When it comes to taking Malarone (or something like it) or not, all I can say is for you to ask your doctor.

for a point of reference, when we (on ROAR 1) took the flight from Capetown to J-Berg... the flight crew walked thru the cabin spraying an anti-bug spray. It stank. But the spread of malaria is much scarier.
Yes, it is that big a deal.

I do not know know the condition in the other countries (India, etc), but my humble advice is not to fool around with it in South Africa.

just my 2 cents worth...Doug