Lethal Communicable Tropical Diseases And Viruses

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!!

About the author:
Ian Smith goes to the tropics frequently and takes sensible
precautions, find out what they are here.href="http://www.worldwidevacationspots.com/categories/Travel-Adv
ice/">Travel advice about Lethal Communicable tropical diseases
and viruses