Mailing List Archive Mailing List Archive
Mefloquin, like other quinolone drugs, causes noticeable central nervous system symptoms in at least 5% of people who take it. Weird dreams, headaches, dizziness, ringing in the ear may all be part of the side-effects. As it's only taken once a week, the side effects are usually attributable because they get better or don't occur on the other 6 days. To assess your side- effects, most Drs recommend starting the drug 1-2 weeks before you travel. More to the point, mefloquin is not a particularly good choice for malaria prophylaxis in tourists to the Pacific, especially PNG. There is a great deal of resistance to the drug and you might as well take something that is (a) reasonably effetive (b) fewer CNS side-effects (c) cheaper. The Australian Army Medical Core has been recommending doxycycline 100mg at bedtime/evening. While there is no drug available for routine prophylaxis active against all strains of malaria, doxy is active against most/many. By taking the dose each evening, you have it on board when the (mosquito) sucker bites you. The downside is that you don't want to lie out in the sun without some/a lot of sunblock, as it's likely to make your skin photosensitive. But then you were diving anyway, right? At best malaria prophylaxis only protects you against malaria. There's a lot of other nasty stuff out there you don't want insects injecting into you: Often overlooked are instructions to keep from getting bitten: (1) Bring your own can of room insect spray and spray your sleeping room just after dusk. (2) Use DEET (at least 60% or more) on your *clothing* in the evening or if you are in the forest. Apply sparingly to your skin and wear long sleeves and long pants. (3) Bring and use a bed net with you, one that has been impregnated with insect repellant. Many sports /travel stores sell these as do mail order houses. If you get sick, get *professional* help. Someone who has actually taken care of a case of "tropical fever" in a tourist before. And even that doesn't always work. I just treated a case of malaria this past weekend in a guy who returned from PNG in June, had been treated in August and still came down with resistant disease. So, whether it's malaria in PNG, dengue in the Caribbean or Lyme disease in Vermont, don't let them bite you! -ph
Navigate by Author:
[Previous]
[Next]
[Author Search Index]
Navigate by Subject:
[Previous]
[Next]
[Subject Search Index]
[Send Reply] [Send Message with New Topic]
[Search Selection] [Mailing List Home] [Home]