Side effects
 

Hello guys,
I am going to Africa and I had the vaccine for yellow feber and also got the malarone tablets for the mlaria. The thing is that I have heard that if you take this medication you should stop flying for a month o so. In my case I will start flying 6 days after coming from Africa, is there any problem with this or should I get an extension on my holidays?

thank you for your help

Interesting question, and I've not heard that there is a link between malarone and not flying for 1 month.

(Although there is some controversy surrounding the use of a simillar antimalarial, mefloquine.)

It is a question which has been posed several times on PPRUNE, and one which hasn't really been answered, what has your AME advised?

There is certain anti-malarial medication which is not acceptable (e.g. Lariam), but Malarone is not one of them, at least for the FAA:

Anti-Malarial - The following medications are acceptable for malaria prophylaxis:

• Chloroquine Phosphate
• Malarone (Atovaquone + Proguanil HCL)

I don't know about Europe, but I guess it should be the same.

BCN,

Forget the Malarone! If you want to take anything take Doxycycline (much cheaper and fewer side-effects) and get a pack of Coartem to take if you suspect you have malaria and can't get to a hospital for confirmation that you actually have malaria. Malarone gives many people stomach upsets and mouth ulcers and is best kept as an alternative to Coartem as a treatment if you think you've caught malaria and can't get to a hospital. Doxycline can give a touch of diarrhoea and does increase skin sensitivity to the sun, but overall has fewer unpleasant side effects than most other forms of anti-malaria prophylaxis. Anyway, if you're taking Malarone as a prophylaxis you'll have to take it every day, so don't worry about not flying for a month!! depending on the area you're going to work and the type of work you're going to do, you'll also need to consider vaccinations or tablets for typhoid, hepatitis (A and B), rabies, polio, meningitis. If you've never had a TB vaccination remember that TB is also making a big comeback in Africa (we've had at least 3 pilots who have caught it in my company).

The best protection against malaria is prevention against bites. Measures such as insecticide sprays, insect repellent sprays (those containing DEET are most effective), wearing long sleeved shirts and socks if outside at dusk, all help to prevent getting bitten. It's always worth having a sealed sterile needle (in case you have to go to a bush hospital), a surgical needle and thread (ditto, or for self treatment), wound-closure strips, Eurax cream (wonderful for stopping insect bites from itching!), Adcortyl in orabase cream (the best treatment for mouth ulcers brought on by Malarone), antiseptic cream, multi-vitamins with iron, snake anti-venin. You'll soon discover all the other useful items to keep in a bag in your house and then just make sure that you replace them when they reach their sell-by date. Coming to work in most parts of Africa mmeans that you'll be a walking mini-pharmacy and first-aid station - but it's worth it :}

I've heard Anglesey is nice this time of year:)

Thanks guys for your help.

Just phoned CAA and told me that the malaria tablets are ok while flying, except the Lariam ones.

Yellow fever they told me to ask my doctor. the doctor just for prevention told me one month without flying:ugh: Anyway I dont believe that. i know the cabin crew from my company need 24hrs or 48hrs rest after the vaccine, so I guess the pilots too.

Yellow fever immunisation contains a "live" strain of the bug, so can tend to cause a few problems, (flu type symptoms).

It can be problematic in those with a compromised immune system, but experience tells us that effects are usually mild and short lived in those without.

According to my guidance, the effects are usually mild and short lived 5-10 days.

Who told you a month?

I'd ask your AME, that's why he can afford a Mercedes.

Africa is still the white mans grave... medical and physical risks appear high...better left to the Chinese..
Todays mercedes cars reported not really as good as in the past bit like modern GP weekend coverage.