Ko Chang Travel Forum

Hi everyone, we are planning to travel to Ko Chang around mid March, for a week or so. Our doctor tells us from their charts that the island is a malaria risk, more so than the rest of Thailand.

What do you think are genuinely the risks here? We are trying to get away without taking any anti-malarial drugs, as we are concerned with the side effects they may have.

We would appreciate any advice if you have first hand knowledge of this.

Thanks!

why would your doctor lie to you?

It is well known that doctors have information which is not particularly accurate, in the sense that they only get a blanket coverage. For example they say the whole of Cambodia is Malarial, whereas in actual fact many parts of it are considered malaria free.

So, if anyone has any constructive advice on Ko Chang, I would be interested.

You could try reading here http://iamkohchang.com/KC_Essentials/a-z.htm and scroll down to malaria. This is a very good site with loads of info on Koh Chang. Hope this helps, Barry

That's just the sort of thing I was looking for - thanks :-)

Sounds like malaria is one of the lesser things to be worrying about.

Hello,

I would agree if you go to a travel doctor they will know this. My doctor used CDC website and was full of useful info. It would talk about areas within a country like rural versus urban, specific provinces etc... Ko Chang is where I am going in 2 weeks and I am taking one pill where i take it 2 days before i arrive and take it each day till i leave thailand and then 7 days after. because i am also going to rural china i have a different malaria drug i should take because each only work in specific areas like Ko Chang versus rural china. Anyways you should also make sure you have your tetanus, polio etc... as adults tend to not follow up with basic immunization. In total I have 5 drugs for 3 countries and one is in case of severe diaheria. The point is if your going away you want to enjoy your time, my medication cost 215$ but in the end if i avoid being sick for a week when i spend 1000$ on my vacation it is so worth it and many of these medications last from 3 months to 20 years. Don't be cheap be prepare.

i forgot to add the side effects are miminal versus sickness and death even from some of these tropical drugs. if i have a headache i stick it out without meds as i think like you but when you have tropical dangers I would go protected. Miminal still means a chance just like anything else. It is like life insurance it is a waste of money till they pay out.