Comments on: Taking Worthwhile Risks While Traveling

By: Celine

Celine — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 13:52:58 +0000

@ Scott: That would depend on the meds and the person taking them. Some people taking Lariam report hallucinations, bad dreams, and difficulty sleeping – not something I want to experience when I’m overseas. Other drugs have different or less scary side effects. A good, long conversation with one’s doctor is best for those who really don’t want to explore SE Asia without taking anti-malarial meds.

@ Sarah: Typhoid and Cholera are horrible. So sorry you went through them despite your vaccines.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 08:12:27 +0000

I lived in West Africa for about 5 months last year, and spent almost all my time in more rural areas. While I did bring the prescription with me, I never took my (daily) antimalarial meds more than a couple times. I also didn’t use bug-spray a single time, and my window screens had gaping (6+inch) holes in them, and I wore flip-flops, skirts, and tank tops at night. I never caught malaria. BUT, I did get both the Typhoid, and Cholera vaccines prior to traveling, but still came down with pretty severe cases of both, on separate occasions. Henceforth, I will no longer be getting any vaccines (or anti-mal.) for any future travel. Not worth the cost, or the hassel, or the damage to the immune system.

Full disclosure, though: Many, many of my friends have gotten malaria (both my “Western” friends, and “local” friends). Some while taking the meds religiously, some while not taking them at all. I suppose you just become desensitized to it after awhile; not the illness, but the reality/commonness of it. It wasn’t unusual to be like “Hey, where were you last week?” “Oh, I had malaria” “Oh really? That sucks”

By: Scott

Scott — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 18:15:43 +0000

Are there any positive benefits to taking the medication, while in SE Asia? For example, if taking Malaria pills gives a traveler
enough courage to visit more rural areas of Cambodia, for example, and interact with the locals, isn’t that a good thing?

By: Celine

Celine — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:32:35 +0000

Thanks for dropping by Tim.

I’d just like to reiterate that as my quote from Tim’s article says, as well as my own article itself, that the malaria problems in Southeast Asia are the ones that are overblown. In Africa, there’s a real risk.

By: Tim Patterson

Tim Patterson — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 09:44:43 +0000

Thanks for the shout, Celine!

I know a couple people who have caught malaria – my mom, in central africa in the 70s, and a student who was in senegal. There are certainly places where malaria drugs are necessary, but in SE Asia anyway, the risk is overblown.

Good point that dengue is more of a concern, and bug spray is key.

-Tim

By: Celine

Celine — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 04:53:07 +0000

No, they really didn’t take it. Plus, the locals can’t even imagine doing it – it’s not part of their lives.

Dengue, however, is more common, with outbreaks in urbanized areas. I know at least 2 people who have contracted it, and even more if you count the cases of “a friend of a friend”.

By: Scott

Scott — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 18:08:42 +0000

What’s the possibility that you don’t know anyone who’s contracted Malaria because they all took their anti-malaria pills?
I’d be curious to know if there would have been anyone who did, if they didn’t take the pills.