Risk of Malaria in HH area

Post by **Benedictus** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 6:20 am

Staying for 14 days in HH i would like to know if you guys would recommend taking medications against malaria ?

Not planning any long trekking but maybe some visits in the area (National Park).

Any need for taking Amarone ? We got a prescription for that just in case - but would like to be without if not necassary.

HH is considered medium risk area - farther to the west (at border to Laos) its high risk area.
Mosquitoes may not always pay attension to boarderlines, so just asking to make sure.

Kim

Post by **Norseman** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 6:54 am

We do have mosquitoes in Hua Hin and we are maybe located in medium risk area, but I personally have never heard of any malaria cases here.
In the border areas to the west lies Burma, not Laos.
If you are planning any trips to the Pa La U area or Three Pagodas Pass, it would be wise to think of the medication.
As long as 2 millions of people are dying each year of malaria it's not something you can just forget.
It must be up to you whether you start your medication or not, but Hua Hin is not a typically malaria area. The jungle areas are.

Post by **DawnHRD** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 7:56 am

AS Norseman says, haven't heard of malaria here, but there have been quite a few cases of dengue fever over the years, so wise to make sure you take precautions against mosquitos (repellent etc), anyway.

Post by **Benedictus** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 8:59 am

So i guess its ok "only" to take precautions against mosquitos, thanks - oh, and sorry for mixing up West with East

Post by **darwinian** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 12:09 pm

Amarone is a wonderful Italian wine.
I have never seen it for sale in Thailand.
Is it really effective agaist malaria?

Post by **Benedictus** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 5:40 pm

Malarone it is..but im sure a glass of Amarone wouldnt hurt in any way

Post by **turok** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 8:25 pm

Benedictus, this advice has been previously given in other threads, but I thought it worth repeating in light of the increased incidence of Dengue Fever more than malaria. Malaria tends to be more prevalent in jungle areas whereas dengue can be contracted in more built up areas (bit of a generalisation, I know). Remember to always cover yourself with mosquito repellent, and make sure it contains DEET. Pay particular attention to legs and feet (yours, not the mosquitos!). Use a mozzie net if at night if available or if your room doesn't have air-conand spray the room before you head out for the evening. Investing in mozzie coils or mats would also help.

Don't let any of this put you off coming though - its a great place to be.

Post by **Benedictus** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 6:47 am

Thanks for the advice, really.

Seems that the dengue fever is a bigger issue than malaria, good to know - since no medicine for the dengue fever, we will make sure to cover.

Normally going to Greece (not malaria og dengue fever area i know - but anyway) i cover with "Autan" wich very effective keeps the mosquitos - as well as my wife.. - away from any contact.

The DEET stuff - can it be bought in HH ?

Edit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DEET
Can it be bought pre going to HH ?

Ben

Post by **caller** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 12:40 pm

As that link suggests, its the quantity of Deet that counts. In my personal experience, Auten won't work in LOS. Buy something called OFF when you get there, which was recommended by an expat here. It worked for me.

Post by **Nereus** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 4:19 pm

Some more comments in the following post:

http://www.huahinafterdark.com/forum/de ... t6113.html

Post by **Benedictus** » Sun Sep 02, 2007 6:44 am

Thanks for the answers.

A bit scary reading just before going to HH i must admit..

Thanks for hint about OFF - will give it a try when we get there at friday.
Will also give Autan a chance since it has worked very well for me earlier, and since its based on Icaridin, which in some cases are said to be superior to DEET (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icaridin).

Since the mosquitos bite at daytime i wonder, if we have to renew the apply of the insect repellent every time after taking a swim ?

You guys living there, what do you do ? Do you spray from top to toe several times a day to prevent you from Dengue Fever ?

Just asking out of curiosity and to get an idea of the risk of being bitet by a mosquito carrying DF.

Is it an every day event, that you hear of people having got the DF, or does it causes headlines in the local paper, when it happens ?

I also ask because in Greece - when bitet - it often ends up with an infection (seems that im someway allergic to insectbite), and then i have to have injection with peneciline and afterwoods a cure with prednisone and antihistamine.