Malaria?s Not So Magic Bullet

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It's a question every traveler should take seriously. If you're 'lucky' and contract one of the three nondeadly strains of malaria, you can expect high fever, dizziness, chills, severe headaches, nausea and fatigue. Less fortunate malaria contractors are infected with the Plasmodium falciparum parasite, which produces similar symptoms but can prove fatal without prompt treatment. Worldwide, malaria infects up to 500 million people annually-and kills nearly 3 million. Some 30,000 U.S. and European travelers are infected each year.

In England, ground zero of the controversy, doctors have noted an increase in malaria cases among returning British travelers. Officials at London's Hospital for Tropical Diseases lay some of the blame on the British media's sensational coverage of what's been dubbed 'Lariam poisoning.' Travelers are afraid to take their medicine.

Beyond the popular press, medical experts have added fuel to the fire. An assessment of Lariam studies published in the British Medical Journal in 1997 concluded: 'The public are now justifiably concerned about the safety of this drug, and the absence of relevant research makes it difficult for doctors to reassure or advise them in an informed and convincing way.Lobel, however, stands by the research that supports Lariam's safety. 'At least 12 million people have taken Lariam,' he notes. 'I'd be surprised if no one got sick from it. Even aspirin causes side effects in some people.'

Dr. Stephen Blythe, who runs a travel clinic in Florida and has conducted his own survey, says, 'The reality of life is that bad news travels much faster than good. While it's true that there are obnoxious side effects, most people can take it without problems.'

But to Lariam sufferers, the risk isn't worth it. 'It's like I lost a year of my life,' says a slowly recovering Giannini. 'I'd rather take my chances with malaria.'

What does this mean for your next trip? Educate yourself on the type and severity of the malaria threat in the region you plan to visit. Chloroquine is still the recommended drug where resistance has not been reported. If you take Lariam, start the dosage several weeks before departure to test your reaction. An alternative drug, doxycycline, which must be taken daily instead of weekly, is available for travelers who cannot tolerate Lariam. If the risk of malaria is low, you may be able to avoid drugs altogether and simply take precautions against mosquitoes.

Visit ESCAPE Online's Coconut Wireless to add your comments to the Lariam issue.

Contact: CDC (877) 394-8747, www.cdc.gov; Lariam Action USA (510) 663-5168.

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