THE MALARIA QUESTION

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ECH, M.D.

Guest
I have never seen such bantering about of who does or who does not have malaria. The single important thing is that malaria HAS been documented, IS being addressed. Who cares if "Tom" does or does not have Munchausen's Syndrome. We have posted enough information on the subject to write a book. I think there is sufficient information or information sources for an individual to make intelligent choices about their health. Lets get on to bigger and better things, like enjoying the Caribbean ambience.
 
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Captain Rick

Guest
It's important because Tom says he got malaria in Boca Chica where the disease has not been reported. Is to lie about this a crime? The authorities back in the USA have been informed by multiple people.

Tom has contacted some of you and your internet providers and threatened legal action. AOL's rules of conduct (<A HREF="httP://www.aol.com/copyright/rules.html">httP://www.aol.com/copyright/rules.html</A>) say it is unlawful to "threaten" or post fraudulent information on any message board or using any communications service, rule number 1. Violations can be reported with AOL - 888-265-3733 or E-mail to tosemail1@aol.com.
 
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Bob

Guest
I wonder if any of you have taken the time to sit back and read your own posts relating to this question?

"Reported to the authorities in the US?" reported what? If you have suffered a loss due to a person making false statements with the intent to do harm, you could file a tort claim seeking redress and possibly prevail in a civil court.

"Is it a crime to lie?" Hardly. Again, this goes to the issue if a person maliciously made statements that caused financial loss to another. Is it anyones business other than an injured party: no. The fact is, you place yourself in jeopardy by accusing someone of a false statement not knowing the facts.

The first rule of litigation: Don't make a statement you don't have the facts to subtantiate, and don't ask a question you don't already know the answer to.

From the last weeks posts, it would seem as though the person making the original post (Tom) would have been a singular incident and hardly any notice would have been taken if it were not for those who wish to gather information they have no right to.

Someone made a post about a "bunch of old ladies sitiing around gossiping." You may well wish to visit that post and reflect upon it

Robert Bourque
 
E

ECH, M.D.

Guest
Pardon my naivet? (and that of the health authorities) . Monitoring of malaria was NOT only carried out in Punta Cana after the reports, but in numerous areas of the country where the likelihood for the disease existed. Give those of us in the medical field a little bit of credit for intelligence. We do not wait for someone to fall ill in each and every province and then report it before beginning the monitoring process. As to the comments regarding legal questions....that is out of my field and I offer no comments or opinions.
 
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Jim Hinsch

Guest
Doctor, we're still waiting for an opinion about long term use of prophylaxis. I have no idea on the safety of long term use of insulin, antihypertensive medication, or anti seizure medication.

Why is it that a prophylaxis is not recommended for residents but is for visitors? What about visits that are frequent enough to be borderline resident? I don't have a "personal" physician, and from the comments here on the board, if I did have one, he would likely be less informed on the subject than you are.

Jim Hinsch JimHinsch@CSI.COM
 
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Bob

Guest
My error

ECH, M.D.

Let me first offer my apology for an apparent misunderstanding. It appears I was not sufficiently clear in my remarks.

I should have clearly referred to the multitude of posts regarding whether or not a person had malaria as the offensive material. Your posts on the disease, its prevalence, treatment and precautions are well presented and appreciated.

Sorry for any misunderstanding.

Robert Bourque
 
E

ECH, M.D.

Guest
Regarding the "opinion" you are awaiting for the results of long term use of prophylaxis (Chloroquine)for malaria supression, I can only quote the recommendations of the CDC and that is to take the medication as long as exposure is present and for 4 weeks following exposure. I have no idea of the safety of long term use of insulin, antihypertensive or anti seizure medication is either but I can tell you what will happen if you don't take these medications!Diabetic coma and death; high blood pressure, stroke and death; seizure, leading to status epilepticus, lactic acidosis and death. As for the remainder of your question(s), you are leading me into a highly specialized area in which I do not feel competent to render an opinion. These questions would need to be answered by a specialist in Tropical Medicine. There is only one school of Tropical Medicine in the USA, LSU (Louisana State University) in New Orleans. I am sure they have qualified personnel there that can answer your question. Sorry I could not be of more help.
 
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Cathy

Guest
Re: THE MALARIA QUESTION - REMEMBER NEW YORK?

Having read countless posts on the Malaria issue, I feel compelled to mention an outbreak of the West Nile strain of Encephalitis in a tiny little American hamlet, namely the New York City borough of Queens. Mind you, this happened way back in the 1900's - the late summer of 1999, to be exact. Betwen 50 and 60 cases were documented (depending on the source) and it resulted in seven deaths. Dead birds which tested positive for the virus were found in all five NYC boroughs and Long Island, Connecticut, and much of New Jersey (12 counties) as far south as Burlington County. I am not trying to minimize the severity of Malaria and its lifelong maladies; only to remind everyone that even a major metropolitan area in a temperate climate such as NYC can be affected by potentially deadly mosquito-borne virus. Our world has become a "global village" - we must take that into account and deal with it in our daily lives. My sincerest sympathy goes to anyone who has contracted any of these terrible diseases, with wishes for a speedy recovery or remission.
 
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Wade

Guest
A few years back when I was in Cancun, I was bitten by some mosquitos. That Evening I had a high fever, but next morning seemed fine. On the plane trip back I noticed that my ankles began swelling up to the point of having to remove my shoes. Over the course of several weeks my ankles would occasionally swell and I'd wake up in the middle of the night with "night sweats". My doctor diagnosed me as having borderline rhumatic fever and treated me as such. He seemed to brush off the possibility of a tropical disease and that it was just coincidental that this occured right after my trip to Mexico. Do these symptons seem consistent with a lingering tropical disease? By the way, I still have some swelling and pain in my ankles which my doctor believes is arthritis.
 
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ECH, M.D.

Guest
The incubation period for malaria is 10 to 35 days after exposure. Additionall, swelling of the ankles is not usually a sign/symptom of malaria.
 
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Susanne

Guest
I am not a doctor at all and you would have to speak to one to be certain. But to me it sounds more like you had a food poisoning of a kind.

Vomiting and diarrhea are the most common symptoms, but they don't always occur, depending on what bacteria infected you. Instead you can feel generally poor, shivering and feverish - and with symptoms like arthritis. The arthritic symptoms can carry on for years, even if it is very rare. This kind of thing is associated both with Shigella, Campylobacter, Salmonella and other interesting bacteria and the like which can undoubtedly be found almost anywhere.

Let me stress once again that I am not a doctor, and I don't offer this as a diagnosis. It's only that my own son had a severe food poisoning (not from the DR) that nearly killed him. And as I was writing about health as a journalist anyway at the time, I took a LOT of time looking into food poisonings. For that kind of gloomy reading, I recommend the Food and Drug Administration and their "bad bug book". It can be found on www.fda.gov.

Regards, Susanne
 
E

ECH, M.D.

Guest
Re: THE MALARIA QUESTION - REMEMBER NEW YORK?

Just to compliment your medical history. In the year 542 Constantinople (now Istanbul) lost one half of its population to the Plague.

Then came a brief five (5) year period between 1347 and 1352 when 1/4 (25%) of the population of Europe was decimated by Plague. You know how many people that was? 40 million in five years!

The next pandemic of plague was in 1850 and lasted for 75 years in China with an ultimate death toll of 20 million people. Plague is rare but does occur in the USA. It also occurs in Asia, Africa and South America. So Nile Fever and Malaria are sort of "pikers" when it comes to the devastation of Plague which is estimated to have killed HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS thru the centuries. Nothing revelent, just some interesting facts to ponder. BTW, we have a vaccine for plague now! NO! don't run out and request a vaccination...not necessary. Just for information also.
 
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Jim Hinsch

Guest
See <A HREF="http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~mow/intro.html">http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~mow/intro.html</A> or click on link below.

Jim Hinsch JimHinsch@CSI.COIM
 
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caroline

Guest
informed decision making is one thing but when 2 "professional patients" start fearmongering little is accomplished. and your quickness to jump upon their bandwagon only helped to "fan the flames" so to speak. only after a very large number of posts is there any mention of the actual potential for risk (approaching the odds of winning the lottery it seems), and now you say 10 to 35 days incubation time. Did our patient tell anyone in her posts how long she had been in DR or when her flu symptoms appeared? are you still surprised at the skepticism in so many posts?
 
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Susanne

Guest
I can't really say that our good doctor here has done anything but to provide sound, balanced and not very upsetting information about malaria in the DR and how to avoid it.

This is a fact: 12 European tourists have so far officially been reported ill with malaria upon return from the Bavaro/Punta Cana area within the last four weeks - the risk is very small BUT IT IS THERE.

Now that you have that information, it is totally up to you what you want to use it for. Whether you want to protect yourself, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control, or whether you would rather not go through the prophylaxis and take your chances is entirely your own decision. But thanks to among others ECH you now have the possibility to make that decision on a relevant and well informed background.

Regards, Susanne
 
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becko

Guest
Re: THE MALARIA QUESTION - REMEMBER NEW YORK?

I have no medical training but a bit of common sense, the DR is a wonderful TROPICAL country. Everyone should try to relax and take WHATEVER precautions they feel they need to and give this topic a rest once and for all. What will the next scare be? Just forget malaria and return to what this message board was meant to be.
 
E

ECH, M.D.

Guest
Caroline, the answer was in response to a post by "Wade" who said he was bitten by a mosquito and the SAME night developed fever. (see the post)I simply stated that I doubted it was malaria because there is a 10 to 35 day incubation period. Wade was inquiring about an experience in MEXICO. And yes, the risk is low. But, if I may use the analogy, the risk of dying from a lightening strike is extremely rare, BUT if it strikes you, guess the risk is 100% cause you are dead. I have not "jumped on any bandwagon" or "fanned any flames." I have tried to provide medical information from a professional's viewpoint and give sufficient information that one can evaluate their risks and make an intelligent decision regarding their health care. Nothing more. ECH
 
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caroline

Guest
I was actually referring to your intial post in response to Mina. Perhaps if it had been as straight forward as the one to Wade-stating potential risks and incubation periods-then all this name-calling you are now bemoaning might not have started. That is all was implying.
 
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