Malaria

I don%26#39;t think there is any need for anti malaria medication for the areas we will be visiting in Thailand. However, we are going to visit Luang Prabang for about 8 days. Looking at the CDC map it recommends meds. Any suggestions.

Malaria

There are a million posts asking this question. The following is simply my opinion(and has been while traveling throughout Asia for more than 20 years)-

If you want to ply your body with unneccessary medications, go ahead. Long sleeved shirts and pants and a good supply of bugspray will suffice, though. If you are even more concerned, bring mosquito coils and a bednet. Dengue fever is even more of a problem these days and meds ain%26#39;t gonna help prevent that!

Better advice would be to get your hep A %26amp; B shots and a tetanus booster. Cheers!

Malaria

I endorse above advice. It is a personal decision but I have always found these precautions suffice. Abugspray of bare parts before venturing out of an evening is the most important act.

I have never found bug spray a 100% solution against getting bitten-I just seem to be prone to bites .I take malarone as a precaution -but as other posters say it is a personal decision

Clothing works wonders to prevent against mozzie bites. Most falang insist on revealing so much of their bods that it is a feeding frenzy for hungry mosquitoes...

As we went to Laos with a large family we were concerned about Malaria but followed Maneki-neko and others advice by covering up in a major way. We also used repellent and took a homeopathic against Malaria each day.

Yes, we were all hotter from the long sleeves but our health was excellent and we didn%26#39;t have the stress of worry.

There is no way I was going to have our family taking medication while we were away so the natural commonsense way was the only path to take.

Enjoy Laos...it is so so beautiful!!

Use Ultrathon by 3M...you can purchase it on the Internet at travel stores...it%26#39;s the best protection you%26#39;ll find for mosquitoes. It%26#39;s been used and tested by the US military in the deep jungles of South America and proven effective. Safe and happy travels.

Just something to think about for those who dont believe in malaria prophylaxis.A malaria cluster was investigated by the NSW Dept of Heath and it was discovered they were all from the same group that trekked the Kokoda track in august 2006.38 in the group and they were all found.results-12 took malaria prophylaxis as reccomended-none got malaria.

24 took prophylaxis but missed doses-2 got malaria.

4 did not take any prophylaxis-4 got malaria.

19 used DEET-3 got malaria.

19 did not use DEET-3 got malaria.

30 of the 38 could not remember seeing mosquitoes. So prophylaxis worked,Deet did not.

Simply using DEET and using Ultrathon is not the same thing. DEET comes in many forms and not all are created equal.

I wonder how many sufered side effects evident either now or later. Also did they test for Dengue fever which is far more serious? What prophylactic protected against that, eh?

';I wonder how many sufered side effects evident either now or later. Also did they test for Dengue fever which is far more serious? What prophylactic protected against that, eh?';

Are you talking about the side effects of DEET or antimalarials?

Read the EPA report on National Parks workers in the Everglades Florida.Those that used DEET regularly suffered from insomnia,agitation and scored worse on tests of memory and comprehension than those who did not use DEET regularly.

If taking precautions did not stop malaria then it would not stop dengue either would it?

And the person who did not take antimalarials but used DEET,wore only long sleeved shirts and long trousers and took a bed net got malaria.Sure you can reduce your chances but you cant guarantee efficacy.

And I repeat-those that took antimalarials as advised did not get malaria.

advice and suggestions