Any thoughts on whether I need to take medications to prevent malaria on a 4 day trip to see Angkor? CDC recommends it, but my guidebooks don't... Does anyone have opinions?

Siem Reap is a malarial risk area. Make sure you know the issues about choosing whether or not to take anti-malarials. Do consult with a doctor about this.

For such a short trip, malarone makes the most sense as you only start it the day before entering the malarial risk area and only continue it for one week after leaving the area.

Personally, I do choose to take anti-malarials when I am in a malarial risk area.

What have you got to lose? I've read that there are areas immediately around the Temples where the mosquitos hang out so I do plan to go the Doxycycline route when I'm in Siem Reap for three weeks in January, mostly because of the temple/mosquito issue. Doxy is my choice as its a substitute for the tetracycline I take every day for rosecea so I can kill two birds (or diseases) with one stone! For the few to no side-effects, take away the worries!

When we went to AW last year. we took malarone. Many mosquito bites, no Malaria or side effects. Some temples are more swampy than others. I got bit hanging around the pool at the hotel in SR. It's your decision.

I've taken Malarone...while in Ghana...However, just remember that there are no guarantees of not getting malaria just because one is on the drugs. So, you still need to cover up. Happy Travels!

So true, Guenmai, anti-malarials are more than 95% effective, but it is worthwhile to remember that there are other illnesses carried by mosquitoes as well, including dengue. SO a good repellant and covering up are good advice.

Once I was in India and felt nauseous and thought it was something I ate. Then I realised it was the anti-malaria medication. These days I just use insect repellect,just a personal choice but not a recommendation. I am in SE Asia about 3 times a year and have also travelled to India without such medication.

Do note that only parts of India and SE Asia are malarial risk. There are many places where you don't need anti-malarials.

If you have seen anyone with malaria you would not even hesitate to take some type of prevention. Malarone is easy to take and very few people have a reaction. If taken with food it works better(We take it at breakfast) to prevent nausea. Follow up with deet and long clothing