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Bacaruda.
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November 10, 2006 at 1:52 pm #336
thinsub
ParticipantWith nearly all the countries in West Africa from what information I can gather as being at High Risk for Malaria.
There being a lot of projected work in the region. (which I have avoided so far) It looks inevitable that a lot of us are and will be working there in the future.
It seems a lot of companies will send personnel to these countries without a lot of prior warning as they do around the rest of the world, which would not allow you to start prescribed medication.
What advice do the guys that work out there in the region have to give regarding Malaria?
best regards
Thinsub
November 10, 2006 at 4:06 pm #8975rover37
ParticipantHaving worked in most of west Africa except Nigeria I would go with the following,
Malaria is very dangerous dont let anyone tell you otherwise.
Malarone is the most modern and best drug to take. I have never had the slightest side effect. Keep well away from Larium and its derivatives.
With malarone you need two days before leaving and seven days after you get home. One pill a day. UK quacks only recomend four weeks in country on the drug although other countries allow longer. your choice although my opinion is its a good excuse not to do longer trips.
Depending where you are and how far offshore you can stop when you get to the job site. There is always the chance a mosquito can get off shore in food containers or on vessels again your choice
Malarone is also a treatment for malaria in larger doses so if you suspect an infection you can take the recommended dose.
There is a school of thought that you dont take drugs until you get the infection!! I have met people who have worked there for years with no drugs. I would suspect some people have a higher imunity than others but again a dangerous tactic in my opinion.
Finally I have enjoyed most of my trips to west africa,its not always the dump portayed and is a good experience. At the present time I would flatly refuse Nigeria, life is worth more than the poxy extra cash we get.
November 10, 2006 at 5:31 pm #8976dynamic
ParticipantAs you said Malarone is a modern drug to prevent Malaria, however when i enquired today for a course of tablets i was surprised to find out that they would cost £80-00.
This is a lot of money for a person to pay out especially someone just starting out in ROV work.
I will check with the practice nurse to see if i can take a cheaper but as effectice tablet as i have plenty of time before the trip.
Also do not forget the mandatory Yellow fever inoculation which you must have to get into most of the countries of Africa. This will cost about £55-00. And should be taken ten days before you travel.
November 10, 2006 at 5:50 pm #8977crusty
Participantyes it is an expensive drug, but I have not heard of any employer who does not reimburse the cost. The clients down there that I have been on jobs with have mandatory use of malaria medication as a policy and malarone is the one recommended by everyone including the world health organisation.
only side effect i have noticed is weird dreams and a tendancy to shout at the ROV and throw tools and stuff, of course this is all to do with drugs and nothing to do with my generaly pleasant personality.
Some people say it sends them a bit loopy
Did hear a rumour it wasnt good for things like livers and kidney’s, possibly this is why the UK says only use it for a month at a time.November 10, 2006 at 9:25 pm #8978ParticipantDont get malarone mixed up with Larium.
Lariums the one that buggers up kidneys liver etc, you can end up loopy and passing blood on it so any company wants you to take it as the cheap option tell them to go elsewhere.
Also any company that wants you to pay for your own pills can also get stuffed though in all honesty I have never heard of one that expects you to.
I have had to fork out 125 quid for a course but always get it back. the price does vary and some gps give it for free.November 11, 2006 at 11:21 am #8979Ray Shields
ParticipantWhat advice do the guys that work out there in the region have to give regarding Malaria?
Get a job elsewhere!
I have enough other ways to screw up my body which will give me much more pleasure without shoving anti malaria tablets in me. They are not supposed to be taken as much as 6 months of the year which is what you would end up doing if you worked down there a year.
November 11, 2006 at 12:48 pm #8980Andy Shiers
ParticipantGood experience 😀
November 11, 2006 at 8:59 pm #8981subseascott
ParticipantYeah, worked in W.A quite a few times & had no quibbles. Lets be honnest, there are many shitty airports all over the world & once you’re out on your job it doesn’t make too much diference where you are.
I always keep 1 months backstock of malarone @ home just incase (36 tabs for 103.14) they have have a shelf life for nearly five years so worth just having lying about besides as said earlier, any employer worth working for will cover this in expenses……..
Best of luck 😆 😆 😆November 11, 2006 at 9:04 pm #8982ParticipantAlso, forgot to say. Met a few guys who only take anti-malarials during transit then just go without when @ the job as "Mossies cant/dont want to (as they thrive on fresh water) get out that far" ❓
Come on, they only cost a few bucks for all the hastle. I would rather be sure than take the risk!!!!November 11, 2006 at 11:10 pm #8983Rons_ROV_Links
ParticipantNovember 11, 2006 at 11:22 pm #8984ParticipantIts not because of the hassle people dont take them – its because of how they can make you feel.
Even Malarone can make you feel like shit.
November 12, 2006 at 11:25 am #8985ParticipantRay,
didnt know you ever went to west africa thought you had an alergy to the place!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Never saw a mozzie in Mauritania!!! just lots of sandNovember 12, 2006 at 12:11 pm #8986ParticipantDave,
I didnt see mozzies in Mauritania tho I did see bats the size of seagulls! I had to go down to help out Andy, you know what its like when you get to his age 😀 😀
November 12, 2006 at 6:55 pm #8987Participant😕
December 1, 2006 at 8:26 am #8988V3
ParticipantHaving been fortunate enough to endure or maybe that should be survive "celebral malaria" 2 years ago, and that was on the prescribed medication, believe me the risks are high and should be taken very seriously.
I was in Nigeria, got bitten twice in 1 month and suffered for it, the parasite will stay deep in my blood for the rest of my life !!
The normal symptoms can be a headache, a normal condition due to lack of water, diarrhea, normal condition due to something you ate, muscle soreness, maybe a bit of strain pulling something, a general unwell feeling or a flu like feeling, maybe the A/C onboard, etc, some of the Tablets you get give you the same symptoms as Malaria itself !!
The symptoms are difficult to diagnose and to pin down to anything inparticular and you get a false sense of security due to your Anti Malaria Tablets.
I ended voluntarily left the vessel, which didn’t go down well and I was literally on my knees half way up the stairs to the Platform Medic, he took one look at me and medi’vcd me within 20 minutes, he wanted nothing to do with me as an individual and wanted me off his Platform straight away.
In the Clinic, bloods were taken, etc and i was told to sit and wait for the results, the test results showed that I had the parasite, my head felt like someone was forever tightening a band around it and I cannot describe the bone pain in my upper left arm !! My liver readings were all over the place, of the 2 levels they are concerned with, GTO & GTP, I think. One was massively high and the other was massively low, these reading were as a direct result of the Anti Malaria Tablets and the ones I was given as a cure, I also had 5 other different meds to take balance other levels in my body and to boost my immune system, as well as the stuff to calm my stomach down and relieve the pains in my body and bones.
As if it was not bad enough, I have had 2 flashbacks since then, 1 resulted in another medivac trip back to the UK, both turned out negative but still very worrying all the same, in summary, everytime I feel bad, I get bloods taken and tested, better to be safe than sorry, but better if I had have worked elsewhere.
The places themselves were fine, just the health risk now as far as I am concerned, however, if you must go, try this link for cheap Malaria supplies :
http://www.stratford-pharmacy.co.uk/index.cfm?page=pharmacy.listProducts&categoryid=1
Hope this helps
V3
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