Confusion over anti-malarials
Replies: 11 - Last Post: Nov 21, 2012 1:37 AM Last Post By: Doughnut
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Confusion over anti-malarials
http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/destinations/asia-(east)/india/india-malaria-map.aspxAlthough this is my umpteenth trip to India I'm beginning to feel like a newbie - maybe I'm stressing too much?
Anyhow, my last few trips to India have all been to the north where anti-malarials are not recommended. Last time I went to the south was in 2008 and I honestly can't remember if I took any - I think the advice at the time was that they weren't necessary for where I was going.
Sat through the info session with the NHS nurse and the map she showed me showed that all the areas I'm planning on visiting are low risk, so medication not usually recommended (as the map on the link shows) but the a friend from Aus I am meeting up with said she had been told that Madurai and Mumbai are risk pockets, so she's getting Doxy for the trip. I double-checked the maps and whereas the advice in the UK seems to show I don't need tablets, the WHO malaria map seems to suggest otherwise.
So I am a bit confused. I'm stocking up on Deet and I have my mozzie net, so I'll take the usual precautions. I'm going to Trivandrum, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Ellora and Ajanta. Does anyone have any thoughts? Thanks
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When my relatives come down from the UK they fall sick with stomach complications. I would suggest that you take all possible vaccinations when coming to IndiaIf you were to get sick in india with malaria it would spoil your trip Indian hospitals are bad and you would go thro a nightmare experience
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Hi there, I have all the vaccinations and I know just what you mean about actually getting malaria. I have family in India and I think all of them have had it at some point. It's a bit like gambling on the risk, and I'm trying to make sense of what the official advice is - although I know low risk doesn't mean no risk. Still not sure what to do. I've booked another call with the travel nursie..3
Does anyone have any thoughts? ThanksYeah, mosquitoes can't read maps, and there are no vaccinations for eating food cooked by a guy that didn't wash his hands.
Dengue is on the rise (for that, you throw the anti-malarials and hope to hit the mosquitoes), and people are dropping like, well, mosquitoes.
My mosquito-avoidance is an All/Out fogger, Rs120 at the market, refills 1/2 that. I run it nearly all year, mosquitoes don't like it much.
If I were you and as paranoid as you seem, I'd go ask another doctor.
Indian hospitals are bad
Don't tell this to Apollo.
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I liked that comment about mosquitoes not reading maps. The one that got me was in a safe zone who do I sue? Oh, this isn't California anymore..7
Common sense is needed in India.Take pills or not,this is an on going debate for years and years here on LP...I do not..That said,It is personal choice...Do you feel lucky?.Or not?.Remember,these maleria pills do not stop you from getting maleria,it just increases your chances of living if you do.Dengue is to be feared.No pill.No vaccine..Just common sense and luck.From what I hear,Dengue does not pay much attention to a map either..1st time dengue fever->good hospital->you live.!....2nd time-your chances of living go way down..Breakbone Fever Blues...
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Good replies, thanks. Pirate you are absolutely right, I am paranoid! I had a close brush with the grim reaper in 2010 followed by two years of being in and out of hospital. Not travel-related, but I was in Peru when I started getting sick and that rather scary experience knocked a lot of my confidence. I've suddenly found myself worrying about things that I wouldn't have given a second thought to on previous trips.I am currently erring on the side of not taking the anti-malarials but concentrating on bite prevention. Thanks all for your thoughts
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Well India will give you gifts,that's for sure.Some you will want,some you wont...good luck.11
For sure! Thanks - a dose of India will do me some good because I'll just have to get over myself. Of course, one always hopes for not too strong a dose... :o)
