Malaria

[Davily]

I am going to be coming from the US to Chiang Mai in February.

We will use Thailand as a base for 6-12 months and then travel to other countries from there, coming back to Thailand.

The doctors have told us that some of Thailand is a hot zone for Malaria as well as some of the other countries that we wish to travel to.

As the medication requires you to take it before and after the trip, should I be taking the medication for the whole year, as I may take unplanned trips to parts of Thailand and South East Asia?

I realise most people on here will not be doctors, but I'd like to get a general consensus as to what other Ex-Pats to with regard to Malaria precautions.

Also, is it easy and cheap to get Malaria medication in Thailand?

Thanks in advance.

[jrtmedic]

Everything you need to know here on the CDC website !

http://wwwnc.cdc.gov...ns/thailand.htm

Edited January 11, 2013 by jrtmedic

[lopburi3]

On the ground most expats do not take anything other than using DEET and nets to prevent bites as it is not common in populated areas and there is not one medication to prevent all. As for local purchase of medications many, if not most, found in areas of need are likely to suspect at best - if not outright fake.

[Sheryl]

Malaria drugs are restricted in Thailand and can only be obtained at a hospital. And you do not need them unless you expect to be in the jungle/heavily forested areas at night. there is no transmission in towns, cities, villages.

[Dancealot]

Malaria drugs are restricted in Thailand and can only be obtained at a hospital. And you do not need them unless you expect to be in the jungle/heavily forested areas at night. there is no transmission in towns, cities, villages.

I am a little bit spooked after just hearing 3 persons suffering from malaria in the village i live in now. Should i go to the hospital to get the medicine? I live near Phetchabun.

Thanks

[Sheryl]

These people were probably infected out of the village. If there is actually malaria transmission in the village ,women and children, even babies, will be ill. The more usual picture is that it is young men and adult men who get it and that they are ones who go out into the forest for hunting, trade/smuggling or whatever. It is a night-time mosquito so people have to actually be in jungle at night to contact it.

Suggest you look into where the men in question had been in the month or so prior to getting ill.

If what they had was the vivax form of malaria then it may even have been a recurrence of an infection acquired years ago.

Often the pagtients themselves will have an idea where they got it.

[Dancealot]

Thank you Sheryl. I have asked who got it and how. Now it appears there is only 1 case of malaria of a man who lives in the village but is out of town now. And a new case of cancer.

I am getting acquinted with the village tamtam here since I have just arrived. This gossibing is apparently a way of life here. And i learned from that that the new farang in town shouldn't let himself to be spooked so easily...

I am glad I took it very seriously and posting here made me wiser. Thanks for your thorough reply.

[robblok]

Thank you Sheryl. I have asked who got it and how. Now it appears there is only 1 case of malaria of a man who lives in the village but is out of town now. And a new case of cancer.

I am getting acquinted with the village tamtam here since I have just arrived. This gossibing is apparently a way of life here. And i learned from that that the new farang in town shouldn't let himself to be spooked so easily...

I am glad I took it very seriously and posting here made me wiser. Thanks for your thorough reply.

Its good to ask questions, I feel its not a sign of weakness to admit you don't know it all. Much can be learned from the right questions.