Vaccinations and medications

My husband and I will be on the Spotlight On India tour starting February 26. What vaccinations/precautions do most travelers take? Also, what medications, including over-the-counter meds, are advisable? We are experienced travelers, but feel that we should be more cautious and aware when traveling in India. We are very excited about this trip and wouldn't want it spoiled by something preventable.
Thanks for your advice...

Comments

  • Talk to your doctor. We took Malarone pills once a week (before, during and after) as a precaution. Did not have any side effects. We did get a few bites there, but really the likelihood of getting malaria is slim (my 4th trip to India). Do bring Imodium, pepto, antacid,, anit-bacterial lotion. Also bring sunscreen wipes as a few times it may be very hot and sunny.

    This is an amazing tour. Also suggest checking out some of the Oberoi "Experiences" on their website - not part of the Tauck tour but worth doing and the cost. We arrived a couple days early in New Delhi and did the Tea Tasting, and private cooking lesson with the chef at the hotel. The cooking lesson was fantastic. Also did an excursion to Arkshardham temple (car/driver from Oberoi) - worth seeing and spending a few hours there.

    In Jaipur we did the Oberoi Experience - Elephant Safair to Naila - was a wonderful elephant ride through the farm country, with "high tea" (meal unto itself) at Naila Fort (private residence of Mr. Oberoi)
  • Please check drug facts, I believe Malarone is taken daily starting two days before you go and 7 days after you come back. worth getting a few extra pills in case you are delayed on the way home. Also ask your doctor to prescribe an antibiotic like Cipro to have available in case you fall ill to some kind of infection or more rampant Delhi bellie
    Never underestimate the seriousness of contracting Malaria, once you have it that's it, it can kill. You or you will have it flare up for life. Have you ever seen someone with a malaria attack? I have, it is not pleasant!
    We will be on this trip in February
  • When are you going British? I'm on the Feb 12 trip and don't plan to take Malaria prophylaxis
  • Hi. Will be on the February 5th trip. Why would you not protect yourself? India is one of the worst countries to potentially contract Malaria and other mosquito related diseases. Better safe than sorry
  • Since we aren't going during rainy season the risk of contracting mosquito borne illnesses is slim.
  • Starting Malarone on Feb 10
  • British and the CDC trumped my reluctance to take anti malarials
  • Hi Shelley, just saw your reply. Hope you have a wonderful trip. Don't forget the insect repellent too! British
  • Hi,
    We are going to be on the same trip and look forward to meeting you. Your Travel Disease Specialist can best advise you about vaccinations. We were assessed by our specialist and were given the following:

    - Malarone (for malaria): 1 tablet daily to be taken until 3 days after leaving the malaria affected area. We are to start taking it one day before going to an area of risk (in our case, one day prior to leaving Delhi for Varanasi).

    - Dukoral (for cholera and diarrhea): 2 doses. The 1st dose is taken 2-4 weeks before the trip, and the 2nd dose is taken 1 week after the 1st one. Unfortunately Dukoral is only 30-50% effective. So, if we develop diarrhea in spite of having taken Dukoral, we are to take Azithromycin 500 mg per day for 3 days and also take immodium.

    - In addition, we have received vaccinations for typhoid (required every 3 years); diphtheria, tetanus and polio (required every 10 years); Twinrix for hepatitis A and B; influenza vaccine; and pneumovax.

    - A big concern is the epidemic of dengue fever in northern India. Unfortunately there is no vaccine for this virus and all one can do is to protect oneself from mosquito bites by using insecticide. We were given Ben's 30 DEET, which is available on the Tauck site.

    Of course it is up to your physician to decide what is best for you, and I am just sharing what we were advised. We are getting so excited about our trip. See you soon.
  • Good advice--and specific too.

    I don't know where you live, but most larger cities, especially if there is an university with a medical school, have Travel Immunizations Specialists on board. Their visit and some of their medications are not usually covered by insurance in the US. I don't know about anywhere else. They will discuss medications, side effects, and effectiveness of a variety of Rx.

    I have had malaria and it was not pleasant. I wasn't sure if it was winter or summer--I was shivering and sweating at the same time. 104 degree temps along with dehydration are no fun. I had one very mild reoccurrence a year after the initial contraction. I have not had one since and that has been over 40 years ago. You want to do everything possible to avoid it. The meds might give you a bit of short term diarrhea, but some Immodium will probably clear that up.

    The best thing for every individual is to go to the Travel Immunizations Specialist with your medical records so they can design a plan that takes into account any medical issues you might already have. Most PCPs don't really know much about this--it isn't their job--so they will send you to someone who does. Good luck and enjoy the trip.
  • For those who took Malarone, what did you use to take it with? The instructions say it's best to use a milky type drink. I am a bad pill taker, so I am wondering what will be available.
  • We are taking our Malerone after dinner when we get back to the room, we are in India now and are having no side effects. It is best taken with or just after a meal, not on an empty stomach
  • My husband always took Malarone in the middle of eating dinner when he went to Africa. We also take pro-biotics with every meal and did NOT get delhi belly while we were in India over a year ago.

    Sheila
  • We have done the India trip and it was absolutely superb. We took malaria pills in preparation for the Kerala part, but as for tummy upset we took what we thought would work. At the outset the Tour Director warned us not to bother with taking Western remedies - they are useless. Our instructions were to tell him immediately if we were afflicted. I had to do that (unhappily on the Taj Mahal day). telephoned him at 0800 and the doctor was with me by 0830. Good examination then gave me pills which were effective very quickly indeed. Another traveller thought they knew better and took their own meds with ongoing problems.
    Just enjoy your journey. If you get hit, deal with it there and then.
    Richard
  • thank you all for all your advise. I still have my original question: what liquid did you use to take Malarone with?
  • Take the Malerone with water during or just after your evening meal. Then there is no need to take it with a milky drink.

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