Flying back into the UK with Malaria

[pollyspantry]

DH has been taken ill with malaria in Nigeria on business. He's been there for around 2 weeks. Started to feel the symptoms about 4 days ago but foolishly 'pushed through'. He is being sent home tomorrow - likely to arrive early hours of Saturday morning. He has been taking anti-malarials the whole time, and has been given some more of a different type by local doctor to combat his symptoms. No bloods have been taken to determine which strain.

Kids both screaming at me right now, so not quiet enough to hold proper conversation with NHS Direct (which I will do in a few hours when it is quiet) but just wondered if anyone in the know could advise before then as I'm worrying...

Should I take him straight to A&E on arrival at Heathrow?
Or to a specialist tropical diseases centre?
Or just the local GP for an emergency appointment and blood test (assuming treatment is just another prescription?)

I'm trying to work out whether i should be panicking (having seen some real horror stories via google) or whether a GP appt is more appropriate. DH will not be impressed with hospital visit as he is one of those men who thinks a Lemsip will sort him out, nothing else required. Will have to simply drive him there and apply force if necessary. Thanks in advance for any opinions.

[NettoHoHoHoSuperstar]

Gosh, I have no idea, ut my sympathies, I've had malaria and it's loody awful.
Hope someone more helpful is along soon.

[LadyMaryChristmas]

Head straight to A&E. They will contact the tropical diseases centre there and will be better resourced to start treatment right away.

I hope he recovers quickly.

[ohmeohmy]

Head for a and e at university college hospital at warren st. They are near the hospital for tropical diseases and also saved Cheryl when she had malaria.

[OhyouMerryLittleKitten]

Why don't you phone the hospital for tropical diseases and ask their advice.

[OhyouMerryLittleKitten]

oh it says not to

[pollyspantry]

Thanks everyone - although I am collecting him from Heathrow, we live about 1.5/2hrs north of London. Currently staying with my family in Surrey for Christmas.... soooo, perhaps best to leave the kids with my parents, collect DH from airport, drive the 30 mins back to Surrey and take him straight to A&E at parents local hospital? then we have my family on hand if I need to visit him/he is admitted/we need to pop in & out of London etc?

Will call NHS direct shortly, but thanks for advising me in the meantime.

Netto any advice for things I could do to make him more comfortable? Any ideas how he might make his 7 hr flight home better?

[EldritchCleavage]

Malaria should always be taken seriously but it can vary very much in severity. In particular, if your husband was taking anti-malarials there is no reason to suppose he will get the most severe symptoms, so please don't let Google frighten you.

I think UCH is your best bet. When my friend returned from the Far East with dengue fever he was admitted there.

[NarcolepsyQueen]

UCH is where you should head - not your local a&e!

[pollyspantry]

I'm going to sound pathetic now... I don't think I can drive into central London; I'm not a Londoner and I'm a relatively new driver.

Would it not be OK to attend a South London/Surrey A&E and then he could be transferred by ambulance if needed?

Or should I maybe meet him at the airport and get the train into London with him? Will have littlest baby with me though, as exclusively breastfed...

[CMOTDibbler]

I'd go to the local (to your parents house) A&E, then they will decide what to do with him after that. They can ring UCLH if they need advice

[RillaBlythe]

I personally would just go to your nearest big A&E, I wouldn't make a huge effort to get to UCH from Heathrow.

[MustafaCake]

Londoner here, who has spent time at UCH!

It's VERY easy to drive to from Heathrow. It's on one of the main roads into town from Heathrow, you can see it from the road. No need to get yourself lost going round London at all.

You will be able to manage it.

[BlameItOnTheBogey]

10 years ago, I got malaria whilst in Africa on a work trip and flew back into heathrow. I had also been given local medicine. My work arranged for me to go straight to the centre for tropical diseases and they also arranged for a car to meet me at the airport and take me straight there. If he is there on work, do they not have a similar duty of care for him?

[lidlqueen]

I would drive to UCH - London driving is no harder than anywhere else, to be honest.

[MonaLotte]

I really think he should go to the appropriate hospital as you local a and e may not be equipped and you could waste valuable time transferring him.

[LadyStark]

You'll be fine to drive to UCH, it really is an easy driver from Heathrow into London and it's no harder to drive in London that it is elsewhere, honestly you'll be fine.

[aufaniae]

If you are not happy to drive him to UCH arrange for a friend or family member to do it. (although I agree with the others, it's not a difficult journey, you'll be fine :) )

It's more important that he gets the best care ASAP, then that he's somewhere convenient for you to drive to.

[OhyouMerryLittleKitten]

Certainly there's a big argument that a local nhs hospital may not deal with this appropriately, especially at the weekend where they may not be seen by a consultant. You might find they underplay it and send him home when that might not be the appropriate action to take. Can you phone work and ask that they send a car to transfer him to hospital as Bogey did.

[AllOverIt]

Get someone else to pick him up and drive him if you don't feel confident driving in London.

[pollyspantry]

Car arranged - I will go in on train with babe in sling. Now to worry about taking baby into germ-ridden A&E... thanks all :)

[OhyouMerryLittleKitten]

Oh well done. I do feel for you, I'm sure it's the last thing you need, but its the best place for him. Perhaps take a muslin cloth to put over baby if people are looking germ ridden. Good luck with it, keep us updated.

[lidlqueen]

good one polly, it is the best place for him, for sure

[ohmeohmy]

How is he doing ?

[MaMattoo]

How is he? Malaria can only be tested for when fever is high and a blood sample is taken then. Hope you reached Uch ( they are good)

[Looster]

I caught falciparum malaria in Ghana and flew back in similar circumstances (BA upgraded me to 1st class btw from economy because i'd been ill!)

If the hospital in Nigeria tested his blood too see what type of malaria he had, the drugs prescribed to treat the malaria should have been specifically targeted. If that is the case (that he had a blood test), then the meds he have should be effective. But if he was not so tested, he should go to the trop med hospital more quickly. The fevers come in cycles so you can think it has gone when it hasn't. My malaria was correctly diagnosed (eventually) in Ghana (by blood test) and although I did get referred by my local hospital to the hospital for tropical medicine, I didn't need any further anti-malarials. Had some hefty amounts of drugs for the giardia and dysentery that I had come back with though - so likely they will refer him for a full screen.

Your poor DH - it is truly quite horrible but such a relief when it goes. Depending on the type/stage, it can leave you quite weak for a while. Hope he gets better soon