Staying Healthy In Thailand

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Staying Healthy In Thailand

There is nothing worse than getting sick when you are far away from home. It's even worse if you are in an alien culture like Thailand and don't speak the language or understand the culture.

When you are in Thailand, your only safe bet is to do everything you can to make sure you stay healthy so don't have to visit the confusing local health care system.

First and foremost AIDS is very, very common in Thailand. You are at a very high risk of HIV infection if you have unprotected sex with anyone in this country. Bring lots of western condoms with you. You don't want to put your life in the hands of local condom brands you have never heard of.

Malaria is another huge problem here. In fact, gin and tonics were invented in the region by British soldiers looking for a way to make drinking anti malarial tonic more palpable.

Drink only bottled water. Don't drink from the faucet or from any other source. Spend 10 baht on a bottle of water and save yourself some headaches in the end! If you eat with a Thai person, you will notice that they too only drink bottled water. When in Rome! You also don't have to worry about Ice when you are out drinking bottled water. It is made from purified water and should cause you no harm.

While you can get your own doctor to give you a malaria vaccine, this does not offer 100 percent protection and all available malaria vaccines have nasty side effects. Your best bet is to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes which means wearing long sleeves and pants, sleeping under a mosquito net and wearing a hat.

If you plan to go into the country at all, you should get a rabies vaccine before you go on your trip. There are a lot of wild animals out and about.

There are several world class hospitals in Thailand. In Pattaya, the Bangkok Pattaya Hospital is first rate. In Bangkok, Bumrungrad Hospital is excellent and has a great staff.

Many foreigners come to Thailand because the medical are is very inexpensive. Take a look at Bumrungrad's website and you will see that they offer many services that you would not be able to afford in most countries. Most doctors and dentists here speak English and many were educated in the USA or Europe. Excellent medical care is easily obtainable. Be sure to check with your insurance carrier as many will even pay for the expense while in Thailand.

Health Guide

Thailand's Ministry of Public Health publishes a pamphlet called "Health Guide for Travelers to Thailand". The following is, word-for-word, a copy of the pamphlet (awkward English and all):

Welcome to Thailand. Every year, more than 5 million tourists visit this country as one of their travel destinations. Many arrive with insufficient health advice which often results in bouts of illnesses that spoil a good part of their journey. The information provided in this brochure will help you come up with appropriate protection against some common illnesses and promote enjoyment of your happy stay in Thailand.

MALARIA

Bangkok and most provinces in the central region as well as major tourist resorts such as Chiang Mai, Phuket, Hua Hin and Koh Samui have been free from malaria for decades. Now all cities in Thailand are malaria free. However, tourist destinations in rural neighborhoods, especially those in mountainous and border areas are still at certain risks.

Chloroquine and most other chemoprophylactic drugs have proved to be ineffective against falciparum malaria in Thailand. Tourists visiting these endemic areas are rather recommended to take general precautions against mosquito bite. After sunset, they should stay in screened quarters or mosquito nets, wear long-sleeve shirts and pants, and may apply mosquito repellants. Those who develop fever within two weeks of entry to risk areas should seek prompt medical examination and treatment.

JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS

This viral infection of the brain is contracted through the bite of mosquitoes that prevail in rural agricultural areas. It is found in many Eastern and Southeastern Asian countries, primarily in the rural and suburban areas. Similar to malaria, the disease can be prevented by avoiding mosquito bite during the night time. Travelers who plan to spend their time exposing to rural environment in these regions for over several months are recommended to take Japanese encephalitis vaccination before entry.

DENGUE FEVER AND DENGUE HEMORRHAGIC FEVER

These diseases are endemic in Southeast Asia. They are caused by dengue virus from the bite of aedes mosquito that lives in the houses and their neighborhood. This mosquito bites during the day time. Dengue infection in local people, mostly children, often results in fever with bleeding in the skin and other organs (dengue hemorrhagic fever) which is sometime fatal; but for travelers from non-endemic areas, the infection usually manifests as fever with rash in the skin, severe headache and muscle and pains (dengue fever), which is usually non-fatal.

Dengue infection is common in the rainy season (approximately May to September in Thailand) when aedes mosquito is abundant. Travelers visiting local households or their vicinity, especially in the rainy season, should be using mosquito repellant even in the day time. Ones who are ill with symptoms suspected of dengue infection should seek medical consultation to establish the cause of the illness.

RABIES

Rabies can be found in many animals especially dogs and cats. Although Thailand has been working toward elimination of the disease and the situation is much improved, travelers are recommended to take prevention if their travel itineraries allow possible exposure to animal bites. Those who plan walking sight-seeing in local communities should consider having pre-exposure rabies vaccination before starting off. Three intramuscular injections of cell-culture rabies vaccine are required. In case of exposure to animals without prior vaccination, the post-exposure vaccination is usually effective if initiated without delay. However, for those who have had pre-exposure vaccination, if they are bitten, they should also seek prompt consultation with the physician for evaluation and consideration for booster vaccination.

DIARRHEA

Diarrhea is mostly caused by ingestion of food and drinks contaminated with bacteria or viruses. To prevent diarrhea, avoid uncooked food and drink only boiled or bottled or carbonated water. Food served at street vendors should be considered at risk. Fresh vegetables and fruits should be adequately washed with clean water. Fresh salad should be taken only from a salad bar or a restaurant of hygienic standard. Tap water in many Southeast Asian cities is claimed to be safe for drinking, but it is still advisable to stick to safety precautions.

Danger from diarrhea primarily is the result of the loss of water and electrolytes from your body. If you happen to have diarrhea during your travel, the most helpful remedy is drinking electrolyte solution to replace the loss. Therefore it is always useful to keep some electrolyte solution packets in your first aid kit. If your diarrhea gets worse or does not improve within 12-24 hours, consult the physicians for proper investigation and treatment.

TYPHOID FEVER

Typhoid fever has become uncommon among Thai people. However, travelers should not neglect taking prevention against this food and water borne disease. Precaution measures for diarrhea, as mentioned above, are effective for typhoid as well. It is also recommended that the travelers receive typhoid vaccination, in injectable or oral form before start of the journey. However, those who need initiation or booster vaccination can find the service at most hospitals and clinics in Thailand.

SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES AND HIV/AIDS

Urethritis remains the most common treatable sexually transmitted disease (STD) among tourist to Asia. Gonorrhea from Southeast Asia is frequently multi-drug resistant. While syphilis become less common, HIV/AIDS is spreading at worrisome speeds in most Asian countries, resulting mostly from unprotected sexual contacts.

Promiscuous sex anywhere can be dangerous. For travelers, local sex workers, either of explicit or concealed types, are potential sources of STDs and HIV/AIDS. All casual sex should be avoided or strictly protected with the use of condoms. Danger from intravenous drug use with sharing of needles and syringes cannot be overemphasized. However, blood transfusions at all medical centers in Thailand is considered safe as intensive screening of donated blood for HIV, hepatitis B and syphilis is implemented nationwide.

VIRAL HEPATITIS

There are two major groups of viral hepatitis. Hepatitis spread by contaminated food and water, hepatitis A and E, are endemic in many parts of Asia. Most local people are immune to these types of hepatitis through natural infection, but travelers from better hygienic environments can be receptive to infection. Therefore, travelers are recommended to practice prevention measures against food and water borne diseases, as suggested for diarrhea. An alternative protection for hepatitis A is the immunization with hyperimmune serum or hepatitis A vaccine. Consult with the physician at an established medical service for the immunization.

Another group of hepatitis; hepatitis B, C and D; are transmitted through contaminated blood and sexual contacts, or passed from infected mothers to their babies at the time of birth; similar to the ways HIV/AIDS is transmitted. This group of hepatitis can be simultaneously and effectively avoided if precautions against HIV/AIDS are strictly taken. However, for those who require immunization, effective vaccine against hepatitis B is available at most medical services.

If you are ill during your stay in Thailand, consult the physician at any:

Community hospital

Provincial hospital

Medical center, or

Private hospital or clinic

For more information, please contact:

International Communicable Disease Control Section

Division of General Communicable Diseases

Department of Communicable Disease Control

Ministry of Public Health

Tel. 286-5114

Airport Health Office, Tel. 535-1482

Port Health Office, Tel. 249-4110

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