this is a post that i sent a little while back to another thread also discussing malaria and meds....

My husband and I have both experienced malaria....whilst taking anit-malaria meds..........remember - no medication guarantees 100% effectiveness!
Malaria is a serous and is sometimes a fatal disease....and, at present, there is no vaccination against malaria.
it is true that sometimes the locals of a country may have 'some' in-built protection but there are more indigenous deaths due to malaria in Africa then of AIDS.

When travelling through Africa my husband and I took doxycycline as we required a medication for prolonged use. It was effective as we did not suffer from malaria whilst in Africa....but we were always using other precautions as well...ie spray, covering up etc.

However, whilst in South America we suffered two very bad attacks of malaria - whilst also taking doxy...(Strain- plasmodium vivax..the most common) This was however, not due to the lack of effectivenss due to the drug but to illness and vomiting which reduced the drugs ability to be effective! I was unable to reach other meds or a hospital for almost 2 weeks....during this time the situation just worsens. Once admitted I suffered temps of 42 degs....and things excreting from every orifice for 6 days...there is always a risk of coma in this scenario.

Self medication may work in very mild cases but this can be a killer and correct treatment should be sought. The parasites can remain in your liver for many months or even years before once again becoming active.....so you think your self-medication has worked.....it has usually just succeded in laying the parisites dormant for a while.

One option is to carry with you the tablets Cloroquine and Primaquine...both available abroad easily....but only via prescription in the UK. But you should always discuss proper usage of these meds with a doctor before-hand so you know how to adminster them correctly.
as mentioned above - there are side effects with taking doxycycline - but these are usually mild and in the form of sensitivity to sunlight on the skin...and often this is short term only.

We have now used doxycycline in all areas - high risk etc - for a period of 4 and half years on and off....

for more information on MALARIA PRECAUTIONS visite the site
fitfortravel home page
and for information on medications try the link for the same site.....
http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/Gener...prophylax.html

I hope this helps.....
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Lisa
www.2ridetheworld.com