Health recommendations for traveling to Asia

If it is decided travel to asiaYou will be exposed to tropical infectious diseases and natural elements of the trip itself, such as heat, humidity, the consumption of water and unsafe food, and mosquitoes. That is why in these circumstances the traveler must remember the general and specific recommendations of the trip that were given to him at the Center for International Health.

In Asia, contamination of water or food is frequent. When proper hygiene cannot be ensured, the risk of intestinal infection or diarrhea from numerous agents increases. To avoid diarrhea it is recommended eating freshly cooked, boiled, or fried food, drink packaged or boiled products, such as coffee or tea, and brush your teeth with bottled, boiled or disinfected water with purifying tablets.

Therefore, it is advisable to avoid travel to asia, street food or raw, such as salads, seafood or fruit peeled by third parties as well as ice cubes, dairy products, drinks not boiled or packaged or sealed, or natural fruit juices that have not been squeezed in your presence. For its part, the International Health Center will assess your vaccination against hepatitis A and typhoid fever.

In the case of presenting, remember that the most important thing is to maintain good hydration by drinking plenty of fluids (2 to 3 liters a day), an astringent diet and using preparations of oral rehydration or antisecretory antidiarrheals if necessary. If the diarrhea is more severe with fever (≥38ºC), blood, mucus or pus in the stool, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.

However, the risk of other diseases transmitted by is variable, being low or null against yellow fever and higher for malaria, dengue and Japanese encephalitis.

Diseases and vaccination to travel to Asia

Yellow fever

It is a very serious viral disease absent in Asian countries but where the mosquito exists, so in all Asian countries vaccination is required for travelers from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. If necessary, the Center itself will advise its use, administer it and issue the International Certificate of Vaccination.

The vaccine is effective 24 hours or 10 days after administration depending on whether it is a booster dose or the first time it is administered, and is valid for 10 years. The International Certificate of Vaccination is personal and non-transferable, and if the traveler is lost, they should go back to the center that issued it to obtain a duplicate.

Malaria or malaria

It is a serious parasitic disease caused in Asia mainly by Plasmodium vivax or falciparum. It is transmitted by the night habit mosquito bite throughout the year in specific areas or regions of some countries.

There is no effective vaccine today against it, and to prevent its development, the doctor from the International Health Center will recommend, depending on the itinerary, the length of stay and the reason for the trip, the use of chemoprophylaxis against malaria.

Dengue

It is a viral disease, usually presenting itself as a banal acute febrile infection, self-limited in time, which transmitted by the bite of a daytime mosquito throughout the year and in all countries. In rare cases they may appear, being a warning sign to go immediately to a doctor.

There is no effective vaccine today against it, nor preventive treatment or chemoprophylaxis, so it is recommended to avoid mosquito bites throughout the day and at dusk, use repellants and paracetamol in the case of muscle or joint pain or headache.

Japanese encephalitis

It is a viral disease of variable severity that is transmitted by the bite of a mosquito, very common in rural areas, mainly in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Thailand and Vietnam in rainy seasons, although it also appears in winter and can occur in Russia or China.

Therefore, it is recommended to use repellants repeatedly and discuss vaccination with the doctor at the Center for International Health according to pre-existing diseases, the itinerary, the duration of the trip and the reason for it.

The recommendations when traveling to Asia may be modified by the appearance of health alerts or epidemic outbreaks at the time of travel. However, professionals receive updated information on a daily basis, so if you have any questions, it is recommended to contact them.