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Other AilmentsRespiratory ailments Eye infections Cuts & scratches Tetanus Typhoid / Typhoid FeverTuberculosisCoral cuts & abrasions Jellyfish Sea urchinsSkin worms Snake bites Tips
Respiratory AilmentsThe pollution is bad here, especially in the city centers during traffic rush hour. The best things you can do are avoid the streets during traffic rush hour, live away from the street, and take back alley routes when reasonable. Eye InfectionsEye infections are significantly more common here than in western countries. Some say that the pollution affects the eyes' ability to fight off infection. The ThailandGuru believes that you usually get eye infections by rubbing your eyes after handling doors, bus rails, and other things in public. Pollution might increase your tendency to rub your eyes, but some of the viruses and bacteria that cause eye infections are hearty and spread easily. Resist the temptation to rub your eyes and nose, wash your hands regularly, and be careful what you touch. There's no reason to get neurotic about it, but don't be reckless, either. Cuts and ScratchesCuts and scratches may heal slower and get infected more often if you don't take precautions against the heat. Depending on the lesion, you might want to let them dry out when in a clean environment, and put on an antibiotic ointment and dressing when in public. You should always, always, always clean out a cut as best you can with water and soap and apply an antibiotic. TetanusTetanus is caused by a bacterium (Clostridium tetani) that enters thru a wound. After multiplying in the human body, a toxin produced by the bacterium causes muscle contraction, e.g., lockjaw and other musculatory failures. You can get vaccinated against tetanus, or else get shots after a cut. TyphoidTyphoid, or typhoid fever, rarely occurs here, especially among foreigners, but it's occasionally heard of. It's caused by the bacterium Salmonella typhi. An oral vaccination is available, but usually not necessary. Depends on where you're going to be living and how safe you want to be. If you practice cleanliness and take simple precautions, your chances of getting typhoid are slim. The symptoms are fever, complete exhaustion, headache and intestinal inflammation. TuberculosisTuberculosis is fairly common in southeast Asia. If you see someone coughing a lot, move as far away from them as you can. Of course, this is a general rule, but tuberculosis is one of the worst airborne diseases you can contract. It's rare for foreigners to contract it in Thailand, but it does happen. A light exposure does not mean you'll get symptoms of TB, as your body may fight it off completely. You can get immunized against tuberculosis. However, you may already have natural immunity to it, as a skin test will determine. If you do get tuberculosis, then it is vital that you complete your medication, as you will feel better long before you get over it completely, and drug-resistant tuberculosis arises because people don't complete their medication. Coral Cuts and AbrasionsIf you get cut by coral, you should be careful to thoroughly clean out all tiny fragments as soon as possible, and in the end apply an antiseptic. Coral cuts have a high risk of infection. JellyfishJellyfish are found all over the tropical world, and Thailand is no exception. While Thailand is not known as an exceptionally risky jellyfish country, nonetheless, I've come across many reports by people stung by jellyfish, occasionally including by one of the most poisonous jellyfish in the world, the box jellyfish (technically not a jellyfish, actually, since it has a brain and navigates itself to prey or away from danger like humans). The vast majority of jellyfish stings in Thailand come from one of the other 2000 species of jellyfish and are painful but not life threatening. If stung, do not wash off the jelly with your hands. Use seawater, sand or a towel. Applying vinegar immediately after the sting for 30 seconds can neutralize a lot of venom. It is recommended you take a couple of 20 baht bottles of vinegar with you if you want to prepare for possible treatment of jellyfish stings. It should be the policy of every resort to stock this, but I've never heard of this. Victims have an acute reaction to stings. In the case of the most toxic jellyfish species (the box jellyfish), the victim may well get breathing problems and other convulsive symptoms, possibly requiring mouth to mouth resuscitation. Be aware and prepared to help. However, the vast majority of jellyfish stings are simply painful without more serious symptoms. There have been three reported fatalities from jellyfish stings in Thailand -- one in 1999 in Koh Samui, and two in 2002 in nearby Koh Phangan. All were box jellyfish, which are exceptionally poisonous. (Fully grown box jellyfish have a head about the size of a basketball.) There has been about 1 fatality per week reported in the entire world on average, mainly from box jellyfish, which can be found all around the tropics. However, there is surely much under-reporting. While the risk is much less than driving down the road or walking across it, it still helps to be aware, especially if you are an avid swimmer or diver. The rash from a jellyfish sting may last for about week. Calamine lotion is a popular application. Jellyfish use their tentacles to capture prey for consumption. Most are brainless, just floating on autopilot. You can sometimes see jellyfish washed up on shore. Of course, don't step on them nor pick them up, and educate your children likewise. If stung, pour vinegar on your sting, as well as untouched tentacles. This works for all jellyfish, including the box jellyfish, to neutralize their venom which hasn't yet entered your bloodstream and their tentacles. Wearing good clothing while swimming can give significant protection. A scientific journal article by four co-authors following the 1999 Koh Samui death states "A review of Thai literature dealing with jellyfish in the Gulf of Siam, and Andaman sea, revealed only anecdotal reports of a few deaths following jellyfish contacts." Source: here
A fairly good short summary of the jellyfish threat is here: There are over 2000 species of jellyfish, but less than 100 are dangerous to humans. Some precautions and treatments are discussed here. Sea UrchinsSea urchins are occasionally a problem. They just leave some spines in the skin. Don't worry too much about these. Be very careful and gentle when you try to pull them out, but don't be alarmed if they break and stay in the wound as they usually do. They're extremely brittle. However, the body will absorb then in a day to a few weeks, or else they will work themselves out on their own. You're usually better off not doing anything but trying to pull out any that you reasonably can, applying antiseptic, seeing a doctor, and just waiting for it to heal, which may take a month. Skin Worms - Roundworm, Hookworm, WhipwormPeople have been known to pick up skin worms in Thailand. It's rare but happens. Usually by walking barefoot in a place with the worms. Snake BitesMost snakes in Thailand are not poisonous, though some are. Snakes are rare in Bangkok, and not terribly common in the provinces. Snakes, by their common sense nature, do not want to attack humans or other big animals and will quickly retreat or hide. If you get bitten by a snake, go straight to the emergency room of a local hospital. Try to remember what the snake looked like, but don't take a chance at getting bitten again. Chulalongkorn Hospital on Rama 4 Road (near Lumpini Park and the Dusit Thani Hotel) has particularly good expertise on snake bites. The direct line is 256-4214. It's supposed to be open 24 hours per day, but if there's no answer or the line is busy, call the switchboard at 251-8932. If you like snakes, there's the Snake Farm, or Saovabha Institute or Pasteur Institute, one places by three different names. If you're going to be hiking in snake country, there are booklets on snakes there. This is said to be the world's second oldest snake research facility. Established in 1923, it develops antivenoms and vaccines, and has more than a thousand snakes who serve both educational and medical purposes. They have a slide show and also snake handler shows. It's located on Rama 4 Rd. near Lumpini Park and is open daily from 8:30am to 4:00pm. The shows are at 10:30am and 1:30pm weekdays, and 10:30am on weekends. Admission is 70 baht per primate. TipsWhen given an antibiotic, it is important to finish the treatment, not stop when the symptoms go away. This is because you will usually feel better before all the bacteria are fought off. The small amount of surviving bacteria may be a tougher strain. If you don't finish the medication and if you don't fight off the small amount of surviving bacteria in your body, then you could get a relapse of tougher bacteria than before. It's simple natural selection. This is called drug resistance. Verify prescriptions by Internet... Quality of doctors... Costs... Insurance ... www.drkoop.com
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