I don't know what the actual statistical chances/probabilities of catching Malaria in Goa are - or for that matter anywhere I travel to where taking prophylactics is advised. I do know that having seen the effects that malaria can have on people who were infected in Africa and India in childhood and especially the long term effects that it had on a very good friend who contracted it, along with Hepatitis from probably the same mosquito bite, in Papua New Guinea in her mid-twenties, the risks would have to be extremely low for me to ever consider not taking anti-malarials. She died before she was 60 of what I truly believe were the consequences of having to be repeatedly treated for recurrent attacks. Malaria cannot be cured, only treated and the recurring acute attacks are extremely debilitating and potentially make you more susceptible to opportunistic infections.
I haven't been following the stats for England but up here in Scotland we have seen some very tragic deaths from Swine Flu this winter, children, old people and perhaps most tragically for her family, a pregnant Mum who never quite managed to get around to having the jab as recommended. Statistically her chances of catching swine flu and dieing might very well have been very low indeed but that makes no difference to her grieving family. The problem with assessing these things on the basis of 'How likely am I to catch this?' is that it all becomes irrelevant if you are the 1 in a 1,000 or even 1 in a 1,000,000 who catches it. For me, rather than asking 'What are my chances?', I focus in on asking 'What if I get it?' And for me, the what ifs are far more frightening than the possible side effects. Especially since the likelihood of damaging side effects is always going to be lower than the chances of catching the disease without them because if they weren't the drugs would never get licenced if the dangers of taking them exceeded the dangers of the disease they were designed to protect you from.
Being a tourist can be a protection against many diseases because, for example, your chances of drinking cholera infected water are remote if you stay in a tourist hotel and don't venture from areas were a supply of clean drinking water is always available. But being a tourist is no protection when it comes to being bitten by an infected mozzie - they can't tell the difference between a local and a tourist. Your chances of being bitten are no lower and potentially higher in some respects because of the things we do as tourists that the locals don't always do, such as wearing very skimpy clothing that exposes lots of bare skin in the first place. Or burning ourselves to a frazzle that means that we are radiating even more heat for the mozzies infra-red seeking sensors to home in on.
Also, we are just as much a source of infection as the mosquitoes, in that Malaria is spread by mosquitoes becoming infected with it as a result of biting infected individuals. The more we spread the disease around by going to countries were it is endemic, getting infected and coming home again the more likely that we are to build a sufficient pool of infection within the population that could result in it becoming endemic here in the long run. The spread of Malaria around the world has happened because human beings, not the mosquitoes, are travelling more around the world. For me, unless a docter advises me that the consequences for my health of taking anti-malarials (eg due to pre-existing medical condition) are greater than the consequences of catching malaria, I would always take them if I am travelling to an area where there is ANY risk of catching malaria.
Finally, I don't do the lottery because I think that when the chances are only 1 in 14 million that I'll win the Jackpot, even a £1 stake isn't worth losing but it doesn't stop lots of people from doing it each week. Or taking their chances on a really big win in the Euromillion lottery were the odds are even worse. Which suggests that they think that such odds still hold out the chance that they will be the one, yet some people are prepared to take the chance that they WON'T be the one who catches Malaria if they don't bother with anti-malarials even though the odds are lower and the risks higher.
SM
Great post, thanks.
we go but that is all, will I be able to buy the rest that I will need in or around Candolim.
Thanks
The Preacher
Great post about Malaria. It is rare for us to have a reaction and if we do it is just a feeling of going off our food for a day or so, having said that I was in bed for a day this time, but the first time i can say I have been ill in 12 visits. Will still take them next trip.
Can you get it in Candolim? Not the tablets, it's for our son.
Can't answer on whether you can get it there but just thought I would give you some information on the syrup. Not sure how old your son is, but we got it for our 6yr old to go the Domincan and in the end he really could not stomach the amount he had to take (it was 3 syringes full for his age) so we ended up crushing one Avloclor tablet in a yogurt for him and he found this much more palatable. The reason we got the syrup was because he has never took a tablet in his life, probably the same for most kids his age or younger but in the end that is what he took. Maybe you could do this?
chilly
it was my daughters ,next door neighbors sister,got home developed a cold went to doctor was told it was flu(yes she told him she had been in Goa)given paracetemol told to keep warm etc,it was actualy malaria she died saturday,my daughter rang me sunday in a panic in case me or her mother were ill or taking anti malarials
just as a matter of interest if you use Boots chemist,thiere magazine this month (free),it has an interesting article concerning malaria
Just been to get prescription from chemist they wanted £150.84p for 2 people tablets Shockin!! But said they have the same thats not on private prescription thats £30.00 Is this safe?? any help please xx
Buy the tablets when you get to Goa. They are so cheap at any chemist, we have been 10 times and always buy the tablets in Goa. I think, if memory is right, about £2 at the most, one tablet a week and one a week for two weeks when you get home.
Personally I wouldn't buy them in Goa for two reasons, you need protection on arrival and secondly, do you really know what you are buying?
IMHO, there are two main types of Malaria tablets for Goa. Malarone and the Paludrine/Avloclor Travel Pack.
Please read about both as both have side effects. The most popular tablets (mainly due to price) are the Paludrine/Avloclor Travel Pack. The pack is 112 tablets which start a week before travelling and four weeks after you return...yeh it's a pain but much better option than getting Malaria!!
Brennans Pharmacy has them on special offer at the moment @ £9.95 a pack per person....just got mine.
http://www.brennanspharmacy.co.uk/Product.aspx?pid=46&pc=0
I agree with Ian, not worth risking your health, my Dr gives me doxycycline as I get a bit sick with the paludrine ones, I take one a day 2 days before I go then one every day of the holiday and 2 weeks after, they are cheaper than the paludrine as well.
Always buy ours in Goa and bring enough home with us to start before the next holiday!The saving buys quite a bit of Honeybee
I agree with Ian that as the Paludrine and Avloclor tablets are so cheap here in the UK it's better to buy here knowing they are genuine. I paid about £20 for sufficient tablets for two of us for a month. Better to buy them separately than in those travel packs that have both in.
cheers Dave
as their skin reacts with the sun when they take it
Doxycycline is actually an antibiotic, and is often prescribed as such. All the normal caveats about antibiotics should apply - you do not want to help create antibiotic resistant bugs of any type.
So maybe a normal anti-malarial is safer. Always, always, talk to your GP before travel.
Also it's all true about the sun sensitivity side effects. I'm normally a mad dog Englishman who spends a lot of time in the Goan mid-day sun without seriously ill-effects.
However, back in 2008 when I'd been prescribed Doxycycline by my GP for a nasty infection, I went to Mexico in December, and instantly turned lobster red, even though it was very cloudy weather.
And - if taking doxycylcine do read the leaflet and be aware that you need to be vertical after taking them - never horizontal. So taking at bedtime isn't a good idea.
Have always taken the Paludrine/Avloclor Travel Packs (Proguanil Hydrochloride/Chloroquine Phosphate) in the past as advised by our GP. When in goa last year we got some Chloroquine Phosphate tablets from the chemist for our next trip (7rupees/10) but was told that Proguanil Hydrochloride are not available in goa.
Silentman both chloroquine and Proguanil are and always have been readily available in Goa,whoever told you different is sadly misinformed
dragon07 wrote:Silentman both chloroquine and Proguanil are and always have been readily available in Goa,whoever told you different is sadly misinformed
Thanks will try again this year
We always buy both every year and bring back extra to take the week before we travel, have just started taking them for our next trip at the end of this week.
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