Yellow Fever

[Beachless]

Because they don't work and are only prescribed by doctors in SA because that's what they're told to do. Doctors in zim(many many malaria areas) will specifically advise against it.

The pills mask test results so if you get malaria you test negative and therefore aren't treated, had a friend this happened to and he ended up with cerebral malaria because doctors refused to treat the malaria because he took the pills and tests were negative.

Use sprays, nets etc as they are just as effective as the pills and wont mess up tests results. If you do catch malaria the treatment is very effective and you'll be up and about relatively quickly.

I always hear this masking story but I have not met a doctor that has stated anything else than take the meds and that includes doctors that go to malaria areas often. Personally I wont chance it and telling someone on a forum especially someone from overseas where they have no notion of just how dangerous malaria is is reckless IMO.
If you have a study where they state its better not to take the medication I would love to see it but everything I see says the prophylactics are effective.

 

[BigAl-sa]

I always hear this masking story but I have not met a doctor that has stated anything else than take the meds and that includes doctors that go to malaria areas often. Personally I wont chance it and telling someone on a forum especially someone from overseas where they have no notion of just how dangerous malaria is is reckless IMO.
If you have a study where they state its better not to take the medication I would love to see it but everything I see says the prophylactics are effective.

erm, you haven't met my GP then (or others like him)...

 

[^^vampire^^]

Hi Vampire,

Thanks a lot. Any advice for which herbal tablets to look for. I don't care about the money much. I want good stuff. Where can i get them from? The same for the bracelets. Which brand would you suggest and where to get them from. Do you know any travel doctors in Edenvale/East JHB area by any chance?
Thanks again for your help

Can't remember the name but bought it from this shop:
Best of Nature | Health Shop | Randburg
Telephone
011 791 1743

Always use it and never gotten malaria Maybe give them a call maybe they can tell you the name and where else to buy it.


EDIT: Product name is Artemisinin

 

[Velenoso]

Clinic at O.R Tambo International. I was refused boarding on a flight to the DRC. Made me go down there and get it. I think I paid R600 for it.

 

[bavmorda]

Can't remember the name but bought it from this shop:
Best of Nature | Health Shop | Randburg
Telephone
011 791 1743

Always use it and never gotten malaria Maybe give them a call maybe they can tell you the name and where else to buy it.


EDIT: Product name is Artemisinin

Thanks Vampire and thanks to the other guys. I will give them a call tomorrow and find out. I see that most of the guys are suggesting not to take any pills, but this is not how i feel. I prefer taking pills. I'm not going to take the chance and end up in a hospital, which at the end will probably cost me more. Regarding the bracelets, any good brand that you guys can recommend.
Last question, I'm using Mortein liquid, the one that you plugging in the electric plug. Works the best for me and I'm using it here all the time. Is it going to work in Zanzibar and against their mosquitoes. Dono, they might be a different breed. What do you think guys. If that works I'm going to buy one and just leave it on during the whole week. Out side will wear bands. That should do the trick also i hope.

 

[bwana]

Thanks Vampire and thanks to the other guys. I will give them a call tomorrow and find out. I see that most of the guys are suggesting not to take any pills, but this is not how i feel. I prefer taking pills. I'm not going to take the chance and end up in a hospital, which at the end will probably cost me more. Regarding the bracelets, any good brand that you guys can recommend.
Last question, I'm using Mortein liquid, the one that you plugging in the electric plug. Works the best for me and I'm using it here all the time. Is it going to work in Zanzibar and against their mosquitoes. Dono, they might be a different breed. What do you think guys. If that works I'm going to buy one and just leave it on during the whole week. Out side will wear bands. That should do the trick also i hope.

Smart move, but but don't leave it too late. Some anti malarials such as Larium need to be started at least two weeks before you leave - then once a week while you're there and then for the four weeks following your return.

The plug in repellant should work. If you're staying in a decent hotel they should also spray and mosquito nets will be available.

 

[Willie Trombone]

You can get herbal tablets for malaria prevention, I've always use them and never had a problem.
Never use the chemical malaria tablets, they are extremely dangerous.

:wtf:

Malanil - no funky side effects (droogies, vivid dreams), start taking a day before, 1 a day during and 1 a day after for a week. Not cheap though - about R35-40 per tab. They'll sort out your toxoplasma at the same time

Mortein liquid stuff will work. Your lodge will likely spray the rooms around evening. The big thing is to wear long sleeves and pants after dusk - that's when they are active. Tabard on the skin is the best - way better than mozzie bracelets.

 

[Willie Trombone]

Because they don't work and are only prescribed by doctors in SA because that's what they're told to do. Doctors in zim(many many malaria areas) will specifically advise against it.

The pills mask test results so if you get malaria you test negative and therefore aren't treated, had a friend this happened to and he ended up with cerebral malaria because doctors refused to treat the malaria because he took the pills and tests were negative.

Use sprays, nets etc as they are just as effective as the pills and wont mess up tests results. If you do catch malaria the treatment is very effective and you'll be up and about relatively quickly.

erm, you haven't met my GP then (or others like him)...

Glad I haven't met your GP!
http://www.malaria.org.za/Malaria_Risk/General_Information/general_information.html

"It is better not to take any prophylaxis, as it masks the symptoms and makes diagnosis difficult"

This is incorrect. Not to take prophylaxis when visiting a malaria area puts travellers at risk of contracting a dangerous and life-threatening disease.

Prophylactic drugs suppress parasite development, and therefore, even if not totally effective (due to partial drug resistance or non-compliance), symptoms tend to take longer to appear, may be less severe at first and development of complications is retarded. In the complete absence of drugs, parasites are able to multiply at phenomenal rates, and malaria can quickly get out of hand, and lead to severe complications and death.

Malaria is sometimes difficult to diagnose the standard way (by microscope) because malaria parasites are present in the peripheral blood only during a fever spell. If a finger prick is taken between fever spells, it is possible that the parasites are not picked up. As prophylaxis retards the parasite multiplication, it may indeed make diagnosis more difficult initially, but repeated blood smears or new and very sensitive dip-stick type tests will usually confirm malaria well before the patient is dangerously ill.

http://www.fightingmalaria.org/faq.aspx#do malaria prophylactics

Do malaria prophylactics mask the symptoms of malaria?

No. This is a myth. It is important to take prophylactics if you are going to a malaria area, especially if you have no immunity to the disease. If you take prophylactics and still get infected with the malaria parasites, it may ensure that the initial stages of the disease are less severe and that complications will be slower to arise. This can buy you important time in which to seek medical help that could save your life.

Mefloquine (Lariam®) is a highly effective weekly dosage prophylactic, but it does require a doctor's prescription because it has some contraindications. Malarone® (atovaquone and proguanil HCI) is another highly effective fixed-dose treatment, and also requires a prescription and has mild side-effects. Doxycycline, an antibiotic, is also effective and should be used when other prophylactics are unsuitable. Another prophylaxis is the combination of Proguanil and Chloroquine; however resistance to these drugs is widespread in southern Africa.

Taking antimalarials only masks the disease.

http://www.drwisetravel.com/malaria.html
Not exactly a myth, but a misunderstanding. In fact, it is true. Most antimalarials do not prevent infection following a mosquito bite. Rather, they kill the parasites as they enter our red blood cells. This prevents them from multiplying, invading other red blood cells, and clogging arteries to our brain and other vital organs. As a result we don't suffer the fevers, chills, headaches and other joys of malaria. We continue our antimalarials for four weeks after leaving a malarious area in the hope that they will continue to mask, or suppress any symptoms until the risk of disease has likely passed. Malarone, as I mentioned, kills the parasites while they are still in the liver, so only needs to be taken for seven days after leaving the malarious area.

http://www.health24.com/Medical/Malaria/All-about-prevention/Malaria-things-you-should-know-20120721

The following anti-malarial medication is available in South Africa:

MEFLOQUINE
Brand names: Lariam or Mefliam
Dosage: One tablet a week, starting treatment one week before travelling to a malaria area and continue treatment for four weeks after your return.
About: Mefloquine is very effective in preventing all forms of malaria in most parts of the world. Due to its side effects it is recommended that people who have known psychiatric problems should not use this drug.
Side effects: Mefloquine may cause an upset stomach, drowsiness and dizziness, and could also have neuropsychiatic side effects such as unusual dreams, hallucinations, depression, anxiety, psychosis and seizures. It can also impair balance and fine motor co-ordination and is not to be used by pilots or scuba divers.
ATOVAQUONE/PROGUANIL
Brand name: Malanil
Dosage: Take one tablet daily starting one day before going to a malaria-risk area. Take this dosage while travelling and continue for seven days after you return.
About: This combination has been shown in various studies to be very effective in preventing malaria in areas where drug-resistance is a problem.
Side effects: The most common side effects are stomach pain, nausea, vomiting and headache.
DOXYCYCLINE
Brand names: Doximal and Doxitab
Dosage: Take one tablet daily starting one day before travelling to a malaria-risk area. Continue taking Doxycycline throughout and continue for four weeks after leaving the region.
About: Doxycycline is particularly useful in areas where there is both chloroquine and mefloquine drug-resistance, or for people who cannot take either of the two drugs.
Side effects: It may cause an upset stomach, headache or skin irregularity. Doxycycline may also make your skin sensitive to sunlight and decreases the efficacy of some oral contraceptives. It should not be taken by pregnant women or children younger than 10 years, since it can interfere with growing teeth and bones.

 

[^^vampire^^]

Thanks Vampire and thanks to the other guys. I will give them a call tomorrow and find out. I see that most of the guys are suggesting not to take any pills, but this is not how i feel. I prefer taking pills. I'm not going to take the chance and end up in a hospital, which at the end will probably cost me more. Regarding the bracelets, any good brand that you guys can recommend.
Last question, I'm using Mortein liquid, the one that you plugging in the electric plug. Works the best for me and I'm using it here all the time. Is it going to work in Zanzibar and against their mosquitoes. Dono, they might be a different breed. What do you think guys. If that works I'm going to buy one and just leave it on during the whole week. Out side will wear bands. That should do the trick also i hope.

Buy yourself a Zapp'em Dead racket from PnP (looks like a tennis racket) - was R120, was a life saver when I was in Mozambique during December.

 

[bwana]

Buy yourself a Zapp'em Dead racket from PnP (looks like a tennis racket) - was R120, was a life saver when I was in Mozambique during December.

Finally something we can agree on. Fun for the whole family!

 

[Willie Trombone]

Finally something we can agree on. Fun for the whole family!

Define fun? Perhaps you don't have a family who insist on testing the battery on your ears

 

[Kosmik]

Buy yourself a Zapp'em Dead racket from PnP (looks like a tennis racket) - was R120, was a life saver when I was in Mozambique during December.

Must have sounded like machine gun fire. Couldn't believe the number of mosquito's in Bara and Vilankulos.

 

[Beachless]

:wtf:

Malanil - no funky side effects (droogies, vivid dreams), start taking a day before, 1 a day during and 1 a day after for a week. Not cheap though - about R35-40 per tab. They'll sort out your toxoplasma at the same time

You can get a generic now as well which is about 15% cheaper so I am hoping as it becomes more popular it will become cheaper still.

 

[Willie Trombone]

You can get a generic now as well which is about 15% cheaper so I am hoping as it becomes more popular it will become cheaper still.

I believe the patent expired last year - very good news!

 

[bavmorda]

Buy yourself a Zapp'em Dead racket from PnP (looks like a tennis racket) - was R120, was a life saver when I was in Mozambique during December.

I will. PnP has special at the moment for 99 bucks. How does it work. Picture too small to be able to see much.
Thanks again to all the guys. Guys give me some good brand for bracelets.

 

[mike6870]

Oh, vaccinations...I though you got a chinese girlfriend.

 

[Willie Trombone]

I will. PnP has special at the moment for 99 bucks. How does it work. Picture too small to be able to see much.
Thanks again to all the guys. Guys give me some good brand for bracelets.

Takes aaa or aa batteries and packs a decent low current, higher volt punch when you touch the metal. Deadly to most smaller insects.

 

[^^vampire^^]

Must have sounded like machine gun fire. Couldn't believe the number of mosquito's in Bara and Vilankulos.

You wouldn't believe the feeling of satisfaction when you fry the little bastards. Machine gun fire is right, so many of theme everywhere!

 

[bavmorda]

Clinic at O.R Tambo International. I was refused boarding on a flight to the DRC. Made me go down there and get it. I think I paid R600 for it.

Just in case someone else needs to do it. Phoned them today. They are open 24H a day, no appointment needed. R.550 for the shot. This is great. It is like 10km from my place. Going there tomorrow.

 

[bavmorda]

Can't remember the name but bought it from this shop:
Best of Nature | Health Shop | Randburg
Telephone
011 791 1743

Always use it and never gotten malaria Maybe give them a call maybe they can tell you the name and where else to buy it.


EDIT: Product name is Artemisinin

Have contacted those guys as well. The name of the product is Artemisia. Looked around on the I-net, quite positive reviews. Could not find one person posting that got malaria after taking those pills. Has any one here on the forum used them and what was your impression. Are they working? Price is decent as well. R 91 for 30 tablets, which is more then i need. Staying there for 7 days.