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Traveling abroad
Do you know you should get these shots if you are traveling to most of the tropical countries?
Tetanus
- For children less then 10 years - if interval from last shot is more then 5 yr., you need booster again.
- For children > 10 yr. & adults you need booster every 10 yr.
Hepatitis - B
- Everyone traveling should receive at least 3 doses of this vaccine over 6 months.
- Disease is caused by virus and can spread by body secretions or blood products.
- Hepatitis-B usually affects liver and in some cases lead to death.
- Other symptoms like loss of appetite, tiredness, nausea, vomiting & JAUNDICE can occur.
- In long term, it can cause liver cancer and/or failure.
- Once patient acquires disease, there is no treatment.
- Vaccine is relatively very safe and 85% - 95% effective
Hepatitis - A
- Disease is caused by Hepatitis-A virus & spread by contaminated water, food & blood.
- Older people are affected more severely then children.
- Main symptom is JAUNDICE, but fever, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea can occur.
- Once patient acquires disease, there is no treatment.
- Vaccine is relatively very safe & 95% - 100% effective.
- Children and adult require 2 doses over 6 months.
Typhoid
- Disease is caused by bacteria & spread by contaminated water, food & blood.
- Patient may have fever, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. It can affect any body organ, some people remains clinically infected for rest of their life.
- If detected in early stage disease is treatable without severe consequences.
- Vaccine is 90-95 % effective & relatively safe. One dose is needed. Booster every 2 Yr.
Malaria
- Disease is spread by mosquito & can be lethal.
- No vaccine available so far.
- You can take PROPHYLACTIC (To prevent disease) medicine.
- Medicine should be taken two weeks prior to leaving the U.S. & should be continued 4 week after return to U.S. Ask your Dr. to prescribe medicine that work against Resistant Malarial Parasite.
OTHER
- Read the newspaper, if there is an epidemic of Meningococcal Meningitis, vaccine is available for it.
- Stay away from dogs or other wild animals. Newer vaccine for RABIES is available in India.
- For anyone who never had CHICKNPOX or MEASELS, MUMPS & RUBELLA (MMR), you should take these vaccines.
- People visiting some part of South America & Africa should take Yellow Fever vaccine.
- For small children, make sure you complete all other required shots before leaving country.
- Try to drink only boiled or sterilized water.
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