Malaria medication for Vietnam and Cambodia
Jun 26th, 2006, 08:51 AM
#1
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Malaria medication for Vietnam and Cambodia
I am leaving in a few days for 10 days in Vietnam and Cambodia. I have a prescription for Malaria medication, specifically Malarone. I have not had it filled yet because I have a number of friends who said they took no medication and advise me to skip it to avoid the side effects. We will mostly be in cities in Vietnam (Ho chi Minh and Hanoi) and in Angkor Watt in Cambodia.
I am nervous about the risk of Malaria but also pretty nervous about my sensitivity to medication. I need to decide by tommorrow so I can get a prescription filled and start taking it!
Thanks,
I am nervous about the risk of Malaria but also pretty nervous about my sensitivity to medication. I need to decide by tommorrow so I can get a prescription filled and start taking it!
Thanks,
Jun 26th, 2006, 09:10 AM
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we have taken malerone a few times with absolutely no side affects what so ever.... not taking it just seems foolish....your friends were lucky...it also has the least time that you take pills for...
Jun 26th, 2006, 09:49 AM
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Malaria is NOT the disease you want to have...I am a nurse and have seen 1 case. Enough to scare me!Angor Wat is one of the major places to get Malaria...Take the pills and travel with your mind free to enjoy what you are expierencing not swatting at mosquitos and putting on bug spray all the time.
Jun 26th, 2006, 10:13 AM
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If you are only in Hanoi and HCMC in VN, you don't need anti-malarials there. Siem Reap is a malarial risk area. Take a look at www.cdc.gov/travel
You only have to start taking the malarone one day before entering the malarial risk area, take daily, then continue for 7 days after leaving the area. So you don't need to start taking the medication now.
Malarone has few side effects, most people take it with no side effects at all. Take it with food, the same approximate time each day (like every evening).
Do continue to protect yourself from mosquito bites, as mosquitos can carry other diseases such as dengue.
You only have to start taking the malarone one day before entering the malarial risk area, take daily, then continue for 7 days after leaving the area. So you don't need to start taking the medication now.
Malarone has few side effects, most people take it with no side effects at all. Take it with food, the same approximate time each day (like every evening).
Do continue to protect yourself from mosquito bites, as mosquitos can carry other diseases such as dengue.
Jun 26th, 2006, 12:52 PM
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I've had malaria - and I would take the pills for the areas you are going to.
The advice above that taking the pills can leave you free not to worry about swatting mosquitos etc is ill-advised. The anti-malarial medication is not 100% - I caught malaria whilst taking the medication - so preventing getting bitten is still your first line of defence.
Have a great trip!
BB
The advice above that taking the pills can leave you free not to worry about swatting mosquitos etc is ill-advised. The anti-malarial medication is not 100% - I caught malaria whilst taking the medication - so preventing getting bitten is still your first line of defence.
Have a great trip!
BB
