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Staying Healthy on the Road Medical info, e.g. malaria, vaccinations, travel medical tips, medical insurance, where to find a doctor.
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  #1  
Old 29 Jul 2005
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malaria i sahara
hi, does anyone know which malaria treatment one can buy in Europe to take with to a 6 month trip? I know there's no malaria in the Sahara but we'll be also travelling through some places where there's a risk, and I'd like to have some pills with me just in case.
I used once "Arinate" but I don't know if it's still for sale in pharmacies.
Thanks
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  #2  
Old 30 Jul 2005
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You will find pills for stand-by medicamentation in West African pharmacies, also thees chineese artemisia products like "artesunate".

Malarone is available in Europe, but not cheep. It's advantage over Lariam: much less colateral effects like depressions (which are frequent with Lariam).

Yves
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  #3  
Old 30 Jul 2005
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Hi,

Okay my advice after taking Malaria tablets. I took Malarone in 2001 and in 2004 with no problems. Damn expensive, however, some doctors are putting it on normal prescription which is a lot cheaper than a private one. I managed to get it on normal prescription last November (in UK this means I only paid £6.90).

I would suggest Malaria risk is low from November to May in most places. In Sub Saharan Africa above Guinea. Although, it only takes one Mozzie to get you. So do take the tablets and lots of 50% DEET. Deet will also keep away a lot of other biting flies.

In 2002 I took Avloclor and Paludrine, I had side affects from these two and would never go back to them, it caused depression for three months. They also tasted disgusting. Thankfully, the depression was not too bad to warrant any medication. Just rest and relaxation.

Hope this helps

Andy
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  #4  
Old 30 Jul 2005
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Hi,
sorry, i meant treatment and not prophylaxis, we won't take any prevention(beside long arm/troussers, deet, etc)
but I was wondering if one can buy in Europe a treatment to cure the malaria once you got it. As I said I used once in Zambia "Arinate" and it was very effective. I also saw in Nairobi the chinese treatment. Does anyone know if Dakar maybe would be a good place to buy them? or France/Spain? I can't find any in Denmark (even Deet is forbidden here)

thanks
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  #5  
Old 30 Jul 2005
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I carried Malarone to use as a treatment but never used it. It was recommended as a treatment by my doctor. I've also bought Fansidar over the counter in the region, also to use as a treatment but never actually used that.

I've caught malaria a couple of times in NW Africa, once in The Gambia, once I think in Niger, but I was actually sick in Mali. The symptoms in my experience are rather like the effects of a very, very bad hangover.

I've been treated with intravenously delivered chloroquine, adminstered in a local hospital where the test and treatement were administered very quickly and professionally. In future I'll carry some form of treatment, but only use it where I can't get to a hospital.

On both occassions I've caught the parasite I had been taking Lariam as a prophylaxis, but after catching malaria the second time, the doctors in Mali advised just to take a single dose of chloroquine every day (don't know how much) as a prophylaxis. I've since used this on subsequent trips to the region, and I think last time I went I didn't use anything - but I was by the coast most of the time, hence there was usually a breeze to keep the mosquitoes away.

[This message has been edited by Ian (edited 30 July 2005).]
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  #6  
Old 30 Jul 2005
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think in winter time in sahara best is long trausers and so, I hardly saw any moscito all tha way to gambia.
Although when i came back i had strange symptoms like malaria and was even hospitalised, but it ended like noone was sure what happened to me. I am still alive, and had nice week in hospital,
kaspars
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  #7  
Old 30 Jul 2005
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Hi all,

I have a friend Jonathan - nice guy - wild about Star Trek. Anyway he went off to Kenya and decided as he was doing a three month stay he would forget malaria prevention tablets. After some 6 weeks he caught Malaria. A bad infection.

He was so ill he was flown to South Africa and was told that they would try one final drug and if it didn't work - time for him to die. Thankfully it worked.

I always take preventatives in Gambia - you can die from Malaria. Take Malarone - worst you will get is an upset stomach for a couple of days initially. Far better than a nice coffin and a headstone.

Im a Reverend though, so I can do you cheap deal on a funeral.

Prevention is always better than treatment.

I saw lots of mosquitos in Brikama in Gambia, if you get maybe a mile away from the Coast Mozzies are about.

Not too sure what the flies are on the shore, but they really hurt when they bite your ankles.

Anyway I am off to the camping shop to buy a new toy - a storm kettle.

Barbeque on the beach time.

Andy
Defender 110 Brikama - are we mad? Jan - April 2006. 4 Kids, one wife and a long way.
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  #8  
Old 31 Jul 2005
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Hi Guys

Have used Malerone without any side effects but as stated it is damn expensive unless you can get it on a NHS prescription in the UK. Have used some others and have had bad side effects.

I would also point out that Malaria is the biggest killer in the world, so whilst some people just get bad flu like symtoms far more die from it.

Gambia is notorious bad from Malaria, see how many locals want tablets from you.


Julio

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  #9  
Old 6 Aug 2005
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I just came back from a week in Chad and Cameroon - I have been taking Malarone prophylactically, with no side effects noticed at all, other than a much lighter wallet - the stuff costs CHF 6 a tablet (USD $4.50 a tablet) here in Switzerland. Thank goodness my employer pays for it...

I took Paludrine and Chloroquine daily for 3 years back in the late 1980's when I was living in Angola. I don't think I had any side effects from those, although I suspect the mosquitos probably laugh at those medications now - figure they are just like adding salt and pepper to their meal.

When I was in Chad last week, my employer (in this case, an international oil company that was just paranoid about making sure no-one caught malaria) gave me a mediciment called 'Coartem' - made by Novartis - and told me to keep this with me for the next 3 months (after I had left the malarial area) in case I contracted malaria and needed self-treatment. This particular drug is a treatment only, not a prophylaxis. I have no idea how well it works, or how much it costs.

Michael
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  #10  
Old 6 Aug 2005
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Is Malarone available in West Africa?

[This message has been edited by Dizzie (edited 06 August 2005).]
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