It is true and unfortunate that the Gambia and many of its neighbors
now is an endemic region for chloroquine-resistant malaria which in addition
to being resistant to the traditional treatment drug chloroquine also is a
more aggressive malaria variant that can spread to the brain. Since
chloroquine is no longer effective for treatment or even prophylaxis
(prevention) of malaria other drugs are recommended including mefloquine and
paludrine. Mefloquine has actually been shown to be a safe drug here in the
US, the recommended regimen is one 250mg pill once a week which should be
started a week prior to travel. Possible side effects that have been described
do include seizures or specific heart problems but the only info I could find
here states they occurred as a result of a drug interaction with another
medication, plus the reaction was a very rare one. It is likely that the risk
of side effects increase with higher doses and I am not sure how it is
prescribed in Europe or for children/elderly who often require lower doses
than standard for medications. I am not really familiar with Paludrine as a
prophylactic drug, it does have to be taken in conjunction with chloroquine,
but it is not available in the US for the prevention of malaria. The info I
found suggested that both mefloquine and paludrine were effective prophylactic
drug and neither provides a significant advantage over the other so it
probably is a matter of choice and which one is readily available that goes
into which is prescribed.
Hope this was useful.

Aida F.


On Mon, 30 Aug 1999, Angelika P wrote:

> as from my own experience I experienced the problem of Malaria.
>
> After I stayed in Gambia for 3 good month in rain season 1998 for my marriage with my Gambian husband I finaly returned home to Germany suffering from malaria, although I took the Chloroquine that I was sold in Gambian pharmacies.
>
> I was very weak when I came to the "Berhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Deseases" in Hamburg Germany and there I was told that it was almost "too late". There I was informed, that I almost lost my life because the Chloroquine is useless against the Malaria in the West African Regions.  Merfloquine/Lariam is the medication that can securely help.
>
> If you are interested in more information please reply or look at http://www.bni.uni-hamburg.de/ or http://www.dtg.mwn.de/dtg_e/indexeng.htm
>
> I would be very happy if this information could help to safe lives.
>
>
> A. Prox
> [log in to unmask]
>
>

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