malaria risk in Chiang Rai
May 16th, 2004, 05:39 PM
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malaria risk in Chiang Rai
One more question -- is it necessary to take malaria pills for travel to Chiang Rai and the Golden Triangle? The World Health web site seems to suggest that it isn't necessary for Chiang Mai, but that medication is advised for the border areas with Burma -- does that include Chiang Rai and the trips that seem to start there? Thanks!
May 17th, 2004, 06:19 AM
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Sandi is correct. You might want to read the info on malaria, anti-malarials and malarial risk areas on the cdc website (their maps are updated more often than the WHO's website). www.cdc.gov/travel
May 17th, 2004, 02:40 PM
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The World Health site states that there is no risk of malaria in tourist areas of Thailand. I checked with my doctor and he agreed. I guess it depends if you're planning on going to more rural areas.I recommend you speak with your doctor before taking any medication/immunizations, especially anti-malaria, as it can have some unwanted side affects (take it from someone who had some really bad nightmares from it!).
May 17th, 2004, 03:20 PM
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Thanks. The following language from the CDC site is what continues to confuse me: "Limited risk in the areas that border Cambodia, Laos, and Burma. No risk in cities and major tourist resorts (Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Pattaya, Phuket Island, and Ko Samui.)" It seems as if a lot of the treks from Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai end up in the border areas. We don't plan to do anything too far off the beaten track, because we will be with our kids ages 10 and 12; however, because we are with kid we want to take necessary precautions.
May 17th, 2004, 04:36 PM
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The Golden Triangle is right at the borders with Burma and Laos. It is rural, as would be any areas you would trek to. Do consult with a travel medicine or tropical medicine doc, as generalists rarely know anything about tropical medicine. Note that malaria in this border area has known resistance to Larium (which is probably the medication that gave "mad" nighmares). The recommended anti-malarials for this area are malarone or doxycycline and malarone. Read about them at the cdc website.
If you were only going to the cities of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, you would be at very low risk for malaria. It is the Golden Triangle and your treks that place you at risk.
As "mad" notes, you will want to talk with the travel medicine doc about immunizations as well.
If you were only going to the cities of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, you would be at very low risk for malaria. It is the Golden Triangle and your treks that place you at risk.
As "mad" notes, you will want to talk with the travel medicine doc about immunizations as well.
May 17th, 2004, 06:57 PM
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kathie---did you do any anti-malaria for the anantara?? we will not venture too far outside "normal" travel areas and don't plan on boat trips and may not even go over the borders??
bob
bob
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May 17th, 2004, 07:03 PM
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Yes, I took malarone. There were plenty of mosquitos, and despite the deet, I got bitten. I must be very tasty.
The Anantara is in a very rural area. You can see both Burma and Laos from the resort, so you are right on the border.
The Anantara is in a very rural area. You can see both Burma and Laos from the resort, so you are right on the border.
May 18th, 2004, 04:40 AM
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Mosquitos fly! And staying at one spot and not venturing any further (in/around the border areas) is no guarantee the mosquitos won't cross that invisible line. I believe in "better safe than sorry" - and since the Malarone has few, if any, side effects, it is certainly worth one less anxiety when traveling.
Though the doxycycline (a generic antibiotic) is less expensive than Malarone, it has more side effects - sun sensitivity and yeast infections for women - it also has to be taken for a month after leaving the infected area.
Though the doxycycline (a generic antibiotic) is less expensive than Malarone, it has more side effects - sun sensitivity and yeast infections for women - it also has to be taken for a month after leaving the infected area.
