[bamagirl]

We took this on our visit trip and plan on doing it again as a precaution. Our 10 year old son is coming this time for p-up.....does he need it too??

Thanks!

[moelladeville]

According to the CDC, the risk for malaria in Guatamala is rural areas only at altitudes lower than 1,500 meters (4,921 feet). No risk in Antigua or Lake Atitlán. If you're only going to Guatemala City and/or Antigua, you may want to reconsider -- not only for your son but also for yourselves. The side effects of antimalarials can be bad. You might want to consider a second opinion other than the MD who said you should use them. I was told the safest route is to use bug spray with DEET when outside of GC.

I'm curious about this, though. Has anyone ever heard of someone who came back from GC with malaria?

Good luck with your decision.
Marjorie

[jerryscuba]

Uah, I don't know what exactly you are taking, but have you read all the side effects of it??? I have taken Resochin for a trip to Africa and got issues with my stomache. For a Thailand hiking trip I was supposed to take Lariam but decided that Malaria can't be worse than the side effects...
The best prevention from getting Malaria is not getting bit by mosquitos.
It's up to you what you do, but I would not feed my 10 y/o with this stuff. I'd rather stay away from areas with high risk. I doubt GC and Antigua are high risk areas...

Have a good PU trip!
Ralf

[Rivka]

If you are planning to stay in GC or Antigua, it's not necessary. Mosquitoes that carry malaria aren't found in the higher elevations.

We took our 16 year old DD and 6 yr old DS with us and didn't take anti malarial meds. I have malaria, so I know what that the risks of getting it entail - I got it while living in Southeast Asia! It's no fun, but a lot of the malaria medicines have side effects (which is why I have malaria now - I was allergic to the medication!), so if you aren't traveling outside of GC or Antigua, I wouldn't worry about it.

[lisam00]

I have a compromised immune system due to medications that I'm taking and my doctor still felt that I didn't need anti malarials as long as I was only going to Guatemala City or Antigua. There are huge side effects to the meds and I would reallly research before using them...especially for a child.

God bless,
Lisa

[Devora]

Actually, there is malaria in Guatemala City -- just VERY LOW rates of it and mostly in very specific areas (where there is no drainage/sewage and lots of standing water).

However, as others have said, the CDC does not recommend it if you are traveling to Guatemala City or Antigua.

[soon2bemom]

I would NOT recommend antimalarials for a trip to Guatemala City, Antigua, or the highlands. I would strongly recommend them if you are traveling to Tikal, the Peten, or the Atlantic or Pacific Coast, especially if you plan on staying overnight in a coastal or jungle region. Most tourists do not stay at low altitudes and therefore do not need prophylaxis.

[6boysrus]

About 3 years ago the FDA required a warning on the Lariam Product insert due to the extrememly high potential for serious psychiatric adverse events including reported episodes of hallucinations, delusions, suicidal thoughts, sudden, uncontrollable rage, homicidal urges and suicide, may persist even after the drug has been stopped.

http://www.adrugrecall.com/lariam/effects.html

I would have to agree with the other posters in saying that a repellant with a higher concentration of deet would be fine. You arent going to a remote location so the incidence rate is nearly nil.

[JohnnaMJH]

My 10-yo son went with me to Guatemala and did not get any shots. Nor did I. I have heard, as many people here, that the antimalarial is only recommended if you are going to very rural areas.

Good luck!

[aniles]

I spent some time in the Dominican Republic and had to take malaria drugs. The mosquitos were terrible, but honestly the bug spray works really well in places like that (and probably guatemala as well) because they have grown immune to the bug spray like sometimes in this country. Also, there are some lotions that are also bug spray, and I found these to work really well for a couple of reasons. They don't smell as bad as the spray, and you can really get it all over your body. I was swarmed in the DR with mosquitos and only got a few bites when I didn't have spray on.


I do believe some side effects of some of the drugs are nightmares and that type of thing. You'll probably be OK with bug spray/lotion.

[csw]

I sooooo agree with Marjorie...you only need it for the lower lying area's of Guatemala..the area around Tikal for example..not for GC, Antigua etc..you wouldn't believe how few insects we saw..even when I lived in Antigua for 1 month I rarely saw any..