Often it is thought that to have all the shots that are recommended is money making scam. I was of that school of thought until last year. Returning to Tanzania and Kenya after a few years absence, I decided, in a fit of bravado not to have all my shots. I have had malaria in the past and knew the symptoms so didn't bother with the prophylaxis/antimalarials either.
I was careful; I reduced the risk as prevention is better than cure. I ensured I kept my skin covered up particularly between sunset and sunrise. I used deet - a powerful insect repellent on my clothes and any exposed skin. I slept under a net and even when available turned on the air conditioning as it does help keep the mosquitoes away due to the lower temperature.
On my penultimate day in East Africa I became sick. Recognizing the symptoms of Malaria I went to a clinic and was tested. The results were negative but the doctor on duty thought it a sensible preparation to take medication to kill off any parasites that may be in my blood. The incubation period for malaria is about ten days - therefore if I did have malaria it wasn't showing - better to tackle the malaria [as I had all the symptoms] before it became full blown.
Once home all was well; for three months. Then gradually I became ill - I though it might be flu. It couldn't be malaria as it was way past the incubation period and I had taken medication to get rid of any parasites that may be lurking around in the blood. However, the systems kept ebbing and flowing between health and flu - each time it returned with more vigor - and gradually I became quite sick.
I had been convinced for some days I had in fact some sort of malaria. Yet no one believed me. In the end I was so ill my brother in law took me to a 24 hour clinic where the doctor listened but was highly skeptical to my self diagnosis of malaria. He tested my urine which showed 'two plusses of blood' and then I became convinced I had malaria.
The clinic packed me off to hospital and contacted the School of Tropical Medicine - which fortunately was in the same city. A doctor from the School of Tropical Medicine met me at the hospital and proceeded to take tests. He also emphatically and repeatedly said it wasn't malaria and chastised my mildly. I got the impression I was wasting his time on a otherwise quite Sunday afternoon.
After many hours it turned out I had in fact a rare form of reoccurring malaria - so rare they had not seen a case in living memory. I was relieved in a way that I had been vindicated and was not suffering from some form of self delusion. I spent two weeks in hospital. My immune system was in collapse - it was thought I had HIV/AIDS - I was frequently asked about any sexual activity I may have had in Africa. My tests returned negative - vindicated yet again. I spent two weeks in hospital and it has taken a year to fully recover my strength.
So, despite what you may hear - take the antimalarials as to get malaria can be fatal. You do not want to suffer from this disease away from home and certainly you don't want to suffer once you return home as you may have to become quite sick before even the experts believe you are ill. I only have my self to blame - familiarly breads contempt. I return again this year to Africa but I shall make sure all my shots are up to date and I shall take my antimalarials!
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