Worth Taking Malaria Tablets 4 Koh Chang?

[Jimbo_uk]

I will be visiting Koh Chang in November for around 4 nights. I understand Koh Chang lies in a Malarial area. Is it really worth taking Malaria pills for such a short stay, bearing in mind I will be sleeping under a mosquito net and plastering myself with deet when I go out in the evenings?

[Bizz]

I will be visiting Koh Chang in November for around 4 nights. I understand Koh Chang lies in a Malarial area. Is it really worth taking Malaria pills for such a short stay, bearing in mind I will be sleeping under a mosquito net and plastering myself with deet when I go out in the evenings?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Been there twice in the last year with no problems. Used deet also. Was not taking tablets for malaria

Edited September 8, 2005 by Bizz

[craigt3365]

I don't think it is worth it for only 4 nights. I have been there many times, never wore repellant, and was OK. Did the same in Cambo, but then met a guy who got malaria. So, ya never know...

The other question is, have you ever used the medication before? Some of them can be pretty tough on you. Crazy dreams, etc. I met one guy who actually liked the dreams! Of course he was smoking a bunch of pot along with it...so who knows what caused the dreams!

[Neeranam]

Remeber that when taking the malaria tabs that you must take them before and after your stay.

Side effects too, liver damage is one.

[Steve2UK]

I will be visiting Koh Chang in November for around 4 nights. I understand Koh Chang lies in a Malarial area. Is it really worth taking Malaria pills for such a short stay, bearing in mind I will be sleeping under a mosquito net and plastering myself with deet when I go out in the evenings?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If you're in the UK, your GP's clinic should have an up-to-date database on this - worth checking with them now as to whether to take the course and if so, which one for the area. Chances are they'll just tell you to take the same precautions as you mention - plus keeping your arms and legs covered when you go out at night. But, sad to say, it only takes one wrong bite to infect you - so the length of stay only reduces the chances..... it doesn't eliminate them.

[chownah]

When I was a tourist and used to take anti malarial pills I used doxycycline...At that time it was the most effective medication, it covered all the different types of malaria including the resistant types, it was the cheapest, it cured my rosacea (adult acne), it did not have any mental side effects....it does make your skin more sensitive to sunlight so you need to be a bit more careful to avoid direct sun on skin...all day sunbathing at the beach might not work and I'm not sure if sun screen will mitigate....anyway I can't stand the other anti malarials because of the mental effects and doxy has none of those....ask a doctor about the sun sensitivity problem.....that is if you decide to even take anti malarials....I probably wouldn't use any at all....just avoid getting bit too much.

[chaiyapoon]

Never heard of any expats on the Islands using anti malarials.There are places there with mosquitos particularly at dusk so a spray of deet won't go amiss.As the center of Koh Chang is still jungle the risk is theoreticaly there but no cases seem to have been reported in recent years.

[zxray]

I spent 2 weeks this year at koh Chang, plenty of mosquitos in the evening. Small chance of contracting malaria though.

Long pants, shoes not sandals and a little deet are probably a good idea for evenings.

Ray

[STEALTH K3]

Been to Los twice I have never botherd with taking any

[Beachcomber]

Hi

Been in Thailand many years also a couple of visits to Koh Chang. Never taken any malaria medication.

Rainy season, mosquitoes love it. I use Johnson OFF! Aerosol easy to apply, and also spray my room each evening.

Have known some friends die from malaria over the years but this was their own fault for not seeking medical attention in time. These days as the medication side effects can be severe I think it is worth the “risk” not to take the medication. If you actually get malaria it is curable.

Enjoy.

[britmaveric]

I think unless you are treking around in the jungle - zilch is needed apart from deet.

[Koh_Chang_Farang]

Never heard of anyone catching it recently. Certainly not something the locals worry about although Koh Chang is listed as a malarial area on quite a few medical websites. However, I wouldn't be too keen on camping in the jungle during the rainy season unless I had neat DEET in my veins.