Malaria in Thailand?
12 November 2002, 09:39 PM
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I would say Malaria is the worst of your worries about what u might catch out there 
Seriously tho if it was me then I would still have the jabs as prevention is better than cure, not that there is one for Malaria
Lecturer at Uni had Malaria and he was one fcuked up bloke bcos of it
He was off ill more than the students were!
Just to add that was years and years after he had actually got Malaria and apparently it never leaves your system once u got it! Don't know if thats accurate, just what I remember being told.
[Edited by ************** - 12/11/2002 9:41:55 PM]
Seriously tho if it was me then I would still have the jabs as prevention is better than cure, not that there is one for Malaria
Lecturer at Uni had Malaria and he was one fcuked up bloke bcos of it
He was off ill more than the students were! Just to add that was years and years after he had actually got Malaria and apparently it never leaves your system once u got it! Don't know if thats accurate, just what I remember being told.
[Edited by ************** - 12/11/2002 9:41:55 PM]
12 November 2002, 11:04 PM
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Well aware that malaria is not far short of AIDS on the scarey scale.
But I've heard what Kevin says - simply not worth it. Pity you mentioned Mae Hong Son though, we were looking at that for a few days!
Bit late to start the jabs, I was told they are a 4-6mth course before leaving. How about pills?
Yes please Kevin, do post the contact, though I doubt we'd be using it - the wife does not like being a rear passenger in a fast car. Frankly, she doesn't like being a front passenger in a fast car.
However, if I direct her to the nearest silk market for the day...
Too lazy to search. Is there a malaria map on the Net somewhere?
[Edited by Brendan Hughes - 12/11/2002 11:06:42 PM]
But I've heard what Kevin says - simply not worth it. Pity you mentioned Mae Hong Son though, we were looking at that for a few days!
Bit late to start the jabs, I was told they are a 4-6mth course before leaving. How about pills?
Yes please Kevin, do post the contact, though I doubt we'd be using it - the wife does not like being a rear passenger in a fast car. Frankly, she doesn't like being a front passenger in a fast car.
However, if I direct her to the nearest silk market for the day...
Too lazy to search. Is there a malaria map on the Net somewhere?
[Edited by Brendan Hughes - 12/11/2002 11:06:42 PM]
11 December 2002, 08:51 PM
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We're off to Thailand next week for a month 
. Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Krabi/Similian, if all goes to plan.
Puzzled about this malaria thing though. Lonely Planet book says occasional areas have a risk of malaria. The embassy says there is no problem. No sources seem to match. We wanted to get a set of jabs over the previous six months and were pretty much advised against bothering.
I normally wear long clothes as otherwise I sunburn, so that reduces the risk, but is there any sensible advice? Wasn't G&T invented by Brits in India as the tonic water had quinine in it? Any other old wives' or local solutions, like eating lots of chili and you stink so bad the mozzies don't come near you?
And yeah, I know to stay away from discos on new year's eve
Thanks
Brendan
. Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Krabi/Similian, if all goes to plan.Puzzled about this malaria thing though. Lonely Planet book says occasional areas have a risk of malaria. The embassy says there is no problem. No sources seem to match. We wanted to get a set of jabs over the previous six months and were pretty much advised against bothering.
I normally wear long clothes as otherwise I sunburn, so that reduces the risk, but is there any sensible advice? Wasn't G&T invented by Brits in India as the tonic water had quinine in it? Any other old wives' or local solutions, like eating lots of chili and you stink so bad the mozzies don't come near you?
And yeah, I know to stay away from discos on new year's eve
Thanks
Brendan
11 December 2002, 09:42 PM
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Spent some time in Chaing Mai and Chaing Rai - we had to get the doctor in Chaing Mai as my other half had strained her neck on the flight from Amsterdam to Hong Kong. Anyway, local doctor said there wasn't a malaria problem in Thailand, only place you might find it is in the very north east Mae Hong Son area on the Burma border. We were on tablets as well as the Jab, doctor said we'd be as well throwing them in the bin.
Chaing Mai is a fantastic place - can put you in touch with a local guide who showed us around if you like. He works for 'Cult car tours' who hire STi's and Evo's to blast around the jungle.
Did an overnight in BK and went to all the places you've heard about
Kevin.
Chaing Mai is a fantastic place - can put you in touch with a local guide who showed us around if you like. He works for 'Cult car tours' who hire STi's and Evo's to blast around the jungle.
Did an overnight in BK and went to all the places you've heard about
Kevin.
11 December 2002, 11:18 PM
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According to my Mrs' BNF (doctor's drug guide book), Thailand is "Very low risk", "no prophylaxis recommended but consider malaria if fever present". There is, however, a "low but significant risk" near the borders with Cambodia and Myanmar. 
The best recommendation (this might sound daft) is just not to get bitten in the first place! I think prevention is certainly better than the cure in this case.
Try and cover up in the evenings if you can (esp around dusk) and just use loads of mossie repellant
Have fun.
The best recommendation (this might sound daft) is just not to get bitten in the first place! I think prevention is certainly better than the cure in this case.
Try and cover up in the evenings if you can (esp around dusk) and just use loads of mossie repellant
Have fun.
12 December 2002, 07:01 AM
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I'm also in Krabi over Christmas. There are some maps at http://w3.whosea.org/malaria/malaincidence.htm and http://w3.whosea.org/malaria/malincithai.htm The main areas look ok already according to those maps, Krabi is a risk area. Having had one malaria fright already this year after visiting Thailand - turned out I was in the clear - I'm seriously tempted to take something this time.
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12 December 2002, 07:46 AM
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I was in Thailand for 6weeks, spent most of the time in Bangkok, Koh samui, and Had Yai no probs then but I did have to take anti-malarials when I went down to a town further south close to the malasian border.
Andy
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12 December 2002, 06:03 PM
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One of the drugs for protecting against malaria in Thailand is
Mefloquine ( adult dose: 250 mg taken once a week). This could change in future, if Thailand gets more resistant strains of the parasites.
Anyway those are just my opinions
Just notice that someone would like to know more information about taking the drug for malaria prevention too.
Start taking 250 mg mefloquine once a week before arriving, and then taking 250 mg mefloquine each week.Take mefloquine once a week, on the same day each week, while in the malaria-risk area.Then you have to keep taking it once a week for 4 weeks after leaving the malaria-risk area.
Mefloquine should be taken after meal.
Best wish
[Edited by coffee - 12/12/2002 6:37:43 PM]
Mefloquine ( adult dose: 250 mg taken once a week). This could change in future, if Thailand gets more resistant strains of the parasites.
Anyway those are just my opinions
Just notice that someone would like to know more information about taking the drug for malaria prevention too.
Start taking 250 mg mefloquine once a week before arriving, and then taking 250 mg mefloquine each week.Take mefloquine once a week, on the same day each week, while in the malaria-risk area.Then you have to keep taking it once a week for 4 weeks after leaving the malaria-risk area.
Mefloquine should be taken after meal.
Best wish
[Edited by coffee - 12/12/2002 6:37:43 PM]
13 December 2002, 10:32 AM
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Steve and coffee - many thanks! As we won't be going to the wilds for some days, I think we can start soon and we're covered!
coffee - where are you in Thailand?
coffee - where are you in Thailand?
13 December 2002, 10:45 AM
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Just back from 2 weeks in Bangkok & Phucket....
Can report no Mossie's around in Bangkok, your more likely to get stung by a nice little bar girl
Not many in Phucket, night time mainly. I covered up and was ok.
Enjoy !!!!!!!
J
Can report no Mossie's around in Bangkok, your more likely to get stung by a nice little bar girl
Not many in Phucket, night time mainly. I covered up and was ok.
Enjoy !!!!!!!
J
