Prachuap

Local pharmacists know which tablets work best against various strains.

Travel insurance claims depend on the ts and cs.

If you are camping in jungles for a week there might be some malaria clause but for normal travel one is not reqd to take tablets to make a claim.

The chance of getting malaria is tiny for normal travellers and medicines are easy to obtain. Dengue has no treatments but rest.

Kathie

KW, you are quite right about resistant strains of malaria. Quinine-type drugs haven't been effective in this area of the world for many decades (and that includes the popular pharmacist-supplied Chloroquine/Proguanil combination drug in the UK), and Larium has not been effective for a couple of decades. That leaves doxycycline and malarone. Malarone is not available in Thailand.

Of course prevention and treatment are different, so it really isn't as if someone can get a script filled for prevention and wait until they gat malaria to take it.

Prachuap

Malarone is avail in Thailand. Its called malanil.

Prachuap

http://m.thaitravelclinic.com/?url=h...rone.html#3000

Kathie

I'm glad to hear that Malarone (under the South African prescription name of Malanil) is licensed in Thailand. But it is still not generally available:

From your link,

"1. Malarone as well as other antimalarials are special reserved medications in Thailand. The Ministry of Public Health, Thailand and Thai FDA have strict rules and regulations to control the use and distribution of antimalarials in Thailand. It is because we face with multi-drugs resistant malaria in our region and this problem will be more severe if we could not control the use of antimalarial medication. So antimalarial medication in Thailand will be available in some university/public hospitals only.

2. Malarone is available in our Travel Clinic, however it is not intended for sale. We have a clear guideline on the use and distribution of Malarone. For example, we will not sell Malarone on internet/on phone or via messenger and will not sell malarone to any third party. Our doctor may consider to prescribe Malarone for someone in needed in a case by case basis. Travelers are required to visit our travel clinic for malaria consultation. "

So while it is now licensed in Thailand, it is not available for purchase by travelers in the way many other drugs are in Thailand.

filmwill

Ouch. Someone just got schooled. I felt that all the way in California.

rhkkmk

why not just take a chance... stay indoors in the a/c and don't go out early mornings or at dusk???

sartoric

The Mosquitos that carry Dengue fever (or break bone fever, named because of the pain similarities) bite at any time of the day, and there are no preventatives for Dengue. The only solution is to not get bitten and that's easier said than done if you are a mossie magnet. Apparently they really like blood type O positive.

Long sleeves and long trousers in light colours, DEET on exposed areas, and a watchful eye to your surroundings are IME the way to assess and monitor the risk. If the insects are swarming, or even just obvious, remove yourself from the immediate area.

It's either take these precautions, or don't travel for me, so far so good, fingers crossed for you.

crellston

I travel a lot to malarial areas so it isn't that practical for me to take Malarial prophylactics. However, having contracted the disease once, I certainly do not want to get it a second time so I am ultra cautious in terms of covering up, at least at night and using deet. I also tend to avoid sitting out at dusk and, even though we are backpacking, will always try to get accommodation with AC.

To supplement the above I take treatment courses of Malarone etc. just in case, so that if I do get it again, I can start treatment immediately before making my way to the nearest hospital.

I direct this comment at no one in particular as it has been made by many people many times, but it is clearly nonsense make statements like "I have visited this area many time and never had a problem". It really does only take one bite from an infected mosquito to cause the disease and, believe me, you really don't want that experience!

Orcas, the sensible thing to do is to consult a doctor who is knowledgeable on tropical medicine and will have access to the latest research and data on the subject and seek his advice which will take into account your medical history.

If you are not happy to take the doctors advice for whatever reason or are still concerned about the risks, then think very seriously about altering your plans to go somewhere where the risks are more acceptable to you.

I would stress that I am not a doctor, nor am I medically qualified in any way ( apart from a first aid certificate! ).

Enjoy your travels wherever they take you.

LancasterLad

Crellston. V.good posting.

khunwilko

there are maps you can google that show the distribution of Malaria in Thailand....however they seem to be a couple of years out of date.

Dengue is endemic to Thailand.

Basically whether or not you take medications the best practice is to do all you can to prevent ANY mosquito biting you.

This means not exposing large areas of bare skin at any time. Use DEET and cover up......."natural" repellants if and when they work do so for much shorter periods than DEET....... you can also spray rooms and use a mossie net in particularly infested areas.

Orcas

Thanks for our info. Crellston, compelling post. I went to my doctor who got on the CDC website and went to work. Got a polio shot in one arm (first time since I was a kid), Hep A in the other (need another one in 6 mos, so only partly protected), a prescription for malarone, and advise re potential dietary problems. We'll get some pirethrine impregnated clothes and bring our DEET. We'll bring rain gear for the monsoons. We have our elephant camp reservations and I can't wait!

crellston

Your are very welcome Orcas. I am sure you will have a great time. Be sure you post to tell us all about your trip on your return.

Kathie

Have a wonderful time, Orcas!