So here I am… committed to the World Race… and at my doctor’s office to figure out how I’m going to survive this thing. We’re doing okay… a litany of shots, but I’m okay there… and then he says it: Malaria. What? I need to take a year’s supply worth of medicine with me? And then I still could get it anyway? Chances are I’ll die within a week of stepping foot in Africa?!?!?
Okay, so maybe he didn’t say all that… but the general consensus was that I had to be ridiculous for thinking of going outside America and that unless I stuck to a strict regimen of pills, I would definitely die from some awful disease.
Obviously, I survived. And let me just say to begin with… SO WILL YOU.
Yes, there are some crazy diseases overseas. However, chances are that with a little bit of information and preparation, you can avoid anything serious or life-threatening. Hold on one moment though… Before you breathe a huge sigh of relief and cancel that doctors appointment… A word of caution. Racers have gotten malaria… Racers have gotten very sick from malaria… Racers have been hospitalized and even had to come home due to malaria. If you are uninformed and unprepared, you can have serious issues. This blog is to help you be well prepared. (most of this info came from www.cdc.gov/malaria. check it out)
What is malaria? Malaria is a disease caused by a parasite that infects mosquitoes. An infected mosquito then bites you, you get the parasite, and then 7 to 30 days later, you get Malaria. Malaria begins with flu-like symptoms, fever, chills, sweats, headaches, nausea, vomiting. This may be mild and feel much like a common cold or flu.
Where does it exist? Go to http://cdc-malaria.ncsa.uiuc.edu/ and use their interactive map application to compare their information on malaria infected regions with your Race Route. Keep in mind their recommendations on what time of year malaria is present and what regions of that nation are or are not affected by malaria.
But I don’t know if we’ll be in that region? Exactly. You need to prepare with as much information as possible so that as you know more information about exactly where you’ll be, you’ll know whether or not malaria will be an issue. Keep that website handy and refer back to it often. When in doubt, ask your local contact. Most of them probably do not take anti-malarials (it’s too harmful to take consistently), but they can tell you whether or not it is an issue.
How do I prevent malaria? You have quite a few options when it comes to prevention. The most popular option is anti-malarial medication. This is usually an antibiotic type drug that you take on a regular schedule both before entering and after leaving the country. It is VERY important that you talk in depth with your doctor about choosing the right medication. Most of them have side effects that you need to be aware of and if you take other medications, you must be careful which ones can mix.
Will one medication be enough? Unfortunately not. Malaria is an ever-mutating disease and certain strains of malaria are resistant to certain anti-malaria medications. The CDC’s interactive map will tell you which anti-malaria medications work in which regions. We recommend you have multiple selections based on the regions you will visit.
I need 11-months worth of medication in my pack?!?!?! Thankfully, no. You need approximately 3 months worth of medication in your pack, including options based on the variety of strains of malaria. Then, as you travel, you can buy more in many locations overseas. You MUST be proactive to do this. You need to regularly look ahead at where you are going and keep an eye on how much medicine you have. Before you get anywhere NEAR running low… buy more. You don’t even need a prescription overseas… just go to the pharmacist and ask for your type of medicine. As a last resort, someone back home can send anti-malaria medicine to us in the office and your coaches or staff will bring it to you on the field. You can contact us in the office for the details on that process.
What about other methods of prevention? I’m so glad you asked. Anti-malaria medications are not 100% satisfaction guaranteed. They are one step in prevention. In addition, you need to bring repellent with you. We recommend a GOOD repellent… Something that seriously works. Deet tends to be the most effective (but be careful of the health and safety warnings). When you are in affected areas, make that stuff your perfume. It should be part of your wardrobe every day. Repellent can be expensive and/or hard to find overseas. We recommend you start with a large bottle and stock up as you find more.
Then there are mosquito nets. If you are in an affected region, you should be under a net when you sleep. Your tent will often work as a great mosquito net, as long as you keep it closed. You might want to soak your tent in Permethrin as well to help keep those critters out. However, you won’t always been in a place to setup your tent. So, look into a good mosquito net so that you are safe while you sleep.
Last there are natural attempts to ward off mosquitos. The most popular is garlic pills. These are safe to take every single day and some have said they work well. I’ve never tried it and it’s not a CDC approved method. Again, talk to your doctor.
Is malaria the only concern? Unfortunately not. Typhoid is definitely a concern. Stomach issues are almost a guaranteed. Worms and parasites can become regular dinner discussions. You need to talk to your doctor about all of these. However, keep in mind that 4 years of Racers have gone before you. They’ve faced these same issues and all have survived. Compare your route to the map at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list.aspx. This will give you a list of all diseases you should prepare for in each region.
Uh oh… I’m feeling sick… Now what??! It’s quite simple actually… GO TO THE DOCTOR!!! There are great doctors in Africa… even better ones in Asia… maybe the best of the best in the Middle East… practically perfect in Europe… You can find a well-educated, English-speaking, insurance accepting doctor practically anywhere you go. Trust me… we’ve found many of them. They will have experience with diseases common to that area and can provide great treatment… usually EXTREMELY cheap.
The problem comes when you think “I’ll just sleep it off.” You don’t sleep off malaria or typhoid. You might feel better, but you aren’t better. If you go to the doctor, you can get treated and be on your way. If you have a fever, go. If you have nausea or vomiting for more than 48 hours, go. If you just don’t quite feel right for the past few days, go. I promise you it’s better to go to the doctor this week than to get sent home next week. We expect that each of you will hold each other accountable to staying healthy and getting treatment when you need it.
Now one more time… deep breath. Remember: God has called you. God will be with you. God called all of us and He walked with all of us. We are living testimonies to how God protected and provided on our Race. He will do the same for you. Let’s plan and prepare, but not out of fear… Plan and prepare in faith knowing that God has incredible plans for you and there’s no time to waste on being sick.
As always, feel free to email or call with questions any time. [email protected] or 1-877-811-0210.
