Malaria

[oos_ya_daddy]

Hi. Traveling up from Cartagena to transit Panama next montyh.

Do people consider it to be worth taking Malaria protection for this part of the trip. Noonsite says it is not required to transit the canal but does not advise on the San Blas etc.

[CAELESTIS]

If you take Lariam, you will regret it. Take Malarone instead.

Five trips to Africa.

[atoll]

i would not worry unless going inland.
though i always carry artemesin and fansidar in the first aid kit in case of infection.

[oos_ya_daddy]

Can you take them to help you if you are infected ?

[atoll]

Originally Posted by oos_ya_daddy

Can you take them to help you if you are infected ?

artemesin works for all resistant strains as a cure currently

Artemisinin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

fansidar works as well but not against all resistant strains as a cur

[Jim Cate]

All of the modern anti-malaria drugs are pretty serious medications, and have side effects that can be detrimental to your over all health. Many of them can only be taken for a limited period of time, and as atoll says, some are not effective against all strains of malaria.

Considering these factors, we've used the philosophy that avoidance is better than medication. That is, we employ physical barriers (screens, isolation, clothing, bed nets if required, etc) rather than prophylactic drugs. We do carry Malarone dosages to be taken if required, ie at the onset of suspicious symptoms if blood testing is not available in a timely fashion.

We have not transited the canal nor visited the San Blas, so I will not venture an opinion on the likelihood of infection there, but our methodology has seen us through long stays in Malarial cruising grounds elsewhere.

Cheers,

Jim