malaria county with 20 month old...how can I avoid her being bitten?

[forevermore]

I am going to meet my ather for the first time in Ghana, West Africa. I am going with husband and 20 month old in March. We have had our jabs and we will all be taking malaria tablets ( i figured i would give dd her's inside a chunk of bread or something???

Anyway just looked at a guide book and it says avoid areas with malaria if pregnant or travelling with children. Now I am sh..ing it.

feel guilty for bringing her, but no one to leave her with!

some other MNettters have been to West Africa with toddlers i think?? how do you make sure they are not bitten. I just have boots insect repellant and ben told to treat her skin and clothes!

any more tips? Or should i just cancel the trip?

Using a mosquito net over her cot/bed will help. Also stay inside in the evenings and keep her off grass, which is where we tend to get bitten quite often. If you're taking malarone tablets it's very effective so I wouldn't worry too much. Lots of expats have babies/toddlers here in Nigeria and they seem to stay remarkably well - it's the adults who get malaria. Hope you enjoy tyhe trip!

thank-you; yes we are taking malarone. just feel so guilty fo taking her.

it reasurring to know other (westerners) take toddlers to west africa.

do you know if the little ones get side effects with the peadiactric malarone?

Dh, dd and I have been taking malarone for a year, with breaks when we go home. The only side effects have been that dd (10yo) and I have had mouth ulcers. But they only appear after about six weeks of taking malarone so if you'll be in Ghana for less time than that it shouldn't be a problem.

don't worry too much, we have just left Cameroon after 4 years, with 2 toddlers and (touch wood she says) no malaria. Good mosquito nets, thin cotton long sleeves and trousers from about 5pm if outside and mossie repellent whenever outside especially as suedonim says when playing on the grass. Good repellents for kids with no DEET are mosiguard (can get it through travelpharm website) or mike mossie (on kidswindow website) both IME are better than the Boots one. Malarone offers the best protection and you are unlikely to get malaria while taking it. Just remember to mention on your return that you have been to Ghana if you or your child falls sick at any time.

Its a great country and I'm sure you will have a great time.

Oh, have you left Cameroon for good, CM? Whereabouts are you now? (Tell me to clear orf if I'm being too nosey!)

Re the mozzie spray, do you know of one for children that doesn't smell? They all seem rather pongy.

hey there Sue, just left Cam a month ago and now in grey Somerset! At 24 weeks pg and two small children i haven't had time to miss it all too much..but have had enough of the ironing already! Still am eating some delicious cauliflowers and bacon and mushrooms and fresh cream...

As for non pongy mossie cream, I found a local French one which did the job in the end, a fave amongst the americans is Avon's offering tho I am not sure how effective it really is!

Hi there and congratulations on the pg! I love Somerset, one of my favourite counties, esp the Levels. Mind you, a grey January day...

We finally have cauliflowers here, yippee, though they are HUGE, would feed a family of a hundred, lol. One of the supermarkets has re-opened after a 'mystery' fire and now stocks bacon. Still no mushrooms or cream and I'm not expecting any either. We going home at Easter so shall stuff my face then.

Drat about the Avon - I put an order in with someone here whose dd in the UK does Avon. This poor chap then comes back to Nigeria with suitcases laden with cosmetics and other ladies accoutrements.