Some advice needed please
We have been going to Goa since 1997 & have only ever taken malaria tablets once & they made us really I'll, I know things have moved on (& we have been really lucky). We now have a little boy aged 4.5 & this will be our 3rd trip with him.
Our GP has said that the risk ov catching malaria is variable not low as it usually is, & has advised malarone paediatric 4 our son? I just don't want him to feel ill on them (& I know this is preventative against a killer disease) but unsure what to do? I've spoken to my friend in candolim & he says they have the syrup at their pharmacy but have read the previous posts relating to this, can anyone advise?
Thank u

Are you saying that in the past you've taken him without giving him any prophylatic in the past? I know that probability odds don't work that way but my gut reaction is that one of these days your luck will run out. Personally, I wouldn't want to ever take that risk with a child - as an adult it's up to you to weigh up the risks and decide for yourself but he can't at his age. And I suppose that what's running through my mind is 'How will he feel in later life towards you if he catches this disease - knowing that you could have done something to prevent this but didn't?' Kids have become estranged from their parents for less. I'm not trying to guilt trip you - I just think that you need to think through some of the possible longer term consequences as part of making your decision.

It's not just that Malaria can kill children - he probably stands a better chance of surviving the initial attack than the local kids in many Malarial areas do because he will be better nourished and sturdier in the first place - but that it's a chronic incurable condition with the ever present risk of suffering debilitating recurring acute attacks for the rest of your life. What's worse - feeling ill for a short time whilst taking the medication? Or getting a disease that puts you at risk of becoming really ill at unpredictable times for the rest of your life? And believe me, acute attacks are awful to witness let alone experience.

Also, remember that you will need to start the course of treatment before you go so if you do decide that this time you will give him Malarone as suggested by your GP, you shouldn't leave starting him on it until you arrive in Goa. OK, unlike some anti-malarial medications you only need to start taking Malarone 2 days before you go - but that means that if you don't start him on it until you arrive he's going to be vulnerable for the first 48 hrs of your holiday. And it only takes one bite from an infected mosquito.

SM

Totally agree SMa

Thank u for your advice SM we've got another 2 weeks before we go so going go get the malarone sorted, I just hope that he doesn't have a bad reaction to it?
Thanx

There are never 100% guarantees that someone won't react to a drug or medicine but your GP has presumably checked your son's medical notes, weighed up all the pros and cons and decided that there are no contra-indicators that would make it risky for him to take it or he wouldn't have advised that you give him the paediatric version of Malarone.

SM

I gave malaorne to my son when we went to goa 2 yrs ago and he was fine, also my friend gave it to her 2 kids who were with us, four of us adults took malarone tablets and we were all fine. Better to be safe

Thought I would have a look round for info on the malaria tablets we brought back last year, but not coming up with anything, they are Chloroquine Phosphate tablets.

We visited the chemist in Candolim last year and were sold a different type from previous years (used to be 6 in a strip - 1 tablet a week for 6 weeks.
This time we have a strip with 5 tablets, but not too sure of when or how to take (other than the info on the pack) which if I am right -
1st dose - 2 tablets
Day one, after six hours - 1 tablet
Day 2, 24 hours after 1st dose - 1 tablet
Day 3, 48 hours after 1st dose - 1 tablet

Are these supposed to be taken prior to arriving in Goa (used to start treatment 1 week before departure)
I know a lot who still don't bother with them, and others who will tell me these aren't any use, but if anyone is using the said tablets any advice please.

Sorry cant help Spike but I did read a post a while back on TA where someone had posted the instructions fr a packet of Anti Maleria pills they bought out there and the instructions were actually for the treatment of Maleria sounds like your instructions could be for that

The dosage you describe are for the treatment of malaria NOT the prevention of it.

The tablets can be used for prevention at the rate of 1 tablet per week for 6 weeks. I would double check with your practice nurse at your GP to double check.

Thanks for the help. Still only 5 tablets so can't take for 6 weeks. He is a good chemist (aren't they all in Goa ?) we have used him for 15 years, but now wondering why he sold us tablets for treatment rather than just the ones for prevention, even though the treatment tablets double up as prevention ones..

Spike, I think I have the same tablets. The brand name on mine is Lariago.ds We got them from the chemist in Candolim.
Found this about dosage
http://www.drugs.com/dosage/chloroquine.html
Hope that helps.
We usually take the daily ones as well ( 2 x 100mg Proguanil hydrochloride )
See you soon.
Gail

Cheers Gail, most helpful. The brand name on these are Resochin-DS.

I have Chloroquine Phosphate tablets here too, with the name Loroquin on the strip. You can have them mate because i dont need them because im not going

Cheers Alan, if we are still on for a meet up in Leeds Saturday, stick 'em in your pocket. Text/e-mail me plans and ideas for Saturday, ta.

Malaria drug banned by US Army.

The US army has banned it's troops from taking the controversial anti-malarial drug mefloquine - sold to British travellers as lariam. There have been serious concerns over larium's side effects since it was licensed for sale in Britain in 1990 , but it's use is still recommended by the Health Protection Agency, the NHS and the official travel-health advice site Nathnac.

I had used malarone tablets and I was never ill on them, only had one night where I seemed to have experienced a slight side effect (weird vivid dream) but fortunately in the morning I laughed it off and it did not freak me out, but I was still very wary whilst taking it, so can understand your concern. However better to be safe than sorry, always go with doctors recommendations.

I was recommended this site via my GP surgeries travel clinic nurse and it states that the risk of contracting Malaria in Goa has been reassessed

Do not be fooled with anybody that wrongly states that you now do not need to take Malaria precautions including tablets.

You CAN still get malaria in Goa.

Read all the info as it depends on several factors on deciding what is correct for you and see your travel clinic specialist to help reach that decision.

http://www.nathnac.org/ds/c_pages/country_page_in.htm

This does get very complicated. I will go back to my doctor again before I travel and re-check with them as I am going for 3 months I don't mind taking tablets as I don't get any adverse effects from them. What does worry me more is the fact that I don't seem to be able to get typhoid vaccine as I was told there is a shortage as it is being sent abroad! Surely we should be looked after before sending it all abroad.

Hi BrenLiz

Have a read of the link it is quite helpful. Regarding the shortage of Typhoid injections it's quite strange as we needed them two years ago and we were told the same thing. I travelled to a dedicated travel clinic in the end but it was hard going trying to find out who had had it.

I do remember speaking to the pharmacist who said he could order it? May be worth trying that route.