My husband and I just learned of this and are hoping anyone with any information will share with us.
We're terrified for a young couple who are dear friends and are planning a year long mission in Malawi Africa.
Do they have Lyme and or ticks? Sounds like dumb question, but this is a huge concern. They want to spend their first year of marriage there, and then return home and start a family.
I'm terrified SOMETHING will leave them too ill to safely go on with their lives, or have healthy babies. Any thoughts? Thank you for your help. Suz Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- I think it is a fabulous idea.
The world is full of things that can hurt us. The key is knowledge. I'm sure they have much to learn and will enjoy doing so. They will not be alone in their journey.
I've known a few people who lived in Africa for a year or more. They are all in marvelous health and have a far deeper sense of world culture that helped them grow as human beings.
I'm sure the young couple will become educated in how to take care of themselves and may learn some things that will serve themselves, as well as others, for years after their visit.
There is so much to learn from visiting others' homelands and being taught their ways - and sharing with them some of ours - for a true exchange and rich human experience. Nothing can top that. -
[ 01-03-2010, 11:46 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posted by MADDOG (Member # 18) on :
I would be more scared of the lions there.
I have not heard of lyme there.
MADDOG P.S. That is one place were I woulden't chase the cats!!!!!
Posted by kam (Member # 3410) on :
I think it is a good thing too.
LOL maddog
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
wow, good idea.
i'm too big of a coward tho and with my illnesses i'm afraid of being away from the docs and hospital.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- There are doctors in Africa, too. -
Posted by kitty9309 (Member # 19945) on :
Malaria prevention.
I am sure they will need vaccines prior to their trip.
They can ask the doctor about other risks of foreign travel.
It is no reason to stay home. Posted by Nicole_Denise (Member # 20620) on :
Haha- actually, at one point before I found an LLMD I was thinking of going to a travel clinic, and telling them I was going to a country with malaria, so I could get antibiotics.
If they are going to Africa, they will have to be on some sort of ant-malarial. I think in Africa they use Malarone/Mepron, but I'm not sure. I know in certain countries (I think Thailand) they even use doxycycline, because the malaria is resistant to most bacteria.
So while they do have to be careful and ensure they take their anti-malarial, they shouldn't have to worry about Lyme
Posted by grandmother (Member # 19908) on :
Years ago, I saw a documentary, about Africa, and a small part of it was about a baby giraff who died because 50,000 attached ticks sucked the life out of it.
It's mother could do nothing and the film crew would, apparently, rather film nature taking its course than help the animal.
Malaria is a plasmodium. Isn't malaria treated with quinine etc? Or has that changed?
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Spirochetes and Borrelia infections of various strains are on every continent. So are ticks. However, your young friends are as at risk in a backyard garden as anywhere else. But lyme is not the only thing that requires education to ensure health. There is a whole host of things to learn about how the world of microbiology can derail us.
Still, I have to say for anyone to recoil from adventure - when they can be out in the world - is already dead. To shy away from experience (when able to do otherwise) just puts the lid on an invisible coffin.
I'm so homebound and that is killing me more than the diseases themselves. What I have to do to survive now is understandable, given the sensory stuff but, nonetheless, were it at all possible, I would give my eye teeth to experience other cultures. Even 35 years ago, right out of college I wanted to join the Peace Corps but was not well enough. Then, I wanted to work with National Geographic. Again, not well enough. Ditto, later even for Sierra Club outings.
Dreams put on hold. Life put on hold. All because I had not had knowledge of how to prevent or treat a trio of tick-borne infections.
So, this touches on a very passionate issue for me.
Anyone able to do so, with even an ounce of desire, should NEVER be held back from mere fear of what could happen. Here, in the U.S., just days ago came the news that fecal bacteria has been found in soda fountains. The out-of-doors, other cultures, are looking better and better.
Sure they'll be many things the young travelers will need to learn. However, with knowledge, fear can subside. WIth knowledge, prevention prevails. Fear will bury us. Education can arm us with tools - and free us.
I encourage anyone who is able to get out for distances near and far to experience all that the world and its people have to offer.
For all the dangers, the world is still a marvelous playground. -
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
Malaria and Momba's. And mean ticks. Oh and stay out of the water. And don't drink the water. No fresh vegetables unless cooked. Saw
that one on Monsters inside us. I would take loads of repellents. Don't know what kind of packaging is allowed. Personally I would worry more about
the natives so as soon as I got there I would purchase something for personal protection. Safety in numbers. Know where medical help is found and how far away. Then I would have a blast.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- I wonder if visitors worry the same about us when they travel to the states, fearing that they might be attacked?
I've only been to other countries three times but, each time, found the native population to be warm, sincere, friendly and looking out for my happiness and travel safety. -
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
Study finds UNICEF program in West Africa fails
Posted by ajisuun (Member # 17658) on :
I have lived in Africa for more than 10 years. Are there sicknesses and other dangers? Of course. But should this couple (or you) cower in fear about what MIGHT happen there? No. People get sick in the US and they get sick in Africa.
I might not be the best one to talk since I did end up with African tick bite fever (not Lyme) which then but my body into an autoimmune response which gives me symptoms very similar to Lyme. However, the truth is, I could have gotten Lyme or something else here in the US. You can't avoid all illness. You do what you can by taking the proper precautions, but beyond that, you live your life.
Posted by carly (Member # 14810) on :
Just keep them out of my old garden, it's full of ticks! Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- ajisuun,
Thanks for your reply. While I've only dreamed of traveling to the beautiful continent of Africa - and hope to do so someday, the people from there whom I've had the honor to know have been truly the most memorable with deep warmth and a spark of life that is just so very much fun to be around.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)