-
Latest News
- Risks and illnesses
- Details
- Category: Risks and illnesses
- Published: Wednesday, 21 October 2015 10:03
- Written by Administrator Travelvax
By Dr Eddy Bajrovic*
Travellers don’t always return from overseas refreshed and rejuvenated.
Instead of being fighting fit they’re fighting off jet lag, a fever, a rash, diarrhoea, or persistent pain.
At least 50% of travellers who’ve visited a developing country report a post-travel illness, according to the Manual of Travel Medicine.
By far the most common infections are gastro and respiratory infections, followed by skin diseases, and sexually transmitted or urinary tract infections.
But, not all post-travel illnesses are actually related to the trip: Many are routine infections just as easily caught at home. Most of these illnesses disappear in a few days without treatment.
So, it’s important to know when you don’t need to see a doctor… and when you do.
- Details
- Category: Risks and illnesses
- Published: Wednesday, 14 October 2015 10:43
- Written by Administrator Travelvax
By Tonia Buzzolini*
After decades of safe-sex campaigns, we’re all aware of the potential risk of blood-borne infections like HIV and hepatitis from unprotected sex.
It’s sensible to use a condom with a new partner – whether travelling overseas or at home.
But, many travellers don’t associate these diseases with having a holiday tattoo and body piercing, while the risk of infection from a pedicure or manicure seems even more remote.
After all, it’s so common to see young Australians lining up for a new ‘tatt’ or piercing in places like Bali and Thailand.
Even older women who may not be into body art regard a manicure or pedicure as an essential part of their Asian holiday experience.
The good news is there are steps travellers can take to reduce the risk of infection.
- Details
- Category: Risks and illnesses
- Published: Wednesday, 07 October 2015 10:31
- Written by Administrator Travelvax
By Dr Eddy Bajrovic*
Picture this: A female fly catches a female mosquito.
But, instead of making the luckless mozzie her next meal, the lady fly secretes glue-like substance that fixes her eggs onto the insect’s body before releasing it.
And, as mosquitoes do, she soon bites an animal or person to take a blood meal, and one or more of the tiny larva that have hatched from the fly’s eggs then burrow in through the puncture wound or simply into the skin.
As snug as a bug under the skin of its unwitting host, the larvae begin to grow… and grow.
Over the next 5-8 weeks a red sore becomes a boil-like lump. Then something rather peculiar happens: a pin-sized hole appears on the top.
It allows the now-plump maggot to breathe until, finally, it emerges as a Mini Me-sized version of the extra-terrestrial creature from Alien.
Eeeeeek! Where’s Sigourney Weaver when you need her?
- Details
- Category: Risks and illnesses
- Published: Wednesday, 30 September 2015 09:51
- Written by Administrator Travelvax
By Dr Eddy Bajrovic*
She thought she’d avoided the terrible disease.
Bitten by a stray dog at a market near her North Bali village in July, the local woman twice tried to obtain the rabies vaccine without success. At the time, stocks were critically low across the island.
Instead, she had to content herself with cleaning the wound.
It wasn’t enough: Two months after the lethal virus lurking in the dog’s saliva began its relentless journey through her nervous system to her brain, the mother of three suddenly fell ill and died – Bali’s fifteenth rabies victim of 2015.
A brief report in local media told the tragic story on the eve of World Rabies Day (Monday, Sept 28).
Her needless death was another grim reminder that there are no short cuts with rabies. Fail to get effective treatment and rabies is fatal - always.
- Details
- Category: Risks and illnesses
- Published: Wednesday, 16 September 2015 10:13
- Written by Administrator Travelvax
By Dr Eddy Bajrovic*
A crowded cabin is no place to get seriously sick.
But, illness during an international flight is not uncommon, occurring on around one in every 600 departures, according to a review of mid-air medical emergencies published this month in The New England Journal of Medicine**.
The review was carried out to give doctors an understanding of the kind of medical issues they are more likely to encounter if a fellow passenger becomes ill.
Fortunately, the chances of treatment being available are fairly good: a doctor responded to the pilot’s call for medical assistance in almost half (45%) of the 191 in-flight emergencies reviewed in an earlier US survey in 2006.
And, even if a doctor, nurse or other health professionals are not on board, ground–based medical services are contracted to provide medical advice to flight attendants, who themselves receive mandatory training in basic procedures, such as cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.
- Details
- Category: Risks and illnesses
- Published: Wednesday, 19 August 2015 11:10
- Written by Administrator Travelvax
* By Ruth Anderson
Cuba is poised to emerge from its time warp.
So, if the Caribbean island famous for missiles (well, briefly), Castro, Hemmingway, cigars, and fabulous music is on your travel Bucket List, take my advice. Go soon.
Cuba is the hot travel destination right now, going on the number of calls Travelvax Australia’s free travel health advice line (1300 360 164) is currently getting from Australians keen to find out more about staying healthy in Cuba.
Cuba has always held a special romance for travellers, but I suspect that with the 65-year freeze in diplomatic relations between Cuba and the USA finally thawing, an avalanche of American tourists will soon be queuing to visit the island.
I visited Cuba in 2002. To me, it will always be the sizzling sounds of the Buena Vista Social Club, bars churning out Mojitos, Daiquiris, and Cuba Libres, the fusion of Spanish–Caribbean cuisine, and city streets resplendent with classic American cars (held together with chicken wire) and Spanish colonial architecture.
Ahhh, Cuba. Experience it – soon.
