But now what? Clearly I can't keep them down. There's another type of pill that's really expensive - like $5/pill and I take it my whole trip. Do I seek them out and invest? I'm pretty sure all these pills only have a ~50% rate of prevention and the chance of contracting malaria is small. After all, the folks living in the cities I visit get along without taking $5/pills. It's a pretty controversial topic amongst backpackers according to what google has shown me. What do you think I should do?
*safe food rules included No Street Food and obviously that wasn't going to happen. I promise I'm still using good judgment with what I eat and have accepted the risk as part of the reward.
Katie
Personally, I never took any anti malaria medication for my travels through southeast asia. If you stick to the big cities, you will be fine...but I know you are going to some more desolate places in Cambodia and Northern Thailand where I would probably be more weary.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I also know that Charlie Sebol actually got malaria in his study abroad adventures, so it does happen. It depends on the quality of the places you are staying, how built up they are and how good you are with your bug repellant.
Maybe stick with it a few more days and take them at dinner time instead of the morning. Most meds will make you sick on an empty stomach.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to follow the res of your adventures.
I never got Malaria, but I did get Dengue Fever in a remote location of west China. It was murder! I've only taken Malaria pills once in the 15 years overseas, and it was useless...even in Cambodia and Viet Nam I did without. But, I did always have a good supply of repellent lotion - which I prefer and think works better than the spray.
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