Malaria Treatment FAQ:
I remember when I went to Sri Lanka once and some of our relatives had gone with us. We had taken malaria tablets but they thought there wasn’t a risk.
I remember when I went to Sri Lanka once and some of our relatives had gone with us. We had taken malaria tablets but they thought there wasn’t a risk.
Sure enough, 2 weeks later they had malaria. However, our relatives who had lived there all their lives had never had any problems with malaria (we had about 200 or so relatives there!)
How come the relatives aren’t affected but tourists normally are?
(Btw - the relatives we went with had lived in Sri Lanka about 10 years before)
I understand they could sort of develop an immunity but what about my relatives, who had only left Sri Lanka 10 years ago or so. Surely anything they had wouldn’t have gone so quickly?
lol! No suitti, most of my relatives did not even know what malaria was!
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
In some cases, the locals have sickle-cell anemia, which keeps the malarial parasite out of the RBCs.
I know that in parts of Africa, people with Sickle Cell Anemia are immune to Malaria. But in Sri Lanka, I’m guessing they’re just more tolerant of it due to more exposure than people in countries where malaria is not as common.
That’s why, when settlers came to the Americas, so many native Americans died of disease. Settlers were carrying disease but were not affected, and they unknowingly (and sometimes purposefully) passed it to the natives.
Make no mistake. Malaria is still a big killer. And it’s mostly locals, since most people are where they are local.
It may be that your relatives have good hygiene habits. Covering themselves when out, and such. It may be too hot for visitors to do this.