[tsuyoshi]

In Cambodia, I got what I assume must have been a less serious case, because I didn't have any vomiting or diarrhea, only the worst headache I've ever had in my life. Luckily the lack of air conditioning wasn't a big problem, because it was close to the coldest part of the year.

It permanently reset my pain scale. When I later had a pulmonary embolism and appendicitis, the doctors were confused that I said my pain was only 7 on a scale of 1 to 10.

The drug I took for it (mefloquine) didn't give me any unusual dreams, but it permanently altered something in my brain.

I don't agree that DDT is necessary to eradicate malaria. See for example that malaria has been eradicated in Thailand (except for border areas), but not (yet) in Cambodia, Laos, or Myanmar, despite having the same climate. A combination of regular pesticides and flood control are sufficient - if the government is competent and dedicated. It's a political problem, not a technical problem.

[cguess]

I feel you with the pain. It was horrifying.

RE: DDT, I didn't mean to imply it's the only way these days, just that there was a very good reason it was so popular in the former part of the 20th century. I love the tune to "Big Yellow Taxi" but it was never about "spots on my apples." It still is used in very rare and specific circumstances, but we have a lot better understanding of how to stop mosquito. Which is why they're really only a problem in poor countries, mitigation is unfortunately not cheap and convenient.

[tim333]

>I assume must have been a less serious case

Wikipedia has:

>Cerebral malaria is the form of severe and complicated malaria with the worst neurological symptoms.

Glancing at this it may be more likely your brain was altered by the malaria than the mefloquine https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3056312/

[tandr]

> but it permanently altered something in my brain

Sorry to ask and if it is not too much to share - What kind of changes are you talking about?