Thiruvananthapuram Travel Forum

Thank you so much for your input. Last night I discovered the Thorn Tree forum from Lonely Planet and came across loads of antimalarials questions. Until I came across some upsetting news about this girl Kinga who hitchhicked her way to Africa from Poland and died of cerebral malaria in Ghana. Check out her website http://www.kingafreespirit.pl/kingaen/, it's IMPRESSIVE, beautiful and heartbreaking. So thank you guys, I will take my pills. Now the question is, which one? The side effects of Lariam (sp?) are absolutely frightening but the once a week thing is appealing. Anyone taking it? My other options are Malarone, Doxycycline and maybe Primaquine? Any recommandation? I'm calling my travel clinic today but as you can guess they didn't do a great job at recommanding me taking the drug in the first place... Thanks again for your replies :o)

Can you ask your private doctor? They usually are up on these things because the U.S. government sends alerts and advice to them about what people should be immunized against according to their destination.. or what drugs to take.

Check out the CDC http://www.cdc.gov/search.do?action=search&queryText=Malaria+India&x=0&y=0
If you spend some time there you will discover that not all of the drugs are equally effective in all parts of the world, so the first consideration is which of them is best for the area that you are travelling in?

Yes Kinga freespirit died of cerebral malaria - but she refused to take any preventatives and when she first got sick wouldn't go to the doctor or the hospital either. Don't copy her!!

Like the above posts say, it is important to start taking the correct malarial prophylactic drug for the area you will be visiting. We both got malaria in SE Asia once, even though we were taking our medicine, but since we had moved a bit from country-to-country, suddenly it was the wrong drug, as the malarial strain was different. No problem, though, as we got treated within 24 hours, and it went away fast. In my opinion, most family doctors are not up-to-speed on what to prescribe, and you are better off doing your own preliminary research on that Centers for Disease Control website, or speaking to a tropical disease/travel specialist doc. Yes, Larium can be scary, although I didn't have any side-effects. Falciparum malaria is the type you do not want to get!

I've taken Lariam half-a-dozen times (East Africa, India, Brazil) without anything like "frightening" results. My dreams were more vivid, that's all (and they were not nightmares).

I took Malarone last year (Cambodia and Vietnam) with no ill effects at all.

I've relied on the Centers for Disease Control's advice. Google "CDC."

Thanks you guys. I have a prescription for malarone now.. Marianne, how was your experience with the illness? Did you completely recover? I've heard of possible relapses..

No, our malaria was gone in about 24-48 hours after the appropriate doctor-ordered treatment, and it was years ago, with no recurrence ever. If you ever get it, the symptoms are unmistakable. You'll be burning up with heat, and even the soles of your feet will feel like you're walking on hot coals. Then, the next minute, your body tries to "correct" itself, and dives you into this trembling icy-cold feeling, and even in 90 degree heat, you're wrapped in a big blanket and just cannot get warm again, until the high fever returns in a few hours. Just get to a doctor. The appropriate drug therapy, started in advance of travel, and lots of attention to covering yourself with mosquito repellant (such as DEET), will prevent this. So don't worry too much!

Wow marianne, that sounds terrible..Well I'll stick to my malarone, thanks ned but my dreams are vivid enough! use my repellent and won't worry too much as you said. Cheers all :O)

Hey RELAX..... You will surely not die as happened to that lady in Ghana. For one, India is much better positioned medically than any other country. Medical tourism is big biz in India and we have people from all the developed nations coming to India for a effective and low cost cure.

Mosquitos exist, as they exist in tropical countries but unless you intend to dress down and go in a jungle, YOU ARE going to be OK. Now there are other dangers (just like other places) which is if you want to try something like hitch hiking for a long distance all alone.

But relax, buy bottled water ( costs about Rs 10 to 15 per bottle of 1 litre), enjoy the beach, the ayurvedic treatment and let us know if you need any help.

Best wishes & Cheers,

Thanks Anjan, I've come down a great deal already! And I've done a lot more research too. For one, you're right, Kerala is filled with doctors, it is after all the medical capital of India. Drugs are much cheaper over there too and so I will, instead of spending over $200 on malarone here, wait till I get there and get the same effective drug for much less. And no you won't see me hitchhike in a mini dress, Anjan :)

Great. Some basic preparations :
- Be prepared for lot of noise. We like to create traffic noise, honking etc.
- Expect to see a lot of people. Afterall, we are 1 billion plus.
- Bring an umbrella or some basic rain gear. You may expect early onset of monsoon.

Cheers,