Malaria

[Ebot]

Hi all

I want to know from real people that has been there , done that , got the t shirt. Do I have to worry about it. I mean more so than the normal recommendations. I have no prob but swambo to be has no medical aid at the moment and she hasn't got the strongest of immune systems. I want to go there over December this year. If there is someone that got malaria from a trip to moz, what treatment did you get? Will garlic + tabasco + peacefull sleep together work?

Any help will be appreciated.

Regards

[Gaitshi Gubib]

Hi Ebot, I'd say consult with your pharmacist. Malaria is no joke.

I grew up in the Lowveld, but I still take those pills whenever I go there.

[MikeAG]

Ebot,

take malaria very very seriously indeed. Take all the precautions......mosi net (or tent), long sleeves and long trousers in the evening, repellant on all exposed skin, and prophylaxis. None of the methods is foolproof alone, but each can reduce your risk. Together with a sensible evening routine all of the above can reduce your risk to very low levels. If you don't want malaria, don't allow mosquitoes to bite you.

If you are driving, stop early, so that you have plenty of time to have a shower/ wash before the mossies come out.....they naturally hang around damp shower blocks, and then get presented with a whole lot of exposed skin to have a go at.

Don't believe any old wive's tales. This isn't to be messed with.

Mike

[RudolfD2]

Ebot,
Listen to the older people. They know best!!!

Father inlaw is a GP and wy wife's a nurse. Lucky me!

He demands I take medication when going to Moz.
It decreases the chances no end but is still not 100%.

Friend(ex nurse) of wife did the garlic, tabasco and p/sleep route.
Both her children ended up in hospital and one in intensive care.

I can give you my father in law's number and he will give you a good lecture
on what to do.

[Henris]

There is a lot here about malaria.

Read it all.

PS. We are in Musina and we don't take anything. It tends to be hard on the kidneys. Just be very aware of your adversary. Know his every move.

[RudolfD2]

prophylaxis

The clever word I was looking for.
Take Mike's guidance on the precautions.

Maleria kills!!!

[RudolfD2]

It tends to be hard on the kidneys. Just be very aware of your adversary. Know his every move.

Having access to the MIMMS. (Medication bible) it is scary to read about the contra indications of some of the maleria preventative medication.
Though some of them are very safe.
Saying about living in maleria area.
If you live there permanently one could become imune but the moment you leave the area it's all wasted and back to being a mere imortal.

[Ebot]

Thanx for the replies.

I just wanted to find out from people that i can trust, not someone that tell you a hole bunch of stories scaring the swambo to a point where she does not want to go. I do realize it is serious but with the correct precautions it should be ok. I did speak to my GP about it.

Regards

[Henris]

Don't believe the "immune" pitch.

I don't see myself as being "immune". That will be suicide. We just make sure that we don't occupy the same space as them. Keep them out the house. Play it safe.

When we are outdoors, we use a dettol solution in a spray bottle and it does work. There is one in my LC at all times.

Look after the kids like a hawk. They are the most susceptible.

[Skalla]

I am a GP and would strongly advise that you take your tabs if you go to Mos in Dec...... the majority of reported malaria cases in SA are all rom Mos. Malaria is still the biggest killer in africa.

[Ebot]

I am a GP and would strongly advise that you take your tabs if you go to Mos in Dec...... the majority of reported malaria cases in SA are all rom Mos. Malaria is still the biggest killer in africa.

How long before we go do we need to start with the tablets?

[RudolfD2]

Mozzie, No. 6 in the BIG 5!!!

[PGJ]

I am a GP

@Doc , before i give advice , correct me if im wrong here . Ive been using Doxycycline for a few years now in Moz , i dont suffer from photosensitivity , often a side effect , and i stick to the course for 4 weeks following . Im happy with it , no side effects at all and relatively cheap . Ive been told its not prescribed any more because people dont complete the long course .

@ Ebot , im on the doxycycline , for extended trips i take a self test kit (dischem) and a few courses of CoArtem , if i test positive .

Caution with the Larium , ive seen it almost ruin a few holidays , depression and phsycosis .

[MikeAG]

Mozzie, No. 6 in the BIG 5!!!

Not sure about that, but it is certainly number one in the list of the most dangerous animals in Africa. Number 2 is humans.

Ebot.........be serious about malaria, but don't panic about it. I have travelled safely in Africa for years, and took my 4 & 6 year olds on part of my trans-Africa trip with no scares or worries at all. Develop routines and disciplines that do exactly what Henris said.......keep you and the mozzies apart.

It is perfectly possible to travel in the wildest parts and not get bitten. Probably the problem with Mozambique is that it attracts lots of people from SA cities who have never been into malarial areas before, and so don't even think about it (it is only another bit of Africa to them, maybe).

You've taken the key step by asking the question......already you are better protected than a whole lot of people simply because of your awareness.

Mike

[PGJ]

be serious about malaria, but don't panic about it.

Agreed , its not worth losing sleep over , just take the muti , use some repellant , keep them out the house and off the skin and you're A for AWAY .

[Ebot]

Thanks for the great advice. I have read the posts to swambo and convinced her. We will do what you all suggested. That is what I love about this community, talking to people that can give real advice from mechanical to medical

I appreciate this.

[RooiPiet]

Hi Ebot

Some clarification w.r.t. your question about malaria.

As a Paramedic who actually works as medical services provider in very remote exploration and drill sites all over Africa, I can give you my 2cw.

Firstly remember that malaria is really a very serious disease. If not diagnosed and treated very quickly, there is serious potential for death! Get all the right facts, and don't play Russian roulette with a parasitic organism that kills indiscriminately.

Early treatment is actually pretty simple, and even the diagnosis can be made relatively safely if you have the trained know how, and correct medical kit with you.

However... The best way of managing the problem is actually by making sure you don't get bitten (by an infected female Anopheles mosquito) in the first place.

There are a lot of misconceptions, myths and truths about the malaria parasites themselves, their effect on humans, and the prevention and treatment of Malaria.

Some popular Myths and Truths regarding Malaria:

Myth:
Gin & Tonic (especially the Tonic) works just as well as any prophylaxis available.

Truth:
Gin (or any other alcohol for that matter) does not provide ANY protection against malaria. Tonic water does contains quinine which is part of the treatment of malaria and not the prophylaxis, but not in any adequate amount to have the required effect.

Myth:
Prophylaxis (the preventative tablets) makes the disease undetectable.

Truth:
Although malaria prophylaxis is suppose to "kill" malaria parasites as they leave the liver, most modern laboratories can still detect the disease in the blood of a victim. In most cases a negative result with continued illness will warrant a second and third blood smear examination. In fact, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends 7 tests to completely eliminate the possibility of Malaria. If you have malaria it will be found, even while taking prophylaxis.

Myth:
All prophylactic medications have the same side effects.

Truth:
Most travelers don't suffer any serious side effects from prophylaxis. The best choice of tablet should be made in consultation with a travel medical specialist or knowledgeable general practitioner.


Essentially, you should take all family members going with on your trip to see an expert medical specialist. He/she will access each patient's health status and advice everybody accordingly. This is the only sure way to know what prophylaxis to take, and when.

Although no Malaria Prophylaxis provides 100% cover, one should consider that 90% protection is better than no protection at all. Therefore the use of Malaria Prophylaxis is highly recommended as a second line of defense against malaria. The first being DO NOT GET BITTEN.

Insect repellents containing DEET work well, but should not be relied on as only protection against bites.

Do a Google search for more detailed info on malaria and it's prevention. There is way too much info on the subject to post here. If you manage the risks properly, you should be fine.

We are off to Moz for vacation this time for almost 4 weeks in Aug.

[gazza1210]

To all the experts out there correct me if I am wrong but no-one has mentioned that the prophylaxis you take is area specific. You needs to advise the GP/pharmacist which area you are going to so he can prescribe the right meds. Boeties meds left over from his trip to Okavango will probably not be the same as the meds you require.

[Sneaky Pete]

I agree - do not take any chances. If you return and think it might be flu get to a doctor very quickly.
I recently did a trip to Moz. My family were watching my wife and I getting everything into a SWB - tent, freezer, fishing gear the works! (en my vrou wil mos niks op die kar se dak he hoor!) Having been to Moz before (but not the wife) I wanted to take one of those electronic insect killers with the UV light (not the cheap round ones-you get nice potent ones for about R200.00 +-300 x 150mm). Everyone nearly wet themselves laughing. I was so sorry I did not (now the wife was too). Just to put it on in the evening when they are at their worst and maybe again in the tent just as you retire. Sure it might even mean a small inverter which most of us have where there is no 220v but it is at the top of our list for next time!
Enjoy, enjoy.

[Henris]

We actually have a 12v unit like that.

It is def going with next time.