hiawatha

We traveled in CR for 2 weeks in late June - Arenal area, Manuel Antonio, and the Osa. Did some fairly extensive hiking in the rainforests. WONDERFUL trip, however, my husband got very ill about 7- 10 days after returning. Symptoms included severe headache, fever (high temp on and off for 6 days), muscle aches, stiff neck, chills, lethargy. He eventually got well but I just now thought to check this forum for anyone's similar experience. The symptoms are kind of Malaria-like but there's not supposed to be Malaria in the areas which we traveled. Thanks for any input!

RBCal

He should see a doctor according to the CDC there is malaria in CR. It also may be Yellow Fever.

http://www.cdc.gov/travel/regionalmalaria/camerica.htm

Costa Rica: Risk in Alajuela, Limón, Guanacaste, and Heredia provinces. No risk in Limón city (Puerto Limon).

bfish

I got malaria in Costa Rica all of those symptoms are what I had when I had malaria. I was hiking on the Osa too. The symptoms of malaria go away and then come back so make sure they do a blood test, it can go away from the blood stream but hide out in the kinneys or liver and return so get proper medical care. Good luck

JeanH

The symptoms also sound like dengue fever. I think there are blood tests that can be done to check, even though he is well now.

jczinn

I agree it sounds like dengue, which resolves on its own, but he should definitely be tested for malaria to be sure. Probably your best bet is to go to a Tropical Medical specialist as your family physician will not have experience with these diseases.

Suzie2

The most likely culprit is Dengue because it is much more common than the others. The 7-10 days would be about right for that as well. If he felt like his bones were breaking it was probably dengue. It is also called break bone for that reason. Malaria as you know can pop up again so for that reason you need to have some blood tests done to really be sure.

A friend of ours came back with Dengue and he was really sick for a week or so and was hospitalized. My husband is a Dr. and has traveled extensively in Central and South America. He had trouble convincing the Dr to check for Dengue because it is just not something you see around here (Ohio). He finally checked and sure enough.

For future reference, anyone who gets sick after being in a foreign country should be checked by a physician.

dcsam

We arrived home last week. My mom is now sick with a very bad sore throat. Today, she's complaining that her legs ache. She went to the doctor yesterday and was put on some antibiotics.
Carrie

shillmac

dscam, how's your mom?

I'm thinking, too, that dengue is the culprit--at least for hiawatha.