Common misconceptions about malaria

Giving malaria advices is our everyday duty in travel clinic. Thanks to the Internet, many travelers are very well-informed already. Unfortunately, information from the Internet is not always reliable. Here are some common misconceptions about malaria;

Myth 1  Malaria exists everywhere in Southeast Asia

FACT: Malaria in Southeast Asia exist mainly in the jungle or forested . . . → Read More: Common misconceptions about malaria

Where can I buy antimalarial tablet in Thailand?

Many travelers may wonder why it is so difficult to find antimalarial tablet in Thailand. Some may visit many pharmacists, many hospitals but without success. Until finally they could find us after someone tell them to visit Hospital for Tropical Diseases to buy antimalarial tablets.

There are several issues that need to be discussed here;

1. First of all; our government and our FDA . . . → Read More: Where can I buy antimalarial tablet in Thailand?

SBET regimen in Thailand and Southeast Asia

The concept of SBET is a life-saving treatment kit of malaria. So we have to use the medication that effective against P. falciparum malaria which is the most dangerous malaria. Howover all other malaria species will be killed by those medication also. (except the liver stage of P.vivax, we have to add primaquine to eradiacate them)

Since malaria in Southeast . . . → Read More: SBET regimen in Thailand and Southeast Asia

Standby Emergency Treatment for Malaria (SBET) – A good alternative (2)

Nowadays the concept of SBET is gaining more acceptance from many authorities especially in the use of low risk area such as in Southeast Asia. Some nataional guideline such as in German and Swiss guideline prefer SBET to chemoprophylaxis in low risk area. World health organization (WHO) also mention about the use of SBET in Southeast Asia as attached below; 

 

 Furthermore, . . . → Read More: Standby Emergency Treatment for Malaria (SBET) – A good alternative (2)

Standby Emergency Treatment for Malaria (SBET) – A good alternative (1)

In the past, when travelers planed to visit tropical countries, their doctors would recommended antimalarial medication to prevent malaria if their destination were malaria risk area. So generally, the doctors had 2 options i.e. prescribe or not prescribe antimalarial prophylaxis depend the area.

The concept of “Standby emergency treatment of malaria (SBET)” is relatively new. It is . . . → Read More: Standby Emergency Treatment for Malaria (SBET) – A good alternative (1)