Lagos & malaria

[tired]

I will shortly have the pleasure of doing schedules to Lagos, with the added pleasure of nightstops there! It's a few years since I've been and I was wondering what the local expats are using for antimalarial tablets these days. The UK doctors are recommending we take doxycyccline, which is a helluva strong antibiotic - I'm not overjoyed at the prospect of taking these on a semi-permanent basis for the forseeable future. Anyone who lives there got anything else they swear by?? (Besides the quinine in the tonic, that is!)

Also, please refresh my memory - is the wet season (and hence heightened mozzie activity) March/April and September/October?

Ta in advance,. .t

[Boss Raptor]

Have been based off and on for 4 years - only taken the basic weekly malaria tablet as daily made me feel ill, name I have forgotten check later, never got anything I am aware of...a member of staff did get malaria we fed him 'Halfan' available in Nigeria and worth carrying in reserve (very high dose of chloroquine)he lost 7 kilos in 4 days but bounced right back...

The risk is there but if the stuff makes you feel rough then it's up to you...buy Halfan in Nigeria off the shelf to keep in reserve...and remember any symptoms see yr doc. on return...

You only need antibiotics like that if you've been entertaining!

[ 31 January 2002: Message edited by: Boss Raptor ]</p>

[4granted]

HALFAN..Dont leave home with out it!! Its only a cure though, not a prophylactic/condom... <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

[j boy]

tired. . I think you should see a good Nigerian doctor to recomend a suitable drug for you. Halfan (and most malaria drugs) affect the eyes.Every one should be careful with malaria drugs.English doctors are very good but they lack the practical experince to deal with malaria.

[Boss Raptor]

antibiotics dont cure malaria as far as I am aware so this advice seems strange?

[B Sousa]

<a href="http://health.iafrica.com/doconline/malaria/index.htm" target="_blank">http://health.iafrica.com/doconline/malaria/index.htm</a>

Heres a start for a website. But as you will find out ask 10 folks here and get ten answers, all the way up to straight Gin and Tonics even while flying..... .My Best Suggestion is : CONSULT A MEDICAL DOCTOR WHO SPECIALIZES IN THIS SUBJECT.. .Having said that I have found sites that recommend Larium (Mefloquine) as long as you have no mental problems. Doxyclcline for short term Prophylaxis. Daramal (Chlorquine) in areas that mossies are not already resistant to it. Paludrine (Proquanil) also... .I bum around the country with a great South African Pilot who taught me this at night ....First make your bed and tuck in your net all around, except for a small area easily entered and exited. Thus you dont have to worry about the net coming loose. Then spray the hell out of the area with Bug KILLER.. About 30 minutes before you go to bed spray the area with repellent.. Make sure when you go to bed you complete the tuck net in procedure, you have had plenty of Gin and Tonic and the room is full of Gheckos.. .Or after all this you still have problems, get a real Airline job. I have never seen Mossies at FL410

[Dotun]

Don't worry, just let them bite you a couple of times, get a few malaria sicknesses, and your body will get use to it. It worked for me, the last time I got the fever was about 15 years ago.. . :) :) :)

[B Sousa]

ADE,. . I can only assume that your joking.... I suppose you agree that getting into one of the Locals Knickers, and catching AIDS also along the same lines?? Or how about Cerebral Malaria. Read the fine print on that one also. Over here We call any of this stuff Serious Sh*t. You have to remember some folks still think Gin and Tonic is a cure all....but having found out, it only makes the girls look good at closing time.

[ 01 February 2002: Message edited by: B Sousa ]</p>

[tired]

Thanks for the gen. guys - much appreciated. Will check out Halfan, hadn't heard of it. <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

Boss Raptor - yeah, I thought the same as you - antibiotics have nothing to do with malaria - so I checked it out. According to all the gen. I can find (World Health Organisation, South African aviation doctors, the American public health centres etc), this doxycycline stuff, together with Larium (not approved for aircrew) and some other Yankee stuff who's name I forget, are the 3 recommended drugs at the moment worldwide for malaria prophylaxis. You live and learn I guess - certainly wasn't like that in my day! <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

Again, thanks for the replies.. .t

[Boss Raptor]

Well have consulted friend Doc. at MRC The Gambia - he says doxy etc. should only be taken when malaria strain is known to be chloroquine resistant...and doxy is bad news as it makes you photosensitive so you should stay out of sunlight...

Also my personal experience with Larium...made me highly photosensitive and highly aggressive...another member of staff was taking it and came out in skin rashes and wanted to pick fights with everybody, most out of character...look at the web on Larium seems to be bad news infact UK CAA at one time issued AIC on it that due 'unknown side effects' not to be taken!

<img src="confused.gif" border="0">

[ 02 February 2002: Message edited by: Boss Raptor ]</p>

[tired]

Thanks, Boss R.

Yeah, larium definitely a no-no, not approved for aircrew by any country I know of. (Seems they don't care about the punters!!) And I don't want to take this doxycycline stuff for exactly the reasons you state, amongst others - don't like antibiotics at the best of times, certainly not for a month at a time. Trouble is all the health authorities I've consulted, even S Africa who know quite a bit about tropical diseases, recommend it for West Africa, so they must think the mozzies there are quinine-resistant - hope they're wrong!!

What's the name of the "weekly tablet" you mentioned in your 1st post - Paludrine, or Chloroquine, by any chance?

[B Sousa]

Medication, medication......How about this......If you love Mossies so much. get a flying job in Alaska.........Mosquitoes are so big they need a type rating to fly. They are also sometimes refered to as the Alaskan State Bird. I did a season up there and had to wear a net while out in the bush. BUT.......NO MALARIA......

[Boss Raptor]

Good old paludrine or generic...gets across chloroquine resistant malaria...that Larium is worrying stuff! <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

[tired]

Thanks, meneer <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

[The Claw]

Interesting stuff....

B Sousa about Mossies at FL410, you'll be surprised boet. Ask the poor guys at Gatwick about getting malaria in London. Although you are correct that it is rare to get malaria on high ground. Your best bet is the old mosquito net and insecticide. Nobody mentioned my favourite the old mosquito coil burning during the night. You stink like hell, but I swear by it. You are most at risk during the late evening, early morning due to the mossie being nocturnal. <img src="cool.gif" border="0">

[B Sousa]

Claw, I sort of meant flying formation with Mossies at FL410....Little Humor there... .Malaria in London?? wow, but betting on the diversity of the UK Im not surprised. Are you sure these guys didnt go out of town on a big party with a couple stews. Then tell the wives they caught Malaria in London??

"Skids down and welded."

[Hot 'n' High]

The Claw- You fail to mention your usual antidote to all known ills! You normally recommend several Castles to be consumed in quick succession. That sound advice has certainly worked for me in the past! From what I remember at any rate..... :)

Cheers, H 'n' H

[The Claw]

B SOUSA: I caught the humour......just thought I'ld mention the mossies that hitched a ride on a Diesel-8.

H 'n' H: "ME" sharing a Castle with a mossie(or anyone else).....forget it! :) :)

[B Sousa]

OK, OK......Back to the Good Land in April.. Castles and Mampoer Chasers ( or I can bring some Gentleman Jack for those who know what it is) on me at the Rotor Arms (if its still there) I think some PPruners here ought to have a get together in SA and discuss the malaria problem...

[Hot 'n' High]

B Sousa - Wish I could join you for that Castle. Some other time maybe! <img src="frown.gif" border="0">

The Claw - You? Share a beer? I would never even suggest such a thing! :) It just seems as if Castles are your solution to most of life's ills and I was surprised that did not include Malaria! <img src="tongue.gif" border="0">

[V1 Rotate]

Guys, remember that the enemy here is in fact Mrs. Anopholese Mosquito (excuse the spelling) If we would all spend just a little time learning some her behaviour a lot of us could avoid contracting maleria!. .V1 Rotate

[B Sousa]

Anopheles, close......Anyway you are so very correct. In this day when we have all kinds of Medicine that can help, we get a bit complacent as to why Mossies are around and their habits. If you know what attracts them, what hours they enjoy and how to keep your distance you will be much better off. I mentioned the Mossie net procedure in an above thread. Bottom line the more difficult you make it for them the less chance you have of getting sick..... .Good Luck and dont forget to tuck in your net......

[V1 Rotate]

Anopheles females usually fly at dawn and dusk, they fly about 9" above the ground. The females are after your blood to feed up their eggs.. .They fly silently, so if you hear mozzies buzzing they ain't anopheles. . .One of the best remedies is to spray "peaceful sleep" around your ankles and lower legs before sundown. Avoid standing around braais in shorts and spray the room where you are going to sleep with copious amounts of "Doom".. .A net will help alot, though they can bit you through it!. .V1 Rotate.

[netsrak]

I was living in los for about 8 months. This may shock some of you out there, but I didn't take any medication what-so-ever (don't get me wrong, I don't have that "it can't happen to me" additude). From what I've learned, *anti-malaria pills* (key word here, "anti") only increase your immunity to the disease, it doesn't ensure immunity. Moreoever, some of that medication is some pretty serious stuff, almost as bad as having malaria itself (I'm just being sarcastic on that one, so don't flame me!). My advise to you is, research as much as possible on the medication you've been prescribed and make your own conclusions. As your doctor plenty of questions. More or less all of the expats I've talked to that have been there any length of time (actually, all of them from the ones I've talked to) don't even take medication. Complacency...? Perhaps.

As for asking a Nigerian doctor, the general additude towards malaria there is just to get it, and get "immune" to it. They seem to treat it like any old flu! I've actually gotten bit countless times, and that's even taking safety precautions like repelant, air conditioning, etc.

Anywho, there's my two cents. Anyone care to endulge us on your first thoughts on Nigeria when you first got there? ...Did you see V.I.?

[sokoyu]

I've flown through Lagos, but never lived there. I did, however, spend twelve years in Côte d'Ivoire. Took Paludrine and Chloroquine all through my stay, but still got the odd dose of malaria. My wife tried every prophylaxis under the sun and kept getting 'palu' until she switched to doxy - that worked really well for her.

Individuals react very differently to malaria. Some people never get it, whatever they do or don't do and others can take all of the precautions under the sun and still get it. Malaria is also stress related; if you live in an area where you are exposed to the disease, you may well have a base level of parasites, which your body and the medication are keeping under control. If you get stressed, or flu or something, your resistance drops and malaria can take over.

It is easy to be complacent. I remember one old guy who'd been in Africa forever, who swore that he never got malaria. He kept on repeating the mantra with a temperature of 40 as they plugged the quinine drip into his arm.

As a number of people have suggested, you can build up resistance to malaria. According to my tropical medecine book this is only true of falciparum malaria. Falciparum is the nasty one that they have in West Africa, which can develop into cerebral malaria, so planning on developing a resistance is a risky business. Vivax and ovale, the other two malaria strains can stay in the system a long time and you don't get resistant to them - but they are not as debilitating as falciparum.

In the UK they still recommend Larium as a prophylaxis - it works fairly well - but it has horrible psychological effects on some people; bad dreams, forgetfulness (did I take my Larium?). Halfan, as recommended on this thread, is a good treatment it works very fast and always seems to hit the spot. BUT, it has nasty side effects. If you take it often it can cause cardiac problems - missing beats (I can't spell arrythmea). I also know of one death and one miscarriage that were blamed on a combination of Halfan and other drugs by local medical staff (these are not proven, but worrying).

In the Francophone world you can get Arsiquiniform or something like that, which we found to be the most effective treatment.

If you decide to use Paludrine/Chloroquine as a prophyllaxis, don't buy them in the UK, not unless you don't want to leave an inheritance to your grandkids.

Sorry for the long post, but malaria is serious and getting worse as drug resistance becomes more common.

[Dotun]

me know say the experiences of malaria no good, but we get am for pletiful lagos doctors wey go sort you out one time (quic quic) once you don get am, no be any problem at all.

me go still insist anyway say, make you let am bite you well well. your body go repel am eventually (he fit be after the 20 times after you don dey get am). me know plety bobos for lagos wey no get the thing, including my human self.

One last thing, make nobody, compare my analysis with aids o, as them dey deferent category. Person wey compare am, fit let us know the result after 10 years wey them don catch am. me go advise on this matter say make you double or even self tripple your Condom o.

:) :)

[sokoyu]

Hey Ade, if it works for you fine. There are plenty of others who recommend taking no prophylaxis and treating the disease when you get it. Lets face it, there are as many opinions on how to deal with malaria as there are doctors working in the tropics.

For the most part, it's no worse than flu - and as you say - you can sort it out with a treatment locally. But, there are exceptions and no strategy for dealing with malaria is risk free.

The only sure rule with malaria is always to carry a treatment with you when you come back to Europe or North America. Doctors around here are so slow to spot it and need all sorts of blood tests and stuff, that you go through hell before you get a drip in your arm.

[netsrak]

Ade, I think more people would be able to reply to your post if you wrote in the "Queen's English" rather then pigeon. <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

[Muzungu]

Lived in Mali for two years and gave up on the drugs after six months. Apparently prolongued use isn't good for you. All of them seemed to have nasty side effects. I carried fresh, bought in North America, Larium and Chloroquine in case I needed it if I caught the bug. Other than that used bug juice, Off Skintastic comes in an aloe vera type moisturizer and mosquito nets and I was fine.

Another tip is to take one of the "debug" spray bombs from the purser kit, activate it, chuck it in your room and head to the bar for a nightcap.. .Should clear out most of the mossies.

[contraxdog]

For what its worth, Ive been flying contracts in Tropical africa for the last eight years, swallowed doxycicline/fibremicine/Cyclidox for 4 years. Never got malaria once, even in Equatorial Guinea(Malabo)where 99% of the local populace contract malaria every year at least once. Stopped taking it, because the Doc said it was the cause of my joints getting stiff, and stomach not going. Exactly 42 days after stopping, I contracted the West African Dash and ontop of it, Cerebral Malaria, and was on my back for 14 days. None of the side effects from the Doxy- compared to the malaria will convince me not to take them again.As was said before different strokes for different folks. Viva Doxy

[tired]

Thanks for all the comments, guys. I think I'll stick to paludrine/chloroquine - for the first few times anyway.

Does anyone know if Halfan is available in South Africa? Will be going there before going to LOS.

t

[dvrfly]

Hi All.. .Halfan works!!! But beware it is a very strong drug - especially for people with heart problems. A few cases of cured malaria but caused heart failure have been noted. It does however work very well - cured within 24 hours after being down for 5 days!. Mozzie net still best advise. Oh, by the way even some of the Better airlines also stop in Lagos - hehehehe. .PS Halfan available with prescription - obtained it from airport Pharmacy last time.

[ 20 February 2002: Message edited by: dvrfly ]</p>

[fms146]

Tired. .I spent over two years in PNG and was fortunate not to have contracted any form of Malaria during that time..I did not use any form of anti malarial drug BUT I did take two GARLIC tablets daily. I was told that garlic acts as a natural repellent through the pores of the skin and it certainly worked for me. People may laugh at the suggestion but they laughed at the Wright brothers as well...

Good luck

[tired]

Thanks ripcord!

Judging by the remarks from the rest of the crew on my last trip, I already eat enough garlic to keep any self-respecting mozzie at 100 paces <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

Unfortunately, my doctor friends tell me that the garlic thing is actually a fallacy, though it seems to have worked for you. I'll keep eating it on my cornflakes, just in case.....!

[The Claw]

Apparently a cure for malaria has been developed from the bark of an Asian tree. Anyone heard of that one?? <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

[sokoyu]

In Côte d'Ivoire there is a malaria treatment called Paluther (I think) which is reputedly made from the bark of a tree. It involves a series of six IM injections. I've never road tested it myself, though I've tried most of the others.

[The Claw]

Thanks Sokoyu, the treatment I'm talking about was developed in Tzaneen and I believe that it is in the form of pills. I would be interested to learn more about both. <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

[wheelchock]

8 years in the bush, without any anti malaria tablets nor any other crap.Never caught it neither, thanks god. Use the net if you can, if not, spray the **** out of the room,with the junk you get onboard , and drink plenty of Scotch. I always leave half a glass of Scotch on the night cabinet, not to drink it during the night, but for the smell, mossys don't like alcohol smell. Always worked out fine, never got bitten by any mosquito in the room, only once by a big fking spider, which made me sick like **** .Maybe it's all dumb luck, but hey **** , worked so far....

[john_tullamarine]

There is plenty of info on line regarding doxy. It is thought to work (providing the necessary blood serum level is maintained - 100 mg/day) by preventing cell division of the parasite .. ie you get bitten .. and the bugs die off in the next fortnight without replicating. Claimed success rate is reasonably high.. .. .Tends to affect individuals differently. I and several colleagues have no problems with medium term use (the general recommendation seems to limit use to around 3-4 months at a time) ... the photosensitivity needs to be watched a little to minimise sunburn. Several mining colleagues in SEA have been on the stuff continuously for far longer than that with no obvious side effects.. .. .On the antibiotic side, doxy is one of the fall back bugkillers .... keep you safe from all sorts of things a chap might otherwise pick up apparently .......