Malaria Outbreak?

[meme]

Two separate neighbors, in two different ends of my soi have contracted malaria.

They are both young boys.

I am bit a lot in my house.

Should I be doing anything beyond trying not to get bitten?

How concerned should I be? So far the one boy is out of the hospital and fine.

Thanks.

[Tywais]

A few places to read up on it.

CDC

Mayo Clinic

Bupa

[moldy]

A few places to read up on it.

CDC

Mayo Clinic

Bupa

concerned yes, these mossies get around more than a sukhumvit bar girl. But is very far from being a given. I believe malaria is wholly treatable until latter stages. Be wary that's all.

[coventry]

You can do no more than the 2 boys other than to take anti malaria medication. Just live a normal life, you've more chance of being run over before you can get malaria.

[donna]

ive had malaria 4 times but never been run over.

here in bali, they put a plant called LILIGUNDI (vitex trifolia) around the house. this is said to get rid of mozzies. i have some in my house as well as a stack of lemongrass planted aroudn the perimeter. this seems to have helped.

[Prakanong]

Two separate neighbors, in two different ends of my soi have contracted malaria.

They are both young boys.

I am bit a lot in my house.

Should I be doing anything beyond trying not to get bitten?

How concerned should I be? So far the one boy is out of the hospital and fine.

Thanks.

Where are you located?

[donna]

OP is in Trang province. unfortunately the south does get hit with a certain amount of malaria cases each year, and khao sok is one area that usually has quite a few cases.

[Tywais]

When I was stationed in Thailand (military), the chow hall had baskets with quinine and salt tablets that we took daily. Quinine was used as a prophylaxis at that time but looking at this site it states it is not suitable for the prevention of malaria. So don't know why we were given them now.

[geriatrickid]

Quinine is probably one of the first case studies taught in pharmacology as it has a fantastic history packed with tales of death, salvation, hope and dismay. It is effective. The problem is that the "cure" can be as bad as the illness it treats. There are so many side effects and adverse reactions, you could fill an entire page. Despite that, quinine is still used as a treatment for some malaria cases. Prophylaxis is not one of the uses because most people don't tolerate the substance well, but it does work. Under no circumstances should a pregnant woman take it.

Gee, now I have something else to terrify me . I was oblivious to the risk in the south and always thought it was more an issue once we got up towards Chiang Mai area. (Shows you how little I know.) Dengue scares me more. But, it does make sense. It's been an awfully good year for mosquito breeding. It will be interesting to see the malaria data once it gets compiled and released.

I used to take medication when I went into high risk areas but stopped because of the side effects. The Lariam (mefloquine) seemed to alter my mental equalibrium and sleep patterns.

If there is a spike in malaria cases, does this mean there will be a spraying campaign?

[meme]

A few places to read up on it.

CDC

Mayo Clinic

Bupa

Thank-you will read up on it.

[meme]

ive had malaria 4 times but never been run over.

here in bali, they put a plant called LILIGUNDI (vitex trifolia) around the house. this is said to get rid of mozzies. i have some in my house as well as a stack of lemongrass planted aroudn the perimeter. this seems to have helped.

wow! 4 times.

Thanks for the tips I will look into those plants.

I live in a town house not much room to grow anything but if I could grow them in the house. We dont have standing water around, but they seem to be in our sofa and in my closet sleeping my clothes or something. grrrrr

And yes, good memory Donna, I live in Trang.

[coventry]

ive had malaria 4 times but never been run over.

That's because you don't live in Thailand. I don't live in Bali and I've never had malaria but I've been run over. Something in that. Edited May 24, 2008 by coventry

[chickencurry]

ive had malaria 4 times but never been run over.

That's because you don't live in Thailand. I don't live in Bali and I've never had malaria but I've been run over. Something in that.

Donna used to live in Thailand until recently I believe.

[PeaceBlondie]

Not to disagree with the epidemiological experts, but I spent the first day of the century at the beach in Mexico, swimming with a recent Ph.D. graduate (London, specialist, tropical diseases) who told me to get on quinine, which I did. Eight months later, the director of the infectious disease clinic at Fort Sam Houston (whose predecessor discovered the cause of malaria) told me to stay on quinine, which gave me no side effects. However, quinine does not work for the mosquitoes common in Thailand, I believe.

[Tywais]

However, quinine does not work for the mosquitoes common in Thailand, I believe.

Some studies indicates it does but with declining efficacy.

Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

Pub Med

Bio Medicine

[coventry]

ive had malaria 4 times but never been run over.

That's because you don't live in Thailand. I don't live in Bali and I've never had malaria but I've been run over. Something in that.

Donna used to live in Thailand until recently I believe.

Just jesting Chicken curry. But I have been run over in Thailand. The driver never even got out of his 4x4 to ask how I was.

[themuse1969]

Two separate neighbors, in two different ends of my soi have contracted malaria.

They are both young boys.

I am bit a lot in my house.

Should I be doing anything beyond trying not to get bitten?

How concerned should I be? So far the one boy is out of the hospital and fine.

Thanks.

This does not help you now, but I have the cure, and I will maybe speak to Ministry of Medicine about my curing Malaria in Thailand when I come to live there in some months from now.....November I hope. If anyone has connections in the Ministry, please send me email to [email protected]

[Sheryl]

This is the time of year when malaria increases in places where it is endemic.

Only specific species of mosquito can transmit malaria and they aren't found in most parts of Thailand nowadays, so most forum members are at no risk.

Not sure about OP, but Meme, if you are in a town the risk there is likely to be small, and most likely the boys got it somewhere other than at home, e.g. went into a forested area for some reason.

One pretty sure way to know if here is transmission taking place locally is by who is coming down with malaria. If there is transmission right in the town, around the houses etc (which is rare), then women and infants will be getting it just as much as anyone else. And A LOT of people, not just a couple, would be getting it. If there is no transmission in the town/village but there is in nearby forests etc, only older kids and adults will be getting sick, and usually men more than women.

As for prophylaxis, it is never recommended for people permanently living in an area and controversial/debatable even for visitors in the case of Thailand due to the pattern of drug resistance.

The mosquitoes who transmit malaria only bite at night, so mosquito netting confers a great deal of protection, especially theo nes that are impregnated with insecticide. Between dusk and when you go to bed, insect repellent. But frankly I'd be surprised if there was much risk at home and suspect that the boys were bitten elsewhere.

[moldy]

Not to disagree with the epidemiological experts, but I spent the first day of the century at the beach in Mexico, swimming with a recent Ph.D. graduate (London, specialist, tropical diseases) who told me to get on quinine, which I did. Eight months later, the director of the infectious disease clinic at Fort Sam Houston (whose predecessor discovered the cause of malaria) told me to stay on quinine, which gave me no side effects. However, quinine does not work for the mosquitoes common in Thailand, I believe.

You didn't specify what century? A definite article in this instance should only be used when reference has previously been made to the noun to which it is attached. Sorry old TEFL habits die hard.

[blakegeee]

I am not sure if it is true, so the aggressive posters can just take it easy, but I heard that you usually have to be bitten by several Malaria infected mosquitoes to actually become infected. So if you are in a bad area for it, than bug spray is quite effective. You might still get the odd bite, but its highly unlikely that you will get infected unless you are getting lots of mosquito bites.

Can any genuine experts verify this?

Off-topic: Can anybody tell me why the link in my signature does not work? Thanks!

Edited May 25, 2008 by blakegeee

[coventry]

Just for interest. Only the female mosquito sucks blood, similar to humans, the males live on nectar.

[Sheryl]

I am not sure if it is true, so the aggressive posters can just take it easy, but I heard that you usually have to be bitten by several Malaria infected mosquitoes to actually become infected. So if you are in a bad area for it, than bug spray is quite effective. You might still get the odd bite, but its highly unlikely that you will get infected unless you are getting lots of mosquito bites.

Can any genuine experts verify this?

Off-topic: Can anybody tell me why the link in my signature does not work? Thanks!

A single bite can infect you. However:

- it has to be a bite from a mosquito of the species capable of transmitting malaria (anopheles)

- the mosquito in question has to be a female who has ingested blood with the malarial parasite

- the mosquito then has to bite after the right number of days have past ( there is a cycle of maturation of the malaria parasite that occurs within the moquito before its bite becomes infectious)

The odds of any one bite meeting those criteria are small, hence the odds of a single bite infecting you are small. The more you are bitten (assuming you are being bitten in a place that contains the malaria specieis that transmits malaria), the greater the odds that one of those bites will do the trick.

Re your signature probklem, I don't know. suggest you post this on the Forum support forum.

[Tywais]

Re your signature probklem, I don't know. suggest you post this on the Forum support forum.

URL removed as per forum rules.

[marshbags]

Please do not take this post the wrong way when i ask you if Malaria has been medically confirmed ?

I had Dengi Fever and posted my experience on T.Visa just recently.

ref url http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...p;#entry1978910

Since then 3 young children and a couple of adults have also been diagnosed and hospitalised with it.

The M.Ban Puyai says that it is now being registered in several areas in Thailand and our locals have been warned as to possible ways of preventing it, along with going to the hospital should they experience the symptoms.

The area,s affected have been sprayed to try and get rid of it.

I hope this is seen as a constructive observation and also that they are well soon.

If it is Malaria it will stay dormant within the system after the recent effects are treated, while Dengi is a one off and doesn,t.

You can of course be re infected again by another mosquitoe, should you be unlucky.

marshbags

Edited May 26, 2008 by marshbags