Just on more question from me before I am travelling to
Iran. Is malaria a serious threat to travellers in the
south (or anywere)?. I get different types of information,
depending on the doctor I ask - or the vaccination-web site
I visit. I am not sure about whether it is necessary to
take som heavy medicine, or I can get away with a normal
doze - taking a couple of pills every week.
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Don't even bother taking pills. They are probably worse for
you than malaria - seriously. So many of them have been
taken of the market because of their side effects. Get
malaria (unlikely) and just take quinine. Talk to your
docter about this option.
I don't fully agree with rarehipster. Malaria exists in
Iran, more in particular in Sistan-Baluchestan & Hormozgan,
the Southern part of Kerman, the Southern part of Fars (WHO
area B), Kohgiluyeh-Boyar, Lorestan, Chahar Mahalbakhtiari
and Khuzestan (WHO area A). However, this risk is confined
to the months March till November, and it is pretty low.
WHO advises at least to cover up well and use DEET etc.,
but if you're going on a adventurous trip in rural areas of
more then 14 days, they advise Nivaquine for A areas and
Nivaquine-Paludrine for B areas.
It is true that antimalarials, like any drug, have side
effects and that one should weigh the benefits with the
side effects. That's what the specialists at WHO are paid
to do for us, so let them decide. I am not aware that "So
many of them have been taken of the market because of their
side effects". Could you tell me which have been taken off
the market "rarehipster"?
It is naive to expect 'the specialists at WHO' to decide for
us. From a public health point of view, anything that
controls a disease is good, if the patient suffers, that's
no skinf off their backs. This is why they gave cholera
vaccine for many years...it is only partially effective, and
makes you sick, but statistically it is beneficial to reduce
the incidence of cholera...
The risk of malaria is greatly overhyped. The best cure is
prevention...use repellants.
Well then, if you don't trust the WHO, do you trust the CDC
then? Because they happen to give the same guidelines as
the WHO (except for some Asian countries like India where
they advise for Lariam instead of Chloroquine/Proguanil).
Or should we trust "specialist Chuckles"?