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First of all, I think you would appreciate the break and it gives the granny some bonding time.

One needs to evaluate such a decision from all angles. In reality, a child that did not grow up in a malaria area (and it is the season) have zero immunity, cannot take effective anti-malarial drugs and can die from cerebral malaria within 48 hours since you first pick it up.

Many a person on the forum will shoot me down and explain how they took their children as babies and nothing ever happened (to them). It is a fact that the baby has a better chance of not getting sick than getting sick. Much the same as you have the odds when you are playing russian roulette. I, for one, would never play russian roulette with my child.

I would suggest you have some quality time with mommy in the bush and "recharge" for the next round of nappy runs.

In the end, this is the wrong place to ask for advice on the topic as a Sanparks forum is just not qualified to answer a medical question where the well being of your child is at stake. The best answer you can get will be from your paediatrician.

Hi Saffa
I would advise to rather seek advise from your doctor and stick to that advice despite what is said here on this forum. December would be right in the middle of malaria season.
and BTW, is Nelspruit not also in a malaria area?

Saffa

Our daughter will be 2years old this December. We took her for the first time to kruger when she was 4months old - unfortunately there is no medication you can give her at that age. We took a mosquito net for the pram/cot, you get Mr Mozzie spray/cream (babycity) for babies, and i put a little bit of citronella oil in her bath. And we took her inside as soon as the sun was setting. That was April 2009. We stayed in a bungalow.

October 2009 we went camping in Satara, she was then 10 months old. Again no meds could be given. We basically did the same as April, took all the necessary precautions. The weather was quite kind to us, not too hot, but we did drive in the aircon car in the heat of the day, to make sure she gets a good midday rest - cannot stay in camp - caravan too hot. We also spent quite some time at the swimming pool with her. She really enjoyed that (she started crawling in Satara).

Then again in April this year, (16 months old) we went camping in Lower Sabie, fornutately this time she could take medication (she had to be more than 12 kg). But i did for extra precaution, still use mosquito spray. It was quite hot this time, 43 degrees, that was quite a challenge with her. She was sweaty and very irritated, and we couldnt really do anyting about it, we tried to be in the car in the heat of the day.

I think the decision lies with each and every parent, you should decide if you are going to take the risk. We did, and we are grateful that nothing happened. As for your wife being pregnant, that i would say is also a very big risk.

If you do decide to go to the Park - enjoy - and remember to take good care of your little one and your wife.

Hi saffa

Personally, I think it’s too much off a mission in December, just too hot, then also to mission with a 10month old baby...anyway that’s us. Pregnant wife - risk

Took both my children to park at various occasions at 3 months, 6 months etc etc, however we only go in the winter months , always in bungalows etc, never used any malaria medicine, although lots of repellent, etc.

Like someone said, it’s a personal choice for each parent, enjoy it anyway !

Also to be remembered is that the risk of getting malaria in Kruger is not more than getting malaria in Nelspruit, both fall in the high risk malaria area. Actually your chance of getting malaria in Nelspruit should in theory be more because there are more people around who might carry the parasite so greater chance of a mosquito becoming infected.

If you are willing to take your child to Nelspruit for a holiday, you can also take him/her to Kruger.

My first fist to Kruger was as 5 months of age (long ago) and my eldest went on 10 months old.

The wife and i are huge KNP fans and having done 6 trips last year and till date none this year yet as we have had a baby. We are desperate to go but want to take little one with us (5 Months old), i know malaria is always a huge risk so was thinking maybe a day trip ?

Stay maybe within a shortish distance from the park, low risk malaria area and do a day trip ?

Glad to hear grandma will have some bonding time. Trust me, a break from the little one usually does a couple more good than they felt possible!

Just as a matter of interest: people living in a malaria area build a natural immunity to some extend. It has now been strongly suggested that the immunity transfer from mother to baby. Still malaria under infant is a major cause for deaths of children under 2 years.

About treatment for children. Treatment is not as simple as for adults, due to more than one reason:
1) the spleen is usually enlarged and could cause the child problems for the rest of his/her life
2) Children, especially those under 2, deteriorate very rapidly. A couple of cases has been noted where they have died withing 120 minutes of showing the first signs.


The abovementioned is not put on the table to dispute with those that believe in chance or think that something as simple as citronella spray is the answer. It is purely put on the table to scetch the worst case scenario. In the end this is the choice of the parent if they want to expose the child to the risk or not.

Have a look at the 11 guidelines as put down by the WHO international travel plan and decide for yourselves.

Interesting facts from the WHO:

1) 800 000 children in Africa die annually from malaria.
2) The fatality rate of children that did contract the disease is between 8-18%. So if 10 children got the disease, on average 1 or 2 will die.

Hi Gavin

Children as young as that should never go to a malaria area in a risk period!! It is as simple as that, in my opinion.
At 5 months of age, the little one's immune system is not yet fully developed, so if they are unlucky enough to contract malaria, the progression of the disease is very rapid, and they can die within a day or two! Furthermore, it is not always easy to suspect malaria in such a young child - remember they cannot tell you they are ill, and they often pick up fevers at that stage of development, what with colds and flus and, of course, teething!
Moreover, remember that your baby is too young to take conventional antimalarial medications, so that adds more risk.

Personally, if I had a 5-month old, I would make alternative arrangements and not put the child at risk. Your suggestion, however, of day trips - thereby overnighting in a non-malarial area - is about your only proper option (if you cannot find someone to babysit, or don't trust anyone enough to do that), and is feasible. However, remember that you would have to drive quite a way to get to Kruger from the non-malarial areas (consult a malarial-risk areas map in SA), and then make sure you leave the malarial areas before dusk and enter them after the sun has risen. In that case, there is always the tiny chance that an infected mossie remains in your car, but this is often a very small risk.

Depending on when you are going to Kruger, I would also be concerned about the heat: a child's temperature can spike quickly around 5-months of age and the additional ambient heat could complicate matters. Also, the child may cry the entire time he/she is uncomfortable. Then there is the risk of sunburn.

There are other factors that can be taken into account, but, as I said at the beginning, unless you can guarantee being in the malarial area during the day only, and avoiding other complicating factors, it is best not to take your child with.

Disclaimer: My recommendations here - though based on some experience and some drug, and other, knowledge - are not absolute, and further consultation with suitable health-care professionals is suggested before a final decision is taken on whether to enter a malarial area, what prophylaxis to use, and any general factors and limitations that need to be taken into account. Furthermore, I only advise based on what information is given by the person(s) entering the malarial area, but I have no control on the information given to me, and so such information could possibly be incomplete or misleading. Moreover, people vary subjectively as to how they metabolise, and react to, drugs and other substances, which further accentuates that my suggestions here are only general suggestions, and therefore not to be taken as pertaining to every person alike.

gavinp - why not use this as an opportunity to visit another National Park that is NOT in a malaria area?

I see you live in Johannesburg, so you can easily get to Marakele, Mokala or Golden Gate.

I would especially recommend Mokala - the accommodation is fantastic, the staff exceptional and there is a good restaurant if you do not feel like doing your own thing for every meal. The animals are interesting and there are quite a few birds you will not see in KNP or Johannesburg, as Mokala lies in the West of the country.

It is a bit further to drive than KNP, but the trip is well-worth it.

Save KNP for when the little one is a bit older.

Please consult your doctor as your pregnant wife could suffer vey serious consequences to her own and your unborn baby's health if she was to contract malaria.
Could the moderators request forum members not to give medical advice based on their personal experiences if they are not qualified to do so.
Sorry to have to alert you to these risks.

In ALL cases it is recommended to go on your DOCTOR'S advice......

I think it is more important that members realise this is the internet and should keep in mind that all over the net wrong info and advice is posted. The ultimate responsibility of what action they take lies with the reader.

Please note what we wrote:

What you should always do
This is just a little guide, most people can just take simple precautions, but not every body is the same, so visit your doctor and ask his/her advice! Especially pregnant woman should do so, your baby is at risk!
Also keep in mind that children under 5 kilos can not take antimalarials, so the only protection they have is mosquito repellant soaps and spray... And if they are somewhat heavier the side effects listed at the end of this post are not really pleasant...

That you can find here, along with more information.

OK - I have been hiding as a 'guest' for ages, but I have decided to pop up from under my rock just to congratulate you, gavinp, on your decision . It's not a case of 'not being stupid' - it's being prudent. Malaria can be fatal, and it's a new life that many forumites seem to be very cavalier about .

I agree with DQ, btw - MZNP, Addo and Camdeboo would make an ideal triangle to explore. The only thing is - NO IMPIES

I think everybody should awnser fore themself on this one.My son is now 7 mounths old was in kruger three times.Yes there is a risk factor but that is were every parent must decide is it worth it or not.Is the risk low ore high and do you feel save to take your kid there if the awnser is yes go.If no then dont.It is that simple