Lethal communicable tropical diseases and viruses can do worse than ruin your holiday they can ruin your life, so you need to read this article to be up to speed on lethal communicable tropical diseases and viruses before you travel.
Lethal communicable tropical diseases and viruses can be protected against, by taking one or two simple precautions, before, and during your holidays. Many holidaymakers become obsessed with an irrational fear of being bitten by a malaria mosquito, or being felled by a tummy bug, and so fail to enjoy their holiday.
Whilst Lethal communicable tropical diseases and viruses can kill, there are sensible precautions that can be taken after identifying and assessing the real risk factors.
There are three main sources of Lethal communicable tropical diseases and viruses
INSECT BORNE TROPICAL DISEASES
LACK OF SANITATION CAUSES TROPICAL DISEASES
HUMAN CONTACT AND TROPICAL DISEASES
In each case concerning Lethal communicable tropical diseases and viruses the most important fact we need to remember is:
Protection.
There is an old proverb which says that if something can be measured it can be done, and if it can be done it can be improved!!
The same holds good for tropical diseases.
If lethal communicable tropical diseases and viruses are known about, you can protect yourself from it, if you can protect yourself from it, and you don't, you'll probably catch it!!
The most important precautions against lethal communicable tropical diseases and viruses are:
1. Thorough personal hygiene prevents tropical diseases from striking
2. Appropriate clothing and footwear prevents malaria type tropical diseases
3. Vaccinations and a holiday medical kit are also important in the prevention of tropical diseases.
4. Sensible behaviour, there is no protection from lethal communicable tropical diseases and viruses without that!!
Let us deal in turn with the most well known potentially lethal communicable tropical diseases and viruses
1. Malaria
Malaria is one of the tropical diseases that is widespread in tropical regions.
Infection occurs after a bite from an infected anopheles mosquito.
Protection: preventative medication (malaria prophylaxis).
The type of prophylaxis prescribed will depend upon your ultimate travel destination and any stopovers.
Further precautions are the wearing of clothing that covers the arms and legs and the use of insect repellents and mosquito nets.
Malaria Prevention
Malaria is caught from the bite of an infected mosquito.
It is a disease of the blood.
The mosquitoes do not buzz, and often have a painless bite.
The disease results in fever and flu like symptoms.
Bite prevention is the first line of protection.
If you were born in a malaria zone but have lived away, remember that natural immunity to tropical diseases such as malaria is lost quickly and you should consider antimalarials before returning.
Anti-malarial tablets are safe for most people - see your Doctor or Pharmacist at least 2 weeks before you go away to discuss your needs.
Tablets should be started one week before you reach a malarial zone to make sure they are suitable for you.
Most cases of malaria are contracted because people stop tablets on return home - they should also be taken while you are away and continued for 4 weeks after leaving a malarial zone.
Take tablets at the same time each day or week to make it a habit, take them after food and with plenty of water.
If you are planning to get pregnant - inform your Doctor before you go away.
Any flu like symptoms should be mentioned to your Doctor for up to a year after returning from a malarial zone.
NO MALARIA MEDICATION WILL BE 100% EFFECTIVE. IT IS IMPORTANT TO PREVENT BEING BITTEN!
It is imperative that children receive all the vaccinations recommended, to avoid any chance of them succumbing to tropical diseases.
However, it is not advisable to take infants and small children on holiday to malaria areas.
2. Hepatitis A
This is Infectious jaundice, and it is important that you understand the causes:
Increased risk in areas with poor sanitation, which means most of the third world, makes this one of the commonest tropical diseases.
Infection occurs through contact with contaminated faeces, water (including ice cubes) and food.
Protection:
Vaccination
Preliminary vaccinations with an interval of 2-4 weeks provide immunity for approx.1 year; a booster after 6-12 months then provides immunity for several years.
Administration of immunoglobulin shortly before travel.
3. Yellow fever:
This disease is prevalent in some regions of Africa and South America, and vaccination is required for entry to these countries. Don't forget to check if you are making stopovers en route: many countries require visitors to be vaccinated if they have previously visited a country where yellow fever is prevalent.
4. Polio
Polio occurs worldwide, though incidence is greater in countries with a generally low standard of health where a comprehensive vaccination programme has not been implemented.
Infection occurs through contact with a carrier of the virus, primarily through contact with faeces, though sometimes via contaminated food and drinking water.
Protection:
Vaccination or booster (in oral form or by injection).
5. Diphtheria
Occurs worldwide, primarily during the colder months in temperate zones.
Recent increased incidence in the CIS countries.
Spread by airborne infection.
Protection:
Vaccination or booster, usually in combination with tetanus vaccine.
6. Meningococcal meningitis:
This disease can, and does, occur anywhere in the world. Recent epidemics in numerous African regions and lately also in Nepal and India.
Protection
Vaccination: particularly recommended for long-stay visitors to epidemic areas.
7. Typhoid, Paratyphoid:
Common infections in many hot countries, makes it one of the higher risk tropical diseases.
Infection via contaminated food and water.
Protection
Careful hygiene and vaccination by mouth or injection.
8. Cholera
Infection from low standards of hygiene where cholera is endemic.
Protection
Vaccination against cholera is not obligatory for international travel.
The vaccine does not protect against infection, though it can prevent outbreak of the disease in individual cases.
A cholera vaccination can be advisable for individuals travelling to areas with low standards of hygiene where cholera is endemic.
If in doubt, consult your doctor.
9. Tetanus
"Lockjaw".
Widespread internationally.
Infection occurs via contaminated wounds.
Protection:
Vaccination (booster every 10 years), usually in combination with diphtheria.
We have now dealt with the first two parts of the causes of lethal communicable tropical diseases and viruses, and as a reminder they are listed below
INSECT BORNE TROPICAL DISEASES
LACK OF SANITATION CAUSES MANY TROPICAL DISEASES
I have deliberately left to the last, the details on the prevention of lethal communicable tropical diseases and viruses from HUMAN CONTACT.
Strictly speaking this can't be described as one of the tropical diseases, but AIDS is endemic in many tropical regions, and so we will include it in our list of tropical diseases.
These are of course in the main, the sexually transmitted diseases, which can have quite horrendous consequences for the careless holidaymaker, not only now but for the rest of their lives
For some, relaxing and having fun on holiday involves casual sexual encounters.
Surveys show that many people have sex with previously unknown foreign partners while abroad resulting in sexually transmitted disease on return home.
Abstinence or sex with a trustworthy, lifelong partner is THE ONLY way of preventing sexually transmitted disease.
Extra strong condoms should always be used when having casual sex, they should be bought at home, before travelling, as in many countries local condoms can be destroyed by heat and are often of a poorer quality.
Couples who do not have any sexually transmitted diseases and no other sexual partners can not contract sexually transmitted diseases while on holiday.
If you have any unusual rash, discharge or soreness on return from your time abroad you should stop having sex and see your Doctor or local GUM clinic Nurse immediately.
Protection against AIDS, hepatitis B and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Today AIDS and hepatitis B, along with the "classics" gonorrhoea and syphilis, are the most dangerous sexually transmitted diseases.
The only sexually transmitted disease that is preventable by vaccination is Hepatitis B - see your Doctor or Nurse 3-6 months before you intend to travel for advice.
80% of AIDS cases reported in the UK in 1993 were contracted while abroad.
AIDS is an as yet incurable disease triggered by the HIV virus.
General weakness and, later, complete collapse of the body's immune system follow infection.
AIDS is spread primarily through unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected person.
The disease usually does not break out until many years after the initial infection.
It is impossible to tell by looking at a person whether they are carrying the virus.
People with HIV can pass it on to others even if they do not feel ill themselves, and they might not even be aware that they have the virus.
The only way of telling whether someone is HIV positive is by means of a blood test. The test is only reliable if carried out three months or more after infection, as it does not indicate the presence of the virus itself, but the body's reaction to it (antibodies).
The main way in which AIDS is spread is via unprotected sexual intercourse. Infection can occur during a single sexual encounter with an infected partner.
A risk of HIV infection exists from all forms of unprotected sexual contact in which infected semen; blood or vaginal secretions can come into contact with the partner's mucous membranes.
However, you cannot catch HIV from kissing, stroking, or massage.
The only way of protecting yourself from infection with HIV, hepatitis B and other sexually transmitted diseases is by always using a suitable condom - and using it correctly - during sexual intercourse.
If you don't want to rule out a sexual adventure while on holiday, make sure that you take enough condoms away with you. The condoms available at your holiday destination, if any, may be of bad quality and therefore unsafe.
You should also bear in mind that the percentage of HIV positive men and women in the population can be very high indeed, particularly in tourist centres in Africa, Asia and America.
In some of these areas as many as three quarters of both male and female prostitutes are already infected with HIV.
AIDS and hepatitis B can also be spread through the use of shared or dirty needles and syringes. If you need regular injections for health reasons, make sure you take an adequate supply of sterile syringes on holiday with you.
HIV cannot be passed on by normal everyday contact with infected persons, so there is no need to worry about using cutlery, bed linen, beds, bathrooms and WCs, swimming pools etc. during your holiday.
To summarise this article on THE PREVENTION of lethal communicable tropical diseases and viruses
BE SENSIBLE, UNDERSTAND THAT TROPICAL DISEASES AWAIT THE UNWARY, SO BE AWARE, VIGILANT, TAKE PRECAUTIONS.
IF YOU CAN'T BE GOOD BE CAREFUL!!
Ian Smith goes to the tropics frequently and takes sensible precautions, find out what they are here.Travel advice about Lethal Communicable tropical diseases and viruses |
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