Lethal Communicable Tropical Diseases and Viruses
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