Have I got malaria?

September 10, 2010 5:08 PM

Have I got malaria? Cheap places to get tested in new york city?

Hi! Just got back from 2 month trip to Kenya one week ago nairobi most of the time, visited the coast for our last week, and have developed fever (102º), headache, nausea this morning w/one episode of vomiting. tendon and abdominal ache/sore muscle 'pain' (did visit the climbing gym tuesday, three days ago)
We took Malarone the required number of days before we went to malaria areas, and took our last pills today. My partner has been experiencing some of the GI side effects of Malarone (we assumed thats what they are), and I thought thats all i had too, but the fever has us worried.
oh, and of course i have no health insurance. welcome back to the usa!
Located in brooklyn, could go to ER, methodist is close, but would like a cheaper option if possible. any ideas? Do need to go the ER tonight, safe to wait until morning? is this only a flu like i desperately want it to be?
thanks thanks thanks!

posted by 5lbauthority to Health & Fitness (14 answers total)

The City of New York thinks you should go to the ER:

When malaria symptoms start, they may be similar to the flu. Cycles of chills, fever, and sweating occurring every one to three days are characteristic of malaria. People returning from an area where malaria occurs who become ill should see a doctor immediately.
posted by fairytale of los angeles at 5:15 PM on September 10, 2010

Yeah sure, it could be the flu.

But isn't this one of those times where you'd rather be expensively wrong than dead wrong?
posted by TooFewShoes at 5:43 PM on September 10, 2010

Can you call the ER and ask whether they think you should come in? Usually you watch a fever/vomiting for a few days, but they may think it's different if you've been abroad. There's an awful lot of stuff that can cause the symptoms you describe, not just malaria -- someone I know got dengue fever after a trip abroad. If you can wait, maybe go to a clinic that's open on weekends tomorrow.
posted by palliser at 5:59 PM on September 10, 2010

Response by poster: yeah, better safer than sorry.
Any clinic recommendations?
posted by 5lbauthority at 6:06 PM on September 10, 2010

I've had malaria three times and, well, it's unlikely you'd confuse it with flu. Obviously there are different strains but for me the obvious symptons were:
Vomiting up everything that passed my lips, even water.
Feeling so weak and shaky I just wanted to lie on the floor. Forever.
Very high fever - as in it was 38 degrees celcius and I had on three blankets while spasming uncontrollably with shivers. As in I now wear glassses because the fever MELTED MY EYEBALLS and changed their shape permanently.

My boss' daughter was just medivaced to Singapore after getting Dengue fever in Indonesia because her blood vessels started leaking fluid internally. Shes ok now but it was very serious for a while there.

Go to the doctor.
posted by Wantok at 6:59 PM on September 10, 2010

There's a 24 hour walk-in clinic that acts more like a doctor's office (for insurance, for instance) than an ER and is much cheaper (even/especially if you don't have insurance), and probably you'll have shorter wait time to see an MD. I went once and it was perfect for what I needed.

I couldn't find a website for them, but this Yelp page has the phone number and address.

Good luck!
posted by Salamandrous at 8:04 PM on September 10, 2010

Also - they're affiliated with a hospital - my impression is that that can be useful if you do need more treatment or testing than they can do on-site. I'll paste the info here, for the record:

Docs Physicians - Beth Israel Medical Group
202 W 23rd St
New York, NY 10011
[phone]
posted by Salamandrous at 8:08 PM on September 10, 2010

I've heard that the 34th street location is better, and I personally had a great experience there once. Also, some Docs doctors will drop their prices if you do not have insurance.

Docs Physicians
55 East 34th Street
New York, NY 10016
posted by thegreatfleecircus at 8:25 PM on September 10, 2010

I've also used the 34th St. location, and they were good too - but I'm under the impression that they're not 24 hours - is that not true?
posted by Salamandrous at 8:37 PM on September 10, 2010

I went here to get my travel vaccinations after calling about 30 places to find the cheapest.
Not sure if this will be useful to you, but it's worth calling them to find out:

BRONX-LEBANON HOSPITAL CENTER
Neighborhood Clinic for Travel Health
1650 Selwyn Avenue
Milstein Building, Suite #2c
New York City, NY 10457
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
posted by Kateruba at 8:52 PM on September 10, 2010

Can you call the ER and ask whether they think you should come in?

I work in an ER in New York City. We don't give out medical advice over the phone. I typically say "I can't evaluate you without seeing you, but if you're concerned I'm happy to evaluate you. We're open 24/7."

Vomiting up everything that passed my lips, even water.
Feeling so weak and shaky I just wanted to lie on the floor. Forever.
Very high fever - as in it was 38 degrees celcius and I had on three blankets while spasming

These are pretty classic influenza-like symptoms. Malaria is often confused with the flu.
posted by gramcracker at 2:33 AM on September 11, 2010

Response by poster: so, went to park slope family health center on saturday 0830, talked to an MD by 1030, told to return monday 1330. Returned today was seen very quickly, given copy of my lab results and told that I do not have malaria. exclamation point. Total cost - $90.

@Kateruba: we got our vaccines at a free city run clinic before we went, they gave out everything except travel vaccines free. good deal.

thanks for the answers everyone.
posted by 5lbauthority at 12:02 PM on September 13, 2010

Thanks for the update -- how are you feeling now?
posted by palliser at 12:46 PM on September 13, 2010

Response by poster: feeling fine in regards to the original problem.
but, two weeks ago I fractured two bones in my L foot after landing funny on a sidewalk. silly exuberance. sigh.

thanks for the help everyone.
posted by 5lbauthority at 12:02 PM on October 13, 2010