Korean Job Discussion Forums

[t bear]

Im going to thailand on thursday, and I only just remembered about malaria. I went around a whole lot of pharmacies in my lil town and none had malaria pills. Does anyone know if they are available at the airport. Also is it too late to start a course of pills? or should I just not worry about it and use heaps of insect repellant?
cheers

[The Lemon]

I'd use the heaps of insect repellant, and maybe a mosquito net for sleeping if you're in a place that might have them flying around. Check where you're going on the CDC and WHO websites to see if malarial drugs are really necessary (Thai-Cambodian border, for instance..) The drugs have harmful side-effects in some cases, and aren't 100 percent effective anyway.

[camel96]

According to the CDC there's no malaria in Bangkok so you're 100% safe while you're there. When you arrive go into a pharmacy....specifically Boots (the big British chain). They almost always will have an English speaking pharmacist around. Ask them about it. You could pick up doxycyclne tablets. You take those every day, starting the day before you enter a malarial area and for 4 weeks after. I bought a bundle of them last time in Thailand for later. If I remember correctly it was 100 tablets for about $10. Dengue fever's becoming more of a problem these days anyhow and malaria tabs don't protect you against that.
Having said all this, it's not really a good idea to take medical advice from anyone on a website like this.
Have fun.

[viva]

After doing some research for my trip to Thailand in December I learned that Malaria is only a big risk in you are travelling the the Thai/Cambodia border area. All other areas are (relatively) Malaria free.

Larium is the only anti-malarial that you need to take for weeks in advance (and it is not highly recommended due to serious side effects). Malerone and Doxy-cyclyn can be taken closer to departure. (I beleive something like 2-3 days before entering a Malaria area) I was able to get Malerone from my regular doctor here in Korea before leaving and it was really cheap.

Wear light clothing, and bring lots of bug dope. Its the bugs at dusk that you have to worry about. And bring lots of sun screen because some of the Malaria drugs make you more sensative to the sun.

[Alkiwi]

You don't need it for Thailand. You begin to take Doxy on the day you enter a malaria zone. I agree with the Larium call, stay away from it unless you want crazy dreams and hallucinations. I fyou want to avoid getting nibbled I would buy repellant in Thailand - heaps of Boots Chemists around and they have good stuff.

[camel96]

[Guest]

The real key is that before everyone starts recommending what medications to take (far from routine over the counter type meds) without having a medical degree or pharmacy license is that before you take any of the drugs, make sure you comprehend the risks and side effects.

For example if you intend to go to Thailand, take Larium (mefloquine) and intend to go Scuba diving (for example) ... you do NOT want to in fact take Larium. It can be a bad thing; for boredome sake I won't bother with the details; suffice it to say it can have severe neurologic side effects. Larium also should not be taken with Beta Blockers -- odds are most of you don't have cardiac problems or hypertension being treated with them, but many may take them as a sleeping aid.

Good example as well with taking Doxycycline ... risk of secondary yeast infections.

The point ? See a doctor rather than just start making drug decisions on your own. Or, at least be smart enough to research it and read the risks and accept them.