Anti malaria tablets for limpopo area South Africa.

[Tom89]

Hi, has anyone been to limpopo on south Africa and if so what did you do for malaria. As I've seen information that says its a low risk area and anti malaria drugs are not needed bit I've also seen information saying to use them so I'm a bit confused. Also My travel nurse has mentioned that mefloquine has side effects of hallucinations etc has anyone had this problem? Cheers

 

[rik_uk3]

All drugs have side effects, Aspirin to Morphine so you need to think about and then take your pick

http://www.doctorfox.co.uk/news/malaria-tablets-side-effects/

100 people here could have taken one type without problems and you could be the unlucky one (as with pretty much any medication). Try them before you go if you have time.

 

[Bluffer]

Tom, that is a high risk area and you are in the bush for a while.

You will need one of the more powerful antimalarials.

The nurse is duty bound to warn you about mefloquine, it is his/her job, it does not necessarily mean it will cause you a problem.

You will need to take it before travel, so if you react to mef you have the chance of changing it out for something else, doxy for example will protect against diarrhoea but at the risk of making you susceptible to sunburn.

For what it's worth, I once took mefloquine for a year and had no problems.

This is your best reference http://www.nathnac.org/ds/c_pages/country_page_ZA.htm

 

[sandbender]

Hi, has anyone been to limpopo on south Africa and if so what did you do for malaria. As I've seen information that says its a low risk area and anti malaria drugs are not needed bit I've also seen information saying to use them so I'm a bit confused. Also My travel nurse has mentioned that mefloquine has side effects of hallucinations etc has anyone had this problem? Cheers

I have had no probs with anti-malarials except on one occasion where I bit the inside of my mouth and the wound then refused to heal, for weeks! The risk associated with an area may be seasonal, check the situation for the time you will be there.

 

[John Fenna]

I have always used Doxy when in malarial Africa - with no problems.
A daily dose of antibiotic.
I have seen other folk have severe photo sensitive reaction to it though.
I have seen folk on Meflo have mild LSD type "trips" and one had "flash back " trips afterwards. Very few of the folk I saw using Meflo were side effect free.

 

[severebrainfailure]

We use mef for a year in east africa without trouble. Quite vivid dreams were the only side effect i experienced ...

 

[Bluffer]

All good points, obviously the first thing we should have said is that your best defence is not to be bitten by insects, the tablets should be your last line of defence.