Malaria Prevention in Low Transmission Season? Zimbabwe

[Red Leg]

I would much rather deal with Covid simplex 37 than a case of malaria. Unless you have a known allergic reaction to one of the major preventatives, take one of them. My experiences in the military convinced me that the fears about bad reactions to malarial drugs is way overblown.

 

[YancyW]

I've fought melanoma twice, so I am now careful about burning and the sun in general. It's the reason wear big hats and always long sleeves, I also avoid the Doxy treatment. Malarone is the best option for me.

 

[sgt_zim]

i had to write a paper on malaria when I was an undergrad years ago, taking a microbiology class. it's truly a marvel of nature, or maybe even extra-terrestrial

I just did some digging, and found that the 2 strains common in the US were P. falciparum and P. vivax, the #1 and #2 worst strains to get. Malaria helped Washington's forces cause Cornwallis to surrender. Anyway, I had always assumed that the malaria endemic here would have been the two milder forms P. ovale and P. malariae

Of them all, faciparum is the most prolific reproducer. It can be bad news because the concentration of parasites (each parasite invades a red blood cell and destroys it, causing it to rupture) can be as high as about 2 million per cubic mm of blood. Average human RBC concentration is about 5 million RBCs per cubic mm of blood. That would be hemolysis of about 40% of your red blood cells in a single day. Death in this manner ends up being hypoxia/anoxia

It's bad enough when all of this hemolysis occurs in arteries and veins, but all the gas exchange occurs in capillaries. A capillary is only just big enough in diameter to allow 1 RBC to pass through at a time. If an RBC lyses in a capillary, that particular capillary network is now effectively clogged, because the innards of RBCs are kinda gooey and sticky.

 

[Red Leg]

i had to write a paper on malaria when I was an undergrad years ago, taking a microbiology class. it's truly a marvel of nature, or maybe even extra-terrestrial

I just did some digging, and found that the 2 strains common in the US were P. falciparum and P. vivax, the #1 and #2 worst strains to get. Malaria helped Washington's forces cause Cornwallis to surrender. Anyway, I had always assumed that the malaria endemic here would have been the two milder forms P. ovale and P. malariae

Of them all, faciparum is the most prolific reproducer. It can be bad news because the concentration of parasites (each parasite invades a red blood cell and destroys it, causing it to rupture) can be as high as about 2 million per cubic mm of blood. Average human RBC concentration is about 5 million RBCs per cubic mm of blood. That would be hemolysis of about 40% of your red blood cells in a single day. Death in this manner ends up being hypoxia/anoxia

It's bad enough when all of this hemolysis occurs in arteries and veins, but all the gas exchange occurs in capillaries. A capillary is only just big enough in diameter to allow 1 RBC to pass through at a time. If an RBC lyses in a capillary, that particular capillary network is now effectively clogged, because the innards of RBCs are kinda gooey and sticky.

Thank God for DDT back in the day.

 

[sgt_zim]

Damned straight. Dad was a PhD entomologist at LSU - he still had his DDT sprayer until some time in the 70s. Not sure why he kept it around for that long, but he eventually threw it away.

 

[RIVER MAN]

From Wikipedia:​

"Macular degeneration​

In 2013, findings of the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS2) showed that a dietary supplement formulation containing lutein reduced progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by 25 percent."

Thanks! I am going to order some...

I'VE used it longer for vision health (definitely works!) Then I discovered it prevents sunburn!
Yes! I turn a little red then tan! "AWESOME!

 

[sgt_zim]

I used to sunburn easily!
After 50 years of burning, I discovered the use of LUTEIN!
Lutein is available in every Walmart, grocery, pharmacy!
I take 4ea. 1000 mg. Gel caps at least for the first week.
I have a great tan & lutein (a super vitamin A ) plus its the GREATEST health vitamin for VISION!
Helps prevent bad NIGHT VISION!
I'M 74 & Have wonderful vision!
Look it up!

What's the dose? Looking at Amazon, I only see doses in the neighborhood of 5 to 50 mg.

Keep in mind that Vit A is a fat-soluble vitamin (along with D, E, and K), and you can get toxic with too much. No idea what "too much" is, but worth exploring, I think.

Vitamin A Toxicity - Vitamin A Toxicity - Merck Manual Professional Edition

Vitamin A Toxicity and Nutritional Disorders - Learn about from the Merck Manuals - Medical Professional Version.

www.merckmanuals.com

 

[Philip Glass]

Probably better not risk it. I take Larium because it has fewer side effects for me and is just one pill a week. Others have reported many side effect so ask your dr.

 

[375Fox]

Probably better not risk it. I take Larium because it has fewer side effects for me and is just one pill a week. Others have reported many side effect so ask your dr.

I’m actually surprised Larium is still in use because the mental side affects in some people can be so severe. My Dad’s first trip was in 2000. He said larium nearly ruined his trip from the nightmares and had some affects on him during the day also.

 

[thi9elsp]

We used Malarone September 2011 hunting in the Zambezi Valley. Neither Ann nor I had any side effects from taking it. If I remember correctly, started taking it a few days before we arrived in Zimbabwe, one day while there, and then 7 days after we left.

 

[Buffalo1]

Your chances are 100% w/o protection is the right skeeter bites you. For about $20 medication, I would protect myself. A lot cheaper than sickness, hospitalization and possible death.

Make sure your life insurance premiums are paid up !!

 

[neckdeep]

Malarone, go get some and take it properly

 

[Aaron N]

What's the dose? Looking at Amazon, I only see doses in the neighborhood of 5 to 50 mg.

Keep in mind that Vit A is a fat-soluble vitamin (along with D, E, and K), and you can get toxic with too much. No idea what "too much" is, but worth exploring, I think.

Vitamin A Toxicity - Vitamin A Toxicity - Merck Manual Professional Edition

Vitamin A Toxicity and Nutritional Disorders - Learn about from the Merck Manuals - Medical Professional Version.

www.merckmanuals.com

Which is why you should never eat a polar bears liver!

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Which is why you should never eat a polar bears liver!

True story: When I was a kid, growing up in the Spokane, Washington area, I learned about this. My dad bought all his reloading supplies at an Army-Navy surplus place in town. As a 8 or 9 year old, I loved cruising the aisles of the store looking at all the cool army surplus stuff. One day, I noticed a box full of US Army artic survival manuals. I picked one up and opened it to a random page and there was a full page warning, bold letters, DO NOT EAT POLAR BEAR LIVER, IT CAN KILL YOU!!!! Super high concentration of vitamin A. Like I said, I was only 8 or 9, but my first thought was, crap, just attempting to get a polar bear liver is likely to kill you.

 

[Scott CWO]

I used to sunburn easily!
After 50 years of burning, I discovered the use of LUTEIN!
Lutein is available in every Walmart, grocery, pharmacy!
I take 4ea. 1000 mg. Gel caps at least for the first week.
I have a great tan & lutein (a super vitamin A ) plus its the GREATEST health vitamin for VISION!
Helps prevent bad NIGHT VISION!
I'M 74 & Have wonderful vision!
Look it up!

How much are you taking?

 

[oldfart009]

The mosquito repellent body creams are really effective.