Malaria?

[Speedjeans]

So whats the deal on Malaria and how it would affect your medical back in the UK?

I'm working in Tanzania and do not take any pills because of the long and short term effects it has on one.
But what happens if you do catch it and get it treated in time as it is still the number one killer in the world according to the WHO.
How will it effect my medical rewewal in the UK, and if I do catch it and get it treated do I just keep stum!
Cheers
SJ's

[FYWH]

Sorry to disagree.
The WHO, for the past 8 months have accepted that AIDS is the biggest killer of the human speices of all time, I currently work out of Angloa ( what a s**t hole) working closely with the UN and the WHO ( Bless them all) and they informed me that this was a proven fact that aids have overtaken maleria as the biggest killer in the world.


cell city, no radar, another bumpy flight.

[This message has been edited by FYWH (edited 20 February 2001).]

[zippyz]

I lived and worked in some of the worst parts of PNG for years. Possibly more by luck I managed to avoid catching that dread disease... It is rated as dangerous only if it is not treated.. that is why so many poor sods in teh 3rd world die of it.. that being said..if you suspect you have Malaria do not be put off by some city doctors alternative diagnosis.. I had a very dear friend die in Royal North Shore Hospital of Sydney because some smartar**d city boy told her it couldn't be Malaria.. jsut after she had returned from a 2 week diving trip in New Britain.
Anyhow:
Initilally I used a cocktail of prophylactic drugs, Fanzidar, Maloprim, Chloroquin, Mefloquin (banned in Aussie) etc etc at various times. This was on the advice of a tropical medicine specialist as each has various liong term use deleterious side effects. On return to Oz each year I would have a some serology and a few tests for liver and kidney function as well as parasitology at the same time as my crew medical. I am never sure whether the drugs were of any use as I also took a few sensible precautions like using a mossie repellant containing plenty of DEET (Diethyltoluamide) which is what actually is what Mike the Malaria Mosquito finds so distatseful. I used a product called 'Bushman' made by North Qld Laboratories P/L, 63 Koppen Tce, Cairns, QLD, 4870 Aussie.. supposedly the best you can get. It is 80% DEET but even that is bad for you long term or in large amounts.
Always wear long sleeves covering wrists and ankles if you must be out in the scrub at dawn and dusk, sleep under a mossie net.. I used an overhead fan instead which is better IMHO as old Mike is averse to CAT in his nightly forays and you sleep much better being cool. It may seem a lot but once you see a few ppl in teh midst of a malrial attack you'll see why it is worth teh trouble.. oh and did I tell you that once you get it you have it for life?

Good Luck.. and all teh best in teh bush...
May I ask what you are flying there?.. wouldn't be a Twotter for Zimex perchance?... Ahh for teh days when all you had to worry about was using those beautiful long wings to prune the trees turning tight left base ;)

Trust me.. you DONT WANT MALARIA.

[muhdzailan]

Malaria is caused by mosquito bite and a person who is infected by it could be suffering from high fever.Before you fly,make sure you get a consultation from your medical examiner. ;)

[This message has been edited by muhdzailan (edited 26 February 2001).]

[caqtas air]

I got the bloody thing in New Guinea after two stints up there with T.A.A. You never get rid of the dam thing properly, so take all precautions, don't risk it. FORTY years later, I still get strange pains and aches for which there is no answer. I KNOW it is a after effect, so don't end up like me and many other Pilots who spent time up there.

[Mac the Knife]

Speedjeans - I don't know what to say. Not to take antimalarial prophylaxis in Tanzania is tantamount to suicide. Not to take antimalarial prophylaxis in ANY malarious area in EXTREMELY dangerous.

Cerebral malaria can kill you dead dead in less than 48 hours - other forms may take a day or two longer. Even after treatment, malaria sporozooites can hang around for years and cause relapses.

Make no mistake, malaria is an EXTREMELY dangerous disease - take it lightly at your peril.
Different countries and different areas harbour different strains of parasite which require different antimalarial propylaxis - find out what you should be taking from your local big hospital or tropical diseases institute (Or phone the London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene) - most GPs don't have up to date info. Start prophylaxis well before you go to a malarious area and continue for a few weeks afterwards. Mosquito repellents and fans are not enough. You need a mosquito net for sleeping and long sleeves and long trousers in the evenings.

FYWH - AIDS may now a numerically bigger killer, so what? Malaria IS largely preventable and can kill you stone dead within days. Antimalarials (particularly Lariam) sometimes make sensitive people feel peculiar and some MAY have long term side effects (tho' these are rarely serious/lethal. Take 'em and live.

People get infected abroad and come home to Europe - they then get sick, but by the time the local hospital has gotten round to diagnosing something as "exotic" as malaria and treating it they are often too far gone and die.

As zippyz says "Trust me.. you DONT WANT MALARIA"

[drop bags bar]

I spent four years throughout Tropical Africa.... Got Malaria ONCE, one of the other guys I was flying with got it nine times in a year all in all we all had it at least once but the average seemed to be twice. Few of us took anti-malarial drugs but we were extreamly careful how our skin was exposed day or night. I know many of you are going to say this was foolish but we debated this subject long and hard ... We were doing at least one malaria medivac per week and most of us had lost medivacs inflight at some point so we knew the reality of this killer. All I have to say is one word HELLFAN you need a prescription but if you know your doc well enough ask him for it tell him it's your only chance. I carried the drug in my flight bag for years while flying in Africa and I would frequently hand out my stash to another pilot who'd come down with malaria that I'd meet at some point during a trip. Just my advice but you gotta be brave I'm not sure what is worse the way the drug makes you feel or the Malaria.... You must take this at the first sign of Malaria then PLEASE tell somebody that you've taken it and that the drug itself can be lethal to monitor your progress. (Be sensible read the contra indications you are supposed to have an ECG before taking Hellfan .... that's why I only ever gave it to fellow pilots)

[Mac the Knife]

Drop bags bar - your HELLFAN is probably "Halfan" (Halofantrine).

See http://www.uct.ac.za/depts/mmi/jmoodie/p01part2.html for a good description of antimalarials (including Halfan) and other precautions.

"Few of us took anti-malarial drugs..." - VERY scary that supposedly smart guys are still playing Russian roulette like this.

[drop bags bar]

Thanks for the spelling correction MAC THE KNIFE.... as a Doc what's your oppinion on taking anti malarial drugs for four or five straight years?

[Mac the Knife]

drop bags - good Q - not sure (I'm a cutter mostly) - my dad was a Professor of Tropical Medicine but unfortunately he's no longer around to ask. I'll sound out the experts and post it here & if you send me a blank email a personal copy to you.

[Engineer]

Caught falciparum malaria last year after flying in Africa for ten years

Never took any pills but always careful to cover up in the evening and never ventured out into the bush

When I got it I had disregarded my natural instincts left the city for a trip on the river didn't cover up in the evening Within ten days I was in Hospital

Worst illness I have ever had would not wish it on anyone But believe if you take the right precautions as dbb states maybe you dont need the pills

In the end it is your call