injections

stormrainbow · #1 08-02-2003, 04:32 PM

Hi ya

I read one of the postings below where there was a link to health advice etc. Unless I am imagining things is said injections and malaria tablets were not necessary. We have been informed we need thyphoid/hepatitis injections (excuse my spelling if wrong!) and to have tablets malaria tablets? Is this as we are from the uk? Any ideas?

Ta!!

Ken · #2 08-02-2003, 04:53 PM

Assuming you are going to staying in the usual tourist areas, rather than, for example, near the border with Haiti, you don't need to take medication against malaria.

The injection against hepititis is a worthwhile precaution, probably no matter where you live. I'd recommend it.

Dominican Babe · #3 08-02-2003, 05:03 PM

None of the jabs, nor the malaria tablets, are compulsory for us Brits. They are simply recommendations by the Chief Medical Officer. Tour Operators will almost always tell you that you need them, but Ken is right, unless you are likely to stray off the beaten track, they are not really necessary.

stormrainbow · #4 08-02-2003, 05:11 PM

Thanks! I will consider my options now...but do you think a 3 year old should take the malaria precautions and the injections? My doc says yes but the pharmasist says hed never give his child the malaria tablets, so Im all worried now! What should I do? Does anyone have experiance of children over there?

Thanks

Storm

Dominican Babe · #5 08-02-2003, 05:25 PM

Sorry Storm, can't help as regards kids I'm afraid. I can tell you that the recommended malaria protection is called Avloclor (available from Boots for around £2 for 20 tablets - dead cheap!). According to the dosage instructions on the pack, they can be taken by children aged 1 upwards.

Naturally, you'd be wary to go against what your doctor says, especially where a child's health is concerned. The only thing I would say is that you might have trouble getting a three year old to take them - they taste absolutely vile! No matter how good you are at swallowing pills, you can still taste these.

stormrainbow · #6 08-02-2003, 05:35 PM

Yeah so I hear! Although one make Ive been told about can be taken in liqued form, although thinking about it I cant see how that would be any better, lol!

Its a worry eh! Little boy has to come first...still I have plent of time to decide on what to do.

Thanks for your help, much appreciated.
Storm

andy a · #7 08-02-2003, 05:38 PM

If you decide to take the malaria pills, be sure that they're the right ones for the strain in the Dominican Republic - different than in South America or Africa.

It's called Aralen, at least by one manufacturer. They're also available over the counter in the DR, although the treatment should begin a week or 2 before you arrive.

I wouldn't take it either, unless I were going to be near Haiti, in which case I'd leave the child at home.

Peter & Alex · #8 08-02-2003, 10:50 PM

If you are that worried then call the UK Hospital Centre for Tropical Diseases as they will have the most up to date info on what drug to take for what strain of malaria is currently prevalent in this area, if any. We are Brits, been all over the world and taken every known malaria pill there is but don't bother here! We know of no local cases of malaria here on the north coast.
Hepititis jabs are all very well but for which strain?
Appreciate your concern for the youngster but feel that you are probably getting yourself worked up over nothing. (We brought up 4 kids in remote places in Southern Sudan and Kenya and never had any real problems. Just kept them up to date with their polio, typhoid jabs etc. and tried to make sure they didn't eat too much sand)!
Come, keep him clean and just enjoy the DR!

Ken · #9 08-03-2003, 10:48 AM

I have never heard of an expat on the North Coast giving malaria injections to their children, much less getting the injections themselves.

Amazing the difference in perception between people living elsewhere and writing travel advisories and people living in the country being advised about.

Hillbilly · #10 08-03-2003, 12:34 PM

40+ years: No Hepetitus, except one son got it from Dentist in Esperanza he was "dating" and he gave it to another brother. EOS.

No malaria, and certainly no pills. All kids did normal course of immunizations during infancy.

Unless you are going "exploring" in some really wierd places, I would not recommend anything other than normal, sanitary precautions: Wash your hands a lot.

HB