Hello
I will be taking a safari with my 7 year old son. We will be starting in Nairobi and on an organized tour of Masai Mara, Samburu and a third (the name escapes me right now) Anyhow, I am concerned with giving my son the malaria pills, does anyone have any experience with this. I am also getting conflicting answers on the Yellow Fever Vaccination. Any input would be very appreciated.
Thanks,
Monika
Hi,
You should be talking to your Doctor or a Travel Nurse.
However, for advice on anti-malarials for children have a read of the Health Protection Agency (UK Government sponsored) 'Guidelines for the prevention of malaria in travellers' website
http://www.hpa.org.uk/webc/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1206520188455
and here is information about the different prophylactics and the dosage for people of different ages from the same source.
http://www.hpa.org.uk/webc/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1206520188016
As for Yellow Fever if you are entering Kenya directly from Europe, North America, etc you will not be asked to show a YF certificate., you will need it if you travel between Kenya and other Sub-saharan countries.
There is virtually no risk of catching the disease, there has only ever been one outbreak in Kenya and the last case forum that was reported in the mid 1990s. Even the ultra-cautious WHO changed it's advice a couple of years ago and no longer recommends it for large areas of Kenya. In fact the Kenyan government in association with the WHO has just started an exercise to determine if kenya can be reclassified as low or no-risk.
Lots more info on Yellow fever here http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Travel-g294206-c151998/Kenya:Yellow.Fever.html
Hi there,
You will need to contact a doctor, the pills are on prescription only.
That said, do take them. I am a pharmacist and do quite some travel. We will be in Kenya with our 6 year old son this summer, too - and we will all take them.. Malarone is the malara medication for there, to be taken once daily, starting shortly before you arrive there until 5 days after you depart. There is also a version for children: Malarone junior. These are normally well tolerated, few side effects ... And certainly preferable to getting Malaria, which still can be deadly.
As for the yellow fever, Doffcockers answer is right on.
Good travels!