reffered the Cerebral Malaria (Malaria Cerebral in Portuguese). It kills, coma state followed by death.

 

[tintin1]

My bother now lives in Denver as a result of cerebral malaria he picked up in Malawi. 

 On a full course of the best tablets known at the time, all they did was mask the real infection.  A blood examination missed the malaria and he later passed out at work, could not move (but halfway conscious) and was found by a cleaner some hours later - rushed to Santon's Tropical Diseases clinic and when he came round (days later )was told he'd made it by a few hours only.

He was told a relapse would most probably be fatal.  Also worked out that in this instance it would have been better to not have taken the anti-malarial tablets and got to a proper diagnosis much earlier.

 

 

[fedu]

tintin1 wrote:

My bother now lives in Denver as a result of cerebral malaria he picked up in Malawi. 

 On a full course of the best tablets known at the time, all they did was mask the real infection.  A blood examination missed the malaria and he later passed out at work, could not move (but halfway conscious) and was found by a cleaner some hours later - rushed to Santon's Tropical Diseases clinic and when he came round (days later )was told he'd made it by a few hours only.

He was told a relapse would most probably be fatal.  Also worked out that in this instance it would have been better to not have taken the anti-malarial tablets and got to a proper diagnosis much earlier.

 

Another thing, its usually better to be tested at the country that has the Malaria infection that get out of the Country to be tested.

The problem is exactly what is described here, diagnostics.

We that live in Malaria zones know that a test taken in the morning can show much less signs of Malaria (if any) than one taken in the end of the afternoon (with or without malaria pills being taken)

 

[sparky]

good advice by moz on prevention. i never used to bother with tablets as i go to moz usually 4 or 5 times a year- but i got malaria a few years back & thought i was gonna peg so now i do everything i can to prevent getting it again. even though i have now been taking meflium tablets non-stop for about 3 months.

 

[GENO77]

@renmaster

There are types 3 prophylaxis that are used :

1. Lariam/Mefliam

Most commonly used. Very effective but some people do get very bad side effects. If you have certain medical conditions you are not allowed to take this.

2. Doxycycline

The cheapest of all the prophylaxis. This medication makes the skin VERY sensitive to sunlight so not always the best choice for us fishermen.

3. Malanil/Malarone

The "new" drug on the market. Very effective, the least side effects but the most expensive of all of them.

Your repellents and insecticides are still your first line of defence. Cover up from dusk to dawn and use a mosquito net.

If you are going on a 2-3 week trip, take some self testing kits with you and speak to your doctor about keeping a course of the treatment (Coartem) with you. If you test positive, this can buy you time to get back to SA. Do not take the Coartem just because you think you have Malaria. TEST FIRST, and if you can phone your doctor for instructions.

We had a few cases since October last year, most of the people went on Moz trips (north and south). The most important is to remind your doctor that you have been in a malaria area and insist on a blood test.