Hi,

has anyone in this forum made personal experience with malaria?

I am wondering how Malarone, Lariam etc. work if taken (in a heavy dosis) as a cure instead of a precaution.

Has anyone in the forum ever taken a heavy dosis, without a doctor, while in the bush?

Some travellers say that there is good local treatments in Africa, even in remoter areas, to the extent that they don't take any precautions any more.

I will be in Congo, Cameroon and Gabon for several weeks and I really need to consider if I want to take Malarone over an extended period of time.

These are not questions for forum!
Go to a doctor and ask, don't play risk with these things

There are quite a few threads in here already about similar questions and discussions - do a search for the keyword of your choice.
As one contributor in here:-

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...reatment-22410

says, lots of General Practice Docs in the UK know next to nothing about Tropical Diseases.

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Dave

Don't piss about with malaria - it can kill you quickly. You need a full protection package which includes the mainstay of bite avoidance - long sleeves, insecticide treated mosquito nets and repellant and clothes treated with repellant as well as taking the appropriate prophylaxis; it is important to realize that taking the prophylaxis does not guarantee you won't get malaria.

You need to take the right stuff at the right time for the right duration and be alert to flu like symptoms, headaches, chills and sweats etc even after you return - most UK GP's will be able to give you sensible advice or a specialized travel clinic will be even better. You are right that the same drugs are used for treatment as prophylaxis but in different doses and regimens - if you have been taking a particular drug for prophylaxis and you still get malaria the treating doctor may give you a different drug again as the parasite may be resistant to the drug you were taking.

Finally, be aware that many drugs available in the third world are counterfeit - take your own supply bought in a first world country from a reputable source - i.e. not from the internet. I suggest seeking medical advice before you go from a reputable travel clinic.

I reiterate - do not mess around with malaria - it is a killer. Take good medical advice and follow it and don't skimp on the drugs or other precautions. Seek advice from a reputable doctor and clinic if you feel at all unwell in a malarious area - it can have a variety of presentations; even if you don't have it you may have another mosquito-borne disease such as Dengue Fever which although just uncomfortable the first time you get it, can kill you on subsequent occasions.

SW

Nixa,

you'd be surprised how little doctors in Europe know about tropical diseases.

You'd also be surprised how knowledgeable doctors are in tropical countries.

I have had my share of tough diseases in the tropics - although luckily not malaria - and I'd always prefer to be in the best hospital in a tropical capital, as opposed to an average hospital in Central Europe, or worse, the UK.

Again: anyone who has made personal experience with a TREATMENT of malaria - as opposed to prophylaxis ? Maybe with Malarone?

P.S.: Walkabout, your link was useful. They refer to a successful treatment called Arthenam, available in Africa, but not in the US or Europe.

Thanks Travelbug.

It's an interesting question that you pose and a good variation on the other threads that have discussed the pros and cons of malaria prevention and treatment.
Hopefully some more information about Arthenam may come forth.

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Dave

TB,
You're right on about which doctors have the experience to offer advice...the local doctors in the area where the disease is more often prevalent.

Having said that, the use of prophaxis must be carefully considered...

For one, the prophalaxis efficacies are vary regionally due to the fact that the parasites have developed resistance to some of the prophalaxis in certain regions.
Also the prophalaxis and 'eraser' drugs such as Arthenam/Fansidar have effects that are possibly more disastarous than the malaria symptoms.

Threads with recommendations of usage based on a singular experience are dangerous...
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...reatment-22410

__________________
edde
93 BMW K75s
www.motoedde.com

You will have difficulty finding this particular drug in Africa because it is sold under many different names, usually including "Arte-something". This Artestuff is used as a stand-by drug by locals and expats who have had malaria many times before and have built up a certain resistance. Don't even think about following the same line because if you have never had malaria, your body is completely defenceless against it. Think in the line of the Flu brought to South America by the Spaniards in the 16th century. Innocent to us but lethal to the local Indians. Now malaria is never innocent, not even to locals but the ones who did not die have built up resistance over the years. You will often meet feeble, sweating locals suffering from a malaria attack. Observing these people might lull you into a false sense of confidence like "oh, that's not to bad" but they have had it many times before. When a whitey gets it without having taken proper prophylaxis, he/she can be dead within 12 hours. There are a lot of bullshit stories spread around by travellers who think they know but its your life which is on the line. There is only one truth; its very dangerous, take all precautions. Docshelocks advise is pretty sound.

Cheers,
Noel
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