Medical Advice & First Aid
Malaria
The US Centre for Disease Control (CDC), an organisation which tends to err on the cautious side, suggests the following areas have malaria risks:
Cambodia: Risk throughout the country, including risk in the temple complex at Angkor Wat. No risk in Phnom Penh and around Lake Tonle Sap.
Laos: Risk throughout the country, except no risk in the city of Vientiane.
Thailand: Risk in rural areas that border Cambodia, Laos, and Burma. Risk in Ko Pha Ngan. No risk in cities and no risk in major tourist resorts. No risk in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Pattaya, Phuket and Ko Samui.
Vietnam: Rural only, except no risk in the Red River delta and the coastal plain north of the Nha Trang. No risk in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Qui Nhon, and Haiphong.
The WHO makes the following recommendations:
Cambodia: Throughout the year in the whole country except in Phnom Penh and close around Tonle Sap. Risk within the tourist area of Angkor Wat is limited.
Laos: Throughout the year in the whole country except in Vientiane.
Thailand: Throughout the year in rural, especially forested and hilly, areas of the whole country, mainly towards the international borders. There is no risk in cities (e.g. Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya), Samui island and the main tourist resorts of Phuket island. However, there is a risk in some other areas and islands.
Vietnam: Malaria risk exists in the whole country, excluding urban centres, the Red River delta, and the coastal plain areas of central Vietnam. High-risk areas are the highland areas below 1 500 m. south of 18?N, notably in the 4 central highlands provinces Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Gia Lai and Kon Tum, Binh Phuoc province, and the western parts of the coastal provinces, Quang Tri, Quang Nam, Ninh Thuan and Khanh Hoa.
Cambodia
The provinces of Preah Vihear, Siemreap, Oddar Meanchey, Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, Pailin, Koh Kong, and Pursat bordering Thailand are mefloquine resistant -- use only atovaquone/proguanil or doxycycline.
All other areas you can use atovaquone/proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine or primaquine.
No risk in Phnom Penh and Tonle Sap.
Purchased in the west, malarials can be very expensive. While we're not suggesting there's any profiteering going on (perish the thought), there is a definate financial incentive for the pharmaceutical industry to convince you to purchase the pills before you leave home. If you're comfortable using generic medication, malarials are far more affordable in Asia than in the west,so consider spending your money in Asia.
Signs and Symptoms
Shaking chills, headaches, muscle aches, tiredness, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. May also cause anaemia and jaundice. Infection with one type of malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, if not promptly treated, may cause kidney failure, seizures, mental confusion, coma, and death.
Remember PREVENTION is better than CURE....
Cambodia: Risk throughout the country, including risk in the temple complex at Angkor Wat. No risk in Phnom Penh and around Lake Tonle Sap.
Laos: Risk throughout the country, except no risk in the city of Vientiane.
Thailand: Risk in rural areas that border Cambodia, Laos, and Burma. Risk in Ko Pha Ngan. No risk in cities and no risk in major tourist resorts. No risk in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Pattaya, Phuket and Ko Samui.
Vietnam: Rural only, except no risk in the Red River delta and the coastal plain north of the Nha Trang. No risk in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Qui Nhon, and Haiphong.
The WHO makes the following recommendations:
Cambodia: Throughout the year in the whole country except in Phnom Penh and close around Tonle Sap. Risk within the tourist area of Angkor Wat is limited.
Laos: Throughout the year in the whole country except in Vientiane.
Thailand: Throughout the year in rural, especially forested and hilly, areas of the whole country, mainly towards the international borders. There is no risk in cities (e.g. Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya), Samui island and the main tourist resorts of Phuket island. However, there is a risk in some other areas and islands.
Vietnam: Malaria risk exists in the whole country, excluding urban centres, the Red River delta, and the coastal plain areas of central Vietnam. High-risk areas are the highland areas below 1 500 m. south of 18?N, notably in the 4 central highlands provinces Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Gia Lai and Kon Tum, Binh Phuoc province, and the western parts of the coastal provinces, Quang Tri, Quang Nam, Ninh Thuan and Khanh Hoa.
Cambodia
The provinces of Preah Vihear, Siemreap, Oddar Meanchey, Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, Pailin, Koh Kong, and Pursat bordering Thailand are mefloquine resistant -- use only atovaquone/proguanil or doxycycline.
All other areas you can use atovaquone/proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine or primaquine.
No risk in Phnom Penh and Tonle Sap.
Purchased in the west, malarials can be very expensive. While we're not suggesting there's any profiteering going on (perish the thought), there is a definate financial incentive for the pharmaceutical industry to convince you to purchase the pills before you leave home. If you're comfortable using generic medication, malarials are far more affordable in Asia than in the west,so consider spending your money in Asia.
Signs and Symptoms
Shaking chills, headaches, muscle aches, tiredness, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. May also cause anaemia and jaundice. Infection with one type of malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, if not promptly treated, may cause kidney failure, seizures, mental confusion, coma, and death.
Remember PREVENTION is better than CURE....
Dengue Fever
Dengue fever , also known as breakbone fever, is an acute febrile infectious disease caused by the dengue virus. Typical symptoms include headache, a characteristic skin rash, and muscle and joint pains; in a small proportion the disease progresses to life-threatening complications such as dengue hemorrhagic fever (which may lead to severe hemorrhage) and dengue shock syndrome (where a very low blood pressure can cause organ dysfunction). Dengue is usually transmitted by the mosquito Aedes aegypti, and rarely Aedes albopictus. The virus exists in four different types, and an infection with one type usually gives lifelong immunity to that type, but only short-term immunity to the others. There is currently no available vaccine, but measures to reduce the habitat and the number of mosquitoes, and limiting exposure to bites, are used to decrease the incidence of dengue. Treatment of acute dengue is supportive, using either oral or intravenous rehydration for mild or moderate disease, and intravenous fluids and blood transfusions for more severe cases. The rate of infection has increased dramatically ...
The chances of contracting Dengue are still very low in proportion to population, but be aware
http://www.articleslounge.com/medical/indications-signs-symptoms-and-diagnosis-of-dengue-fever/weeblylink_new_window
If you think you may have Dengue Fever seek medical attention as quickly as possible.
- Symptoms of Dengue fever. The symptoms of dengue fever can closely resemble symptoms of influenza. They include fever, joint and bone pain, nausea, vomiting, headache, and fatigue. A rash may also occur ...
- Symptoms may vary in character and severity between individuals. Symptoms can be extremely severe and include high fever up to 105 degrees F and severe join and bone pain.
- There is no definite treatment for or vaccine to prevent dengue fever. Most people who get dengue fever will recover in about 2 weeks to a month by getting plenty of rest, increasing fluid intake and taking acetaminophen (Tylenol) for fever and body aches. People with dengue fever should not take aspirin or medications that contain aspirin because it increases the risk for severe bleeding.Read more at http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/d/dengue_fever/treatments.htm?ktrack=kcplink
The chances of contracting Dengue are still very low in proportion to population, but be aware
http://www.articleslounge.com/medical/indications-signs-symptoms-and-diagnosis-of-dengue-fever/weeblylink_new_window
If you think you may have Dengue Fever seek medical attention as quickly as possible.
