Many Racers are very curious about preventing malaria while they travel. Often, family practitioners can make you very fearful and confused. Travel clinics are sometimes much more helpful, and sometimes are just more confusing. In order to help with this, I want to share with you some of my experience and research with malaria pills last year to help you understand this medicine. I recommend you do some research on your own as well.
The pills I know about are Doxycycline, Malarone, and Mefloquin. Doxy and Malarone are the two that the 2006 Racers had with them. Mefloquin is NOT RECOMMENDED!!! This drug causes severe side effects. Most travel doctors will prescribe your medication based on the region you are going to. Because you will not know the regions until late in the game, and because your itinerary is always subject to change, it is more important for you to be educated on malaria than to have an 11-month supply of every type of anti-malarial.
Some symptoms are a high fever that comes and goes, flu-type symptoms such as body aches, headache, nausea, shaking chills, sweating, and weakness. If left untreated you may appear to recover, but the infection will progress unnoticed. If these symptoms appear in you or a teammate while in a malaria infected region, seek medical attention immediately.
To prevent malaria, you may take anti-malarial pills. However, the side effects of the medication may often be worse than getting malaria and getting treated for it. The best prevention is simply to avoid getting mosquito bites. To do this, have an insect repellent with a high concentration of deet that you use regularly. Many people are opposed to deet as it is a strong chemical. However, it is very effective. Also sleeping under a mosquito net will prevent bites. You can also simply observe the environment you are in. If you are in a desert land or in the winter, mosquitos will not be a problem – even if it’s an “infected region.” If you are in a large city where there isn’t much standing water, you may also be okay. Always talk with your local host about the best prevention for malaria. Obviously, someone who lives there day in and day out for years will not take malaria medication for life. They will help you understand how to avoid it.
Here are a few more tips on pills:
First, whatever pills you get, take them for a week or so while you are still here stateside. Some pills have extreme side effects and you need to know how you will react to them. Side effects we experienced were from malarone and doxycycline. Some experienced high fevers and sickness when overexposed to sun. Some experienced nausea, vomiting, and diarrehea when they took their pills on an empty stomach. Some, in extreme cases, experienced halluncinations. Luckily, the hallucinations happened stateside and the participants were able to switch medications before leaving. Test them out for a week or so before leaving.
Second, malaria medications, as well as many other medications, are available over the counter in most large cities. I purchased medications in Bangkok and many other cities in Thailand, Hong Kong, China, Antigua, Guatemala, all over Europe, Cairo, Egypt, Nairobi, Kenya, and all over South Africa. In other countries, you would simply find a reputable pharmacy (look for “westernized” signs, cleanliness, and no witch doctor in the back) and give the name of the medicine you need and what dosage.
Third, your local contact will have PLENTY of information for you about malaria pills. Team leaders should be proactive in communicating with the local contact before you arrive so that you will have the information on malaria that you need. They will know the big cities (most big cities are malaria free) you will be at, where to purchase medicine, and the type of medicine you will need for all the places you will visit with them.
Fourth, many of you are not able to get an 11 month supply of malaria pills right this second. That’s okay. If you can get a three month supply to start you off, you will be fine. Then have a parent or supporter back home who will mail more malaria pills to AIM and we will bring them to you on the field. Or you can simply buy them over the counter when you arrive.
The key to success here is being proactive and looking ahead. It takes discipline in being intentional to be present in your current ministry and looking ahead to the future. Help each other develop this discipline. We will be posting countries and dates when it is time. If you want more medical advice, take that list to a travel doctor and purchase the medicines they recommend. Chances are you will then have more medicine than you will need, but you will also be prepared for anything.
