Any Risk of Malaria in China?
 

Hi,<BR>I and my 5-yr old daughter will be traveling to China for the 1st time. We will be in the Guangdong Province and probably will be traveling to Beijing to sightsee. Should I obtain antimalarial medication for my daughter and myself? <BR><BR>

It is so simple to do vs. how very difficult it is to get over malaria. I've known two people with it. It took well over a year and they still sometimes have trouble.<BR><BR>

Find the specific answer about risk in Guangdong Province by checking the cdc website at www.cdc.gov<BR><BR>Some parts of China are malarial risk areas, some are not. Also, check to make sure that you and your daughter have the recommended vaccinations. This info is also at the cdc website.

When we went to Japan and Malaysia eight years ago our brochure on Malayasia said no precautions were needed. On the trip home my husband developed a fever, chills, sweats, rash and so on which our tropical disease center said was most likely dengue fever. The symptoms were malaria-like. We later learned that it could have been contracted in Japan because of the incubation period, but there are many countries of the world where this can happen that we are unaware of.

I know this doesn't quite answer your question, but now that we are considering a trip to Asia again, we will definitely take the necessary precautions. But we will contact the Tropical Disease Center in our city first rather than rely on our doctor or brochure. Maybe you should seek the same advice.

As Kathie indicates, check the website for details and do have your innoculations, most of which are good for 10 years - Hep A (there's now a combo A/B), Polio Booster, Tetanus - maybe Thyphoid and Yellow Fever.

The first three can be obtained from your general physician, but make sure that if you're covered by a health plan (HMO) don't let doctor mention anything about travel (might not be covered), rather mark records as &quot;gerneral medical update innoculations&quot; which should only cost you your co-pay; get the others from a Travel Clinic and are more costly.

As to Malaria meds, check which are recommended, if any, for China as some are no longer effective in some countries.

The newest Malarone, if this is recommended, has minimal if any side effects - taken with breakfast dairy (milk, yogurt, cheese) product from 2-days prior entering area, then daily while in China, then 7-days upon return. An alternative would be &quot;doxycycline&quot; - a generic antibiotic recommended for people sensitive to brand name drugs. But check everything out with your doctor and a specialist in tropical deseases.