| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
tapalapa
United Kingdom
202 Posts |
 Posted - 17 Jan 2008 : 20:23:43
|
Hi everyone,
I have just returned from Gambia after spending 5 weeks there. My friend and her boyfriend returned to the UK on November 30th. He became ill 1 week later - went to the Doctor- got diagnosed with flu, went to Accident and Emergency (twice) got diagnosed with flu,he continued to deteriorate. He went to Accident and Emergency again, They referred to the tropical disease hospitalin London (He came from Kent) Unfortunately,as he arrived he had a heart attack, two days later all his major organs shut down. He died in the hospital in London on December 19th from Malaria.
He did not take any malria medication in the Gambia.
I discussed this with a pharmacist at Stop Step pharmacey in Gambia - She advised me that it is common in the UK for GP`s and Hospitals to delay in taking tests or and treating malaria.
The best thing to do is to go to Stop Step Pharmacey at Westfield (up the stairs)pay 150 dalasi and have a test approx 2 days before you leave Gambia - The result as to whether you have malaria present in your system takes 15 minutes !They will start to treat you straight away
ALSO
I have spoken to many English people living in the Gambia as to whether they take malaria tablets, I have not found anyone that does- People say they become immune to malaria if they stay in Gambia for sometime - Is this true ?????
What are the long term effects of taking malaria tablets????
ALSO
A reminder to everyone - do continue to take your malaria tablets on return to the UK. There is a 10 day incubation period after being bitten.
Malaria is on the increase in the UK.
This whole sitaution has reminded me to look up malaria on the internet to remind me how important it is to take preventative measures.
I would welcome a debate and discussion about what measures we are all taking when we visit The Gambia
This is a very sad time for my friend,she went with her boyfriend to arrange for them to get married in The Gambia in February.
Tapa
|
|
|
gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jan 2008 : 20:41:08
|
This is very sad. The doctors should have checked sooner.
I take maralone, but it is very expensive..ok for one or two weeks.... I'm not sure of the long term problems of taking Malaria medication. I wouldnt go inland to somewhere like Tendaba (a million mosis cant be wrong!) without medication. But if I was just staying at the coast for a week I might be tempted.
It is a reminder to us all just how serious the illness is and how vigilant we need to be in our own health care. |
 |
|
|
tapalapa
United Kingdom
202 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jan 2008 : 21:11:40
|
Thanks for your honesty Bev. There have been times when I have skipped a malaria tablets for a day or three because they mde me feel sick (taken with no food).
On my most recent visit I was sick for 48 hours so this left me open to malaria.
I also dont cover up at dusk and dawn.
I do spray my room every two days.
Why is it that I always seem to get bitten when I first step foot out of the plane and the first few days and then they leave me alone ?
Does anyone else have this experience ?
Tapa |
|
|
|
anna
Netherlands
730 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jan 2008 : 22:24:52
|
Yes Tapa, that happened to me too - so what we have to learn from that is that we have to spray ourselves with something that contains a lot of Deet (never mind it's poisonous stuff) IN the plane and enter the country all covered up. Last time i went for a week, we arrived in the night, had to wait for a bus to take us to the hotel and had to wait in the hotel for someone to show us our room (LOTS of mosquitos in Palm Beach, probably because of all the vegetation there), i think i was bitten 20 times within two hours! That spoiled the first days of my one week's holiday!
Bev, 'inland' there are a lot less mosquitos than in the coastal area, never ever saw a mosquito in Tendaba (though i know this thing about the million mosquitos is their pay off), probably because it is less messy out there.
What an awful story about your friend's boyfriend, Tapalapa. Something else to think of: always after coming back from the Gambia and feeling sick enough to see a doctor, tell them that you have just returned from West Africa and insist that they check for malaria symptoms. |
When an old African dies, it is as if a whole library has burnt down.
Amadou Hampate Ba (Mali) |
|
|
|
gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jan 2008 : 08:10:21
|
Mosis like stagnant water. There are certainly alot at Palm Beach! It is a beautiful setting with all the vegetation, but the mosis like that!
I was told that there are different types of mosis and the ones inland a re more likely to be life threatening. Not sure if htat is true.
AtTendaba they take the threat seriously and spray the rooms every evening. We are advised to spray AND cover up when we are there.
I usually cover up because I HATE the sprays.
But avioding being bitten in the first place is the most important thing. No medication is 100% protection. Also being bitten alot can cause other health problem such as septicemia not just malaria and if you are bitten alot you can feel lousy! |
|
|
|
jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jan 2008 : 09:18:24
|
| i use local medice, citronella, and wear long sleeves and long clothes. in the room i use sprays or the fire coils. it is best to have at leaset some attempt at prevention. |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
Topic Locked
