My oldest son will be spending 9 weeks in Ghana interning with an NGO, and has been getting mixed info about lariam (also known as mefloquine). Although it's considered to be the most potent prophylactic against malaria, it has such serious side effects that I don't think he should take it--especially given that he will be living in a big city (Accra) and will take precautions against insects.

He will be visiting his university health center later this week to get advice and presumably a prescription, but the care providers there are not tropical disease experts. So I was wondering if any of you had any thoughts on anti-malaria drugs and/or effective mosquito repellants.

Thanks-- JoAnne in northern California