Korean Job Discussion Forums

[rolough]

Hey All,

I currently am living in Seoul but I am travelling to SE Asia in a few weeks.

I have a few questions:

1) Does anyone know a place in Seoul where I can get the Japanese encephalitis vaccine?

2) Does anyone know where I can get malaria pills?

Also, my Korean is not that great and since this involves my health, could anyone also recommend a place where the doctors speak English pretty well?

Thanks in advance guys. Cheers!

[ttompatz]

[Caffeinated]

Like ttompatz wrote, Japanese encephalitis may be available at the gu health centre for cheaper. English ability may vary. I had some difficulty at my local gu health centre with my crap Korean.

I picked up lariam pills here:

http://www.nmc.or.kr/html/guide/map.asp

They have a dedicated travel clinic on the first floor with English-speaking staff and doctor. Lots of vaccinations available. You may need an appointment tho, at least for the yellow fever shot.

[northway]

Make sure they actually have malaria where you're going before starting a doxy regime.

[D.D.]

malaria pills are nasty stuff. we have run into travelers hallucinating after taking pills and others who have become sick with the sweats and heart palpitations ect. best idea is to avoid areas where malaria is active.

[samd]

Avoid Lariam, especially if you have any history or depression or mental illness. I was fine apart from a feeling a bit scattered and having crazy dreams. My friend who I travelled with though was hit pretty hard by it and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone based on seeing that.

Avoid doxycycline if you plan to be in the sun at all.

Avoid chloroquine due to serious side effects and resistance.

I'd try to get Malarone if I were you. It's more expensive but has less side effects and that's what I'll be getting if I ever go back to a malaria zone.

[northway]

You're also not supposed to drink on doxycycline, which, unless you don't drink at all, is kind of unrealistic.