1

So you don't trust medical advice,but are happy to believe a bunch of people you don't know writing on an internet forum? ;-)

2

Not wishing to start an argument......but you will get replies like..

I went to Nica,didn't take anything and was fine......
I didn't see anyone with malaria while I was there.....
I took malaria pills every day but don't think I needed them...

(these are all real replies I've seen on this forum by the way ;-)

Personally i would rather take the advice of a tropical diseases specialist....

3

Well, luca, you have and had previously posted that you take drugs for three months each year over the course of many years out of fear of getting malaria. I would hate to think what you have done to your system by taking that medical advice but I am sure your doctor is happy...and...hey...it is your body. Seems the issue is a touchy one for you. Maybe because you have been played.

Malaria is not widespread in Nicaragua. I have never taken drugs to prevent it and have never gotten it after many visits to various areas. I use mosquito spray (toxic, yes, but not as much as using toxic drugs internally) to prevent insect bites (Dengue is more of a worry in lowlands and anti malarials won't stop that but deet spray can stop you from getting bites). I am told that if you are unlucky enough to get malaria in Central America, they give you the same drug they would have given you to prevent it. I would rather not take it unless I had to and would not take drugs like candy lest they not work if I needed them.

I salute the OP for questioning what big businesses suggest.... It is YOUR body. And I don't believe the rush to take drugs is always a concern about disease as some of the same people can't go a night without drinking booze and smoking. It is more of an UNhealth issue. You know what they say, if it isn't broke don't fix it
Edited by: RobertoGustavo

4

My medical service never advised me to take anti-malarial drugs for the Matagalpa area, been there twice for work in the city and surroundings. Don"t know about the caribean side and the islands....happy travels

5

Not a touchy subject for me at all Roberto...everyone is free to do what they want.

I think its funny that someone won't trust what a doctor says to them but will believe the suggestions of a complete stranger on the internet...yes.

6

On the taking anti-malarials...if my specialist doctor tells me I should take them,I do.

He has no financial advantage in doing so,as I'm neither paying him nor is he selling me the tablets (he is a relative).

His views are backed up by every health website I have seen (google if you don't believe me)...there is a 'variable' risk of malaria in Nica,depending on which area you visit.Some areas have few or almost no malaria,others have very high rates indeed.

As I spend a lot of time in jungle areas,I do tend to take anti.malarials a lot more than most people,but I think it is worth taking a smaller risk to avoid the larger one.

7

And YES, if you are unlucky enough to get malaria they give you the same drug they would have given you to prevent it, but that will be a DOUBLE dose, which is no fun. If a medical service advises you to take anti malaria pills for a certain region, use them! Ask for Malarone, expensive but without sideeffects..(possibly it will have another name in your country)...

8

BTW I've been taking different anti-malarials (on and off of course) for over 25 years...and they don't seem to have done me any harm so far ;-)

Never had malaria either,and I've been to most of the world's tropical jungles and most malarial areas......

9

No significant medical reason to take malarial prevention drugs in the northern highlands in particular (personally had a discussion with local doctor in Esteli on the topic, for what its worth) nor the western part of Nicaragua in general, including the lowlands. Significant stays/travel on the Caribbean coast, Bluefields, etc. should generate some consideration, according to the usual medical sources. If you are just zipping over to the Corn Islands, I personally would not bother with the pills, but others could differ. Dengue is not just in the lowlands of Nicaragua as there have been cases in poorer bariors of Esteli, especially close to the river. (Of course, dengue is now in the lower Rio Grande valley, etc. or the U.S. as well.) As #3 above states, for dengue and just plain comfort, you may want to have longer sleeve shirts, good bug spray, etc. for early evening activities even in the highland areas, especially in cheaper/poorer areas where mosquito control is not attempted. In the same areas, mosquito netting is recommended as exposed areas could look like they have been a pin cushion in the morning.

10

Yeah and we could always ask people who live there if they take anti Malaria drugs when they don t have Malaria....or if they see tropical disease specialists when they are fine

Edited by: RobertoGustavo

11

By the way, lucapal, after your extensive travelling through jungle regions, which is the antimalarial you usually take, Malarone?

12

Oh and I forgot to mention if we ask Nicaraguans if they take anti Malaria drugs when they don't have or get Malaria and if they consult tropical disease specialists when they are fine....after the laughter dies down, words like "Gringo" and "turista" and "loca" might be heard.

I'm outta here, guys. There is always LSD, but the drug companies don't make as much money off it. Oh, and even if you don't need a facelift, be sure to ask a plastic surgery specialist if you should get one. Always follow that advice.

13

iker

Depends where I'm going...some work better in one region than in another.

Your doctor or an official website (like the WHO one) will explain the options in the different parts of the world.

14

For Nicaragua...chloroquine is the recommended prophylaxis..

BTW...for those who dismiss this (without any medical knowledge at all I presume).

There are around 500 million cases of malaria in the world every year.More than 2 million people die from the disease.

The vast majority are local people of course..including the ones who laugh about it unfortunately...