QUESTION I am due to travel to South Goa on 27th October 2012. It is 9th Oct now. It says I should start taking my tablets 1 week before traveling, however I was wondering if it was okay to start taking them now so my body can get used to the side affects before I travel. I do not want to be ill all the time whilst I am away. ANSWER Yes, you do need to take preventive medicine against … [Read more...]
Malaria Prophylaxis and Getting Pregnant
QUESTION I will be traveling to the Ivory Coast for two weeks. I will be staying with my in-laws in the city in very clean conditions with a/c etc. I am a strict vegetarian so I will be bringing most of my food and will have access to clean water. I myself grew up in an undeveloped nation so I am used to precautions needed to prevent illness. However, mosquitoes do seem to love to bite me. I … [Read more...]
Malaria Infection Even With Prevention
QUESTION Can you still get infected with Malaria even when taking a preventative such as doxycycline or Malarone? ANSWER Yes, no prophylactic medication is 100% effective though both Malarone and doxycycline are usually over 90% effective, when taken properly. It is important to make sure each tablet is taken approximately at the same time each day, and in the case of Malarone, it is … [Read more...]
Malaria in Namibia
QUESTION could you please let me know, whether or not a malaria prophylaxe injection is necessary for a 3-weeks trip by car in Namibia, starting mid August. ANSWER It depends on where you are going in Namibia. According to the US Centers for Disease Control, malaria is transmitted in Namibia in the provinces of Kunene, Ohangwena, Okavango, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, and … [Read more...]
Do I need malaria tablets to live in Nigeria?
QUESTION Do I need malaria tablets to live in Nigeria? I was born and bred in the UK and want to go back to live in Nigeria for about 2 years, do I need malaria tablets? ANSWER It is not usually recommended to take malaria tablets for long periods of time (i.e. more than a few months). People living for extended periods in areas with malaria should focus on other methods of prevention, … [Read more...]
Malaria Pills Taken with Other Drugs
QUESTION Can malaria pills be taken with other vaccines or medications? ANSWER Malaria pills can be taken with most other medications, though this may vary with the type of prophylaxis (medication to prevent malaria) that you take, and there may be some specific combinations which are not recommended, so be sure to consult with a doctor about specific drug interactions. For example, … [Read more...]
Severe Head Pain with Malaria
QUESTION Can severe head pain be a symptom of mistreated malaria? My son just returned from an 8 month trip to Ghana. He had malaria 3 times and typhoid 1 time. He is now dealing with a severe head pain in his frontal lobe. He took doxycycline every day and when he got really sick, he took Coartem. He was finally sent home because they couldn't figure out why he has such severe head pains. … [Read more...]
Can Child Be Affected by Mother’s Malaria
QUESTION If the baby's mother has malaria, can it affect the child? ANSWER If the mother is pregnant when she gets malaria, particularly if it is her first pregnancy and particularly if she has never had malaria before, the effects on both the mother and child can be very serious. For the mother, this is because her immune system changes when she gets pregnant. This leaves her more … [Read more...]
Mefloquine
QUESTION My son, 7 years old, took Mefloquine course for malaria prevention last year. We are travelling to INdia again this year. Does he and myself need to repeat the anti-malaria pills again this year? ANSWER Yes. You need to take anti-malarial preventative medication every time you go back to a malarial area. It is also important to continue taking the drug for the required amount of … [Read more...]
Malaria Prophylaxis in Ghana, Africa
QUESTION My husband will be traveling to Ghana soon. We have Mefloquine and Primaquine. Which one do you think is best for prophylaxis in Ghana? He also has Fansidar, but we understand it's best not to use this for prophylaxis. Thank you for your help! ANSWER There are positives and negatives associated with both of these medications. Mefloquine is recommended for travelers in Ghana … [Read more...]