Anti Malarials - anyone get sick?

[mom2two2]

Alright. We are having the do-ya-or-don't-ya debate at my house over the anti malarial pills. We will be in Belize on a cruise in Jan and I know this is considered a high risk area for malaria.

 

We will be off the ship and taking an excursion to Lamanai, which I understand is in the jungle, up the river. To me, that would be enough to consider taking the pills but my DH is set against it as his secretary told him he will have horrid nightmares and spend his vacation chained to the toilet if he takes them.

 

I would like to know what other people's experiences have been with this. Did you take the pills? Were you sick?

 

Thanks

mom2two2

[OttoCal]

Please do not take any medical advice from a travel forum. :confused:

 

If you are looking for anecdotal stories- I have spent a week in Belize with much jungle activity and did not take antii-malarials. Some in our group did, including a doctor we traveled with. I got lots of bites- in the southern part of the country, well away from where you will be on the cruise.

 

You should consult your own doctor to see what is best for you. Perhaps you have some underlying conditions that would make medical advice more practical than anecdotal stories like you would get here.

 

I found this on the CDC (centers for disease control) website by googling Belize + Malaria:

 

Areas of Belize with Malaria: All areas, except in Belize City.

If you will be visiting an area of Belize with malaria, you will need to discuss with your doctor the best ways for you to avoid getting sick with malaria. Ways to prevent malaria include the following:

• Taking a prescription antimalarial drug
  
• Using insect repellent and wearing long pants and sleeves to prevent mosquito bites
  
• Sleeping in air-conditioned or well-screened rooms or using bednets
  

Primaquine is the preferred antimalarial drug (only after G6PD testing) in Belize. Atovaquone/proguanil, chloroquine, doxycycline, and mefloquine are alternative choices

[SingingPixie]

All of the travel advisories only advise taking anti-malarials if you are spending the night in Belize. For cruise visitors who avoid the prime mosquito hours of dawn and dusk, they are not indicated.

 

You can get bug spray with 100% deet at your local target/walmart/etc. This does a lot to prevent the stray bite, but during the daytime you should be fine. Wear long pants if you're really worried, but it's really not necessarily to go the drug route if you're only visiting during the heat of the day, when Mosquitos aren't as active.

[DonMar]

I agree with OttoCal - talk to a doctor who understands travel requirements and risks. I use the travel clinic at our local airport - Newark - as they treat all of the pilots and travel crew. They have the most up-to-date information and understand the risks.

 

That being said - we went to Lamanai and did not take any prophylactics for Malaria. We used long pants and bug repellent to protect ourselves. We were bitten a few times, but no issues. I did take them when we were in central Africa for two weeks.

[mom2two2]

That is the thing. I did ask the Dr. She does not seem to think we should take them but will prescribe if we really want to. I called the Travel Clinic which specialises in that here and they said they will see us and discuss it at an appt for $45 pp. I am not so sure their advice would be totally impartial as they seem to want to get us in there and get the $45 fee.

 

When I get the 2nd Twinrix shot next week my physician said she would prescribe the anti malarial pills but we are not 100% sold on taking them yet.

[2112]

You could read this for lots of information:

 

http://www.cdc.gov/Malaria/pdf/travelers.pdf

 

The key here is that mosquitos that transmit malaria are only active between dusk and dawn - and you will be on the ship during those hours. I have taken malaria pills for many a trip, but would never consider them for a day time only trip to Belize. You should be aware, however, that mosquitos that transmit Dengue Fever bite during the day and there are no pills or vaccine for Dengue Fever.

[fly_widget]

I agree with all that has been said. Check www.cdc.gov but also talk to your doctor. My doctor has referred me to a specific clinic in town that specializes in travel related health/immunizations, etc.

 

I used to travel quite a bit for work, and spent 2 weeks in Belize several years ago. I was in Belize City, not out in the jungle and did not take Malaria pills.

 

In regards to your husband's secretary's warnings, though, I did take Malaria pills before/during a trip to Southern India after the Tsunami and did not have any sickness or complications from taking the pills.

[Toyz711]

went to lamanai, didn't take any pills...neither did anyone else we have talked to. just remember, some of the pills have bad side effects...for just a couple of hours it wasn't worth it.

we didn't get bite an all at lamanai, which was a surprised since the day before (in santo tomas) everyone got bite bad!