Do i need malaria pills for going to costa rica?

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Captain Commando

No, malaria or typhoid is not a big concern anymore. Dengue fever is more likely here is some information for you:

http://www.therealcostarica.com/health_education_costa_rica/disease_costa_rica.html#dengue

Take plenty of sunblock. The sun is much stronger being closer to the equator and you will fry without it. Its not a bad idea to be updated on you tetanus too.

Pura Vita!

yellowstone

You do not need a typhoid shot and you probably do not need anti-malarials. I suspect you are getting this advice because some websites used by physicians lump Costa Rica in with other Central American countries that have lower public health standards.

I read the local newspapers daily and malaria and typhoid are so rare that they make the national news when there are cases. That said, there are fa few places where you need to consider using an anti-malarial. A few cases are regularly reported for the Limon Province (mostly remote areas near the Panamanian border in the Talamanca mountains) and along the border with Nicaragua. Neither of these areas are frequented by tourists. If you were to spend time in Cahuita or Puerto Viejo on the Atlantic coast, you might bring chloroquine if you want to be super careful because these areas are relatively close to areas that have reported malaria.

Anywhere else in the country, there should be no concerns. You will be fine. Many rainforests in Costa Rica are too high to have mosquito problems (i.e. Monteverde's) and other areas like Manuel Antonio have not had a reported case in a long time.

arexneev

I lived in Costa Rica for five months and didn't have anti-malarials, though I do think my doctor wrote me a prescription for them before I left, which I took with me in case I needed to fill it. Don't know if that would have worked anyway, but hey.

You will want to have good insect repellent - it's expensive there, so pack it yourself. Deep Woods OFF, for example.

Malaria is a decreasing concern, but of course not gone. When I came back to the States and tried to donate blood, I was told that every province that touches a coast (yeah, that's nearly all of them, and you can't enter the country by land or sea without being in one) is considered a malaria risk by American Red Cross. Of course, they're just being appropriately protective of their blood supply. This - and personal experience with the bloodsuckers while I was there - means that the risk is highest on the coasts. If you're in the mountains hiking, there's not really a big mosquito presence.

So I'd advise you to pack lots of bug repellent... in lotion, spray, wipe form...all of the above, even, but not to fret too much over anti-malarial pills.

As far as typhoid - wasn't that a vaccination? Really no reason not to get the vaccine if you can afford it.

Hondu

You shouldn't have to worry too much about Malaria, Typhoid or Dengue if you are going to be spending most of your time in the Rain forest since all of them are much more prevalent in the urban areas. Also, many doctors will tell you that if you plan on being in a malaria endemic area for very long that the chloroquine prophylaxis is almost as hard on you as the disease. As far as elephantiasis, the only relation between it and malaria is that they are both transmitted by mosquitoes. Elephantiasis is very, very rare in CA.

Al Zymer

http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/destinations/central-america/costa-rica.aspx

hot dayum =)

im going to costa rica for a year, and they suggested that i take typhoid pills. you just need to take four and then you are protected for four years! and also it depends where you are, if you need malaria pills or not. its more along the coasts and in the rainforest that you would need them

techniwizz

It is pretty important to protect yourself from malaria as the least you can get is elephantiasis and at worst you could die, I wouldn't of thought you would want to get Typhoid either. Does your travel insurance cover you if you haven't had the jabs? ask your mate to find this out( and have a look for yourself too)

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