Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sammy]

I'm going to Vietnam in a few weeks. Does anybody know if I need to take malaria tablets before I go? And if so where can I get them in Seoul? I asked a doc. here but he said he'd never prescribed them before and didn't know where I could get them, and kind of thought I was a bit strange for asking. Any ideas?

[bucheon bum]

don't know where you're going to in vietnam, but I don't think you need to worry about malaria in most parts of the country. I was there for a couple weeks nearly a year ago and didn't have any problems. Didn't remember any fellow travelers mentioning it either.

[CurlyQ]

A lot of doctors won't prescribe anti malarial pills in the west now because the side effects out weigh the benefits, also they are not 100% effective. My cousin took them when he was supposed to go to Africa and got so sick from them that he couldn't go.

[Tiger Beer]

I've been to VIETNAM twice.. each time for a month.. I don't think malaria is a problem.. particularly since you only have two weeks.. and you don't have any worries about malaria in any tourist city, defintely includes Saigon and Hanoi.. without doubt..

The only worries you'd have regarding malaria is if you are planning to go the farthest outreaches of Vietnam.. way off the beaten track.. and planning to spend significant time there..

In general, I've never taken anti-malarial drugs or pills before.. but the people I know who have say the drug effects are just about as bad or worse than actually getting malaria itself..

[rapier]

I've had malaria once, in Africa, where it is very strong compared to Asia, and I caught it even though I was taking the pills..
When in Asia I didn't bother with the pills- but I did cover up with a net, and anti insect lotion, and long pants in the evenings..

[Squaffy]

Forget about the pills and stop being paranoid. The pills have nasty side effects and won't stop you from getting a mozzie bite.

Yrs. ago, when I returned from India, I was hospitalised with suspected malaria - fever etc - then they decided it was typhus - then they decided they didn't have a clue.

Welcome to the traveller tales.

[sammy]

thanks for the info everyone