Title – Malaria parasites ‘resist drugs’
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 29th May 2009
I have written about malaria prophylactics in this blog before and I don’t propose to revisit the arguments for travellers making sure they take the appropriate prophylactic drug when they visit areas of the world where Malaria is endemic; it’s really a ‘no-brainer’ don’t play Russian roulette with a loaded gun…
The point I want to extract from this story is two-fold;
The first point is that you should seek the latest medical advice and not rely or hearsay or what a doctor told you last year (or the last time you travelled); the situation with the appropriate drugs to use for a particular area of the world can change rapidly. Try not to get caught up in the myths and folklore about which are the ‘best’ malaria drugs or the scare stories about side effects. Go and see your doctor get their advise, if you feel unsure about it, then seek a second opinion (undoubtedly some doctors are more up-to-date than others).
Once you have been told what particular prophylactic is suitable for the area you are visiting, buy the quantity you will require for your whole trip (and include extra if there is any chance you will be extending your stay) in the UK before you leave.
This takes me nicely on to my second point; buying drugs (prescription that is) at your destination.
There are a phenomenal quantity of counterfeit drugs on the market and no where is this more prominent than in Asia; as China and India are by far the worlds largest producer of ‘fake drugs’
The problems with these is two fold; firstly they can be ineffective and therefore lull the user into a false sense of security and even mask symptoms. The second problem is that many of them are actually harmful. Fake drugs are believed to be responsible for over 200,000 deaths annually; a recent report suggested this is nearer 700,000 if you include those victims who die from the diseases they are being ineffectively treated for with fake drugs.
It is really a different problem to other fake items which may fall apart soon after purchase but generally cause disappointment rather than harm. Fake drugs have been found to be carcinogenic, to contain anything from lead to rat poison, to mask symptoms while condition deteriorates and to kill those taking them.
It turns out now they may be playing a part in an even more serious problem. Some of these drugs contain a little of the actual drug in order for them to pass rudimentary tests. Because the doses are so low they don’t kill the malaria parasite, but in much the same way as when we recover from the common cold and develop immunity from catching that particular strain again in the future; this small dose allows the Malaria parasite to develop immunity from the drug.
The difference is Malaria already kills a million people a year and resistant strains have the potential to kill many more than that if immunity develops more quickly than science can.
Fake drugs kill at every level. Like so many fake products these days, fake drugs look almost identical to the real thing. The most effective way to avoid them is to buy your drugs in a country such as the UK where drugs are strictly controlled. If you have to buy them (or top up) while you are away, go to a reputable source, like a proper licensed pharmacy, ask a local doctor and if they seem excessively cheap there is probably a reason…
At
Beyond The Blue (Safe Gap Year) our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness Workshop (GYITSA) considers issues of Travel Health, alongside sessions on Travel Safety, Ethical and Responsible Travel, Travel Equipment, Travel Insurance, Destination Advice, Transport Options, Documentation, Travel Money and Insurance and more.Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 29th May 2009
I have written about malaria prophylactics in this blog before and I don’t propose to revisit the arguments for travellers making sure they take the appropriate prophylactic drug when they visit areas of the world where Malaria is endemic; it’s really a ‘no-brainer’ don’t play Russian roulette with a loaded gun…
The point I want to extract from this story is two-fold;
The first point is that you should seek the latest medical advice and not rely or hearsay or what a doctor told you last year (or the last time you travelled); the situation with the appropriate drugs to use for a particular area of the world can change rapidly. Try not to get caught up in the myths and folklore about which are the ‘best’ malaria drugs or the scare stories about side effects. Go and see your doctor get their advise, if you feel unsure about it, then seek a second opinion (undoubtedly some doctors are more up-to-date than others).
Once you have been told what particular prophylactic is suitable for the area you are visiting, buy the quantity you will require for your whole trip (and include extra if there is any chance you will be extending your stay) in the UK before you leave.
This takes me nicely on to my second point; buying drugs (prescription that is) at your destination.
There are a phenomenal quantity of counterfeit drugs on the market and no where is this more prominent than in Asia; as China and India are by far the worlds largest producer of ‘fake drugs’
The problems with these is two fold; firstly they can be ineffective and therefore lull the user into a false sense of security and even mask symptoms. The second problem is that many of them are actually harmful. Fake drugs are believed to be responsible for over 200,000 deaths annually; a recent report suggested this is nearer 700,000 if you include those victims who die from the diseases they are being ineffectively treated for with fake drugs.
It is really a different problem to other fake items which may fall apart soon after purchase but generally cause disappointment rather than harm. Fake drugs have been found to be carcinogenic, to contain anything from lead to rat poison, to mask symptoms while condition deteriorates and to kill those taking them.
It turns out now they may be playing a part in an even more serious problem. Some of these drugs contain a little of the actual drug in order for them to pass rudimentary tests. Because the doses are so low they don’t kill the malaria parasite, but in much the same way as when we recover from the common cold and develop immunity from catching that particular strain again in the future; this small dose allows the Malaria parasite to develop immunity from the drug.
The difference is Malaria already kills a million people a year and resistant strains have the potential to kill many more than that if immunity develops more quickly than science can.
Fake drugs kill at every level. Like so many fake products these days, fake drugs look almost identical to the real thing. The most effective way to avoid them is to buy your drugs in a country such as the UK where drugs are strictly controlled. If you have to buy them (or top up) while you are away, go to a reputable source, like a proper licensed pharmacy, ask a local doctor and if they seem excessively cheap there is probably a reason…
At
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