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 food.
Protection:
Vaccination
Preliminary vaccinations with an interval of 2-4 weeks provide immunity for approx.1 year; a booster after 6-12 months then provides immunity for several years.
Administration of immunoglobulin shortly before travel.
3. Yellow fever:
This disease is prevalent in some regions of Africa and South America, and vaccination is required for entry to these countries. Don’t forget to check if you are making stopovers en route: many countries require visitors to be vaccinated if they have previously visited a country where yellow fever is prevalent.
4. Polio
Polio occurs worldwide, though incidence is greater in countries with a generally low standard of health where a comprehensive vaccination programme has not been implemented.
Infection occurs through contact with a carrier of the virus, primarily through contact with faeces, though sometimes via contaminated food and drinking water.
Protection:
Vaccination or booster (in oral form or by injection).
5. Diphtheria
Occurs worldwide, primarily during the colder months in temperate zones.
Recent increased incidence in the CIS countries.
Spread by airborne infection.
Protection:
Vaccination or booster, usually in combination with tetanus vaccine.
6. Meningococcal meningitis:
This disease can, and does, occur anywhere in the world. Recent epidemics in numerous African regions and lately also in Nepal and India.
Protection
Vaccination: particularly recommended for long-stay visitors to epidemic areas.
7. Typhoid, Paratyphoid:
Common infections in many hot countries, makes it one of the higher risk tropical diseases.
Infection via contaminated food and water.
Protection
Careful hygiene and vaccination by mouth or injection.
8. Cholera
Infection from low standards of hygiene where cholera is endemic.
Protection
Vaccination against cholera is not obligatory for international travel.
The vaccine does not protect against infection, though it can prevent outbreak of the disease in individual cases.
A cholera vaccination can be advisable for individuals travelling to areas with low standards of hygiene where cholera is endemic.
If in doubt, consult your doctor.
9. Tetanus
“Lockjaw”.
Widespread internationally.
Infection occurs via contaminated wounds.
Protection:
Vaccination (booster every 10 years), usually in combination with diphtheria.
We have now dealt with the first two parts of the causes of lethal communicable tropical diseases and viruses, and as a reminder they are listed below
INSECT BORNE TROPICAL DISEASES
LACK OF SANITATION CAUSES MANY TROPICAL DISEASES
I have deliberately left to the last, the details on the prevention of lethal communicable tropical diseases and viruses from HUMAN CONTACT.
Strictly speaking this can’t be described as one of the tropical diseases, but AIDS is endemic in many tropical regions, and so we will include it in our list of tropical diseases.
These are of course in the main, the sexually transmitted diseases, which can have quite horrendous consequences for the careless holidaymaker, not only now but for the rest of their lives
For some, relaxing and having fun on holiday involves casual sexual encounters.
Surveys show that many people have sex with previously unknown foreign partners while abroad resulting in sexually transmitted disease on return home.
Abstinence or sex with a trustworthy, lifelong partner is THE ONLY way of preventing sexually transmitted disease.
Extra strong condoms should always be used when having casual sex, they should be bought at home, before travelling, as in many countries local condoms can be destroyed by heat and are often of a poorer quality.
Couples who do not have any sexually transmitted diseases and no other sexual partners can not contract sexually transmitted diseases while on holiday.
If you have any unusual rash, discharge or soreness on return from your time abroad you should stop having sex and see your Doctor or local GUM clinic Nurse immediately.
Protection against AIDS, hepatitis B and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Today AIDS and hepatitis B, along with the “classics” gonorrhoea and syphilis, are the most dangerous sexually transmitted diseases.
The only sexually transmitted disease that is preventable by vaccination is Hepatitis B – see your Doctor or Nurse 3-6 months before you intend to travel for advice.
80% of AIDS cases reported in the UK in 1993 were contracted while abroad.
AIDS is an as yet incurable disease triggered by the HIV virus.
General weakness and, later, complete collapse of the body’s immune system follow infection.
AIDS is spread primarily through unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected person.
The disease usually does not break out until many years after the initial infection.
It is impossible to tell by looking at a person whether they are carrying the virus.
People with HIV can pass it on to others even if they do not feel ill themselves, and they might not even be aware that they have the virus.
The only way of telling whether someone is HIV positive is by means of a blood test. The test is only reliable if carried out three months or more after infection, as it does not indicate the presence of the virus itself, but the body’s reaction to it (antibodies).
The main way in which AIDS is spread is via unprotected sexual intercourse. Infection can occur during a single sexual encounter with an infected partner.
A risk of HIV infection exists from all forms of unprotected sexual contact in which infected semen; blood or vaginal secretions can come into contact with the partner’s mucous membranes.
However, you cannot catch HIV from kissing, stroking, or massage.
The only way of protecting yourself from infection with HIV, hepatitis B and other sexually transmitted diseases is by always using a suitable condom – and using it correctly – during sexual intercourse.
If you don’t want to rule out a sexual adventure while on holiday, make sure that you take enough condoms away with you. The condoms available at your holiday destination, if any, may be of bad quality and therefore unsafe.
You should also bear in mind that the percentage of HIV positive men and women in the population can be very high indeed, particularly in tourist centres in Africa, Asia and America.
In some of these areas as many as three quarters of both male and female prostitutes are already infected with HIV.
AIDS and hepatitis B can also be spread through the use of shared or dirty needles and syringes. If you need regular injections for health reasons, make sure you take an adequate supply of sterile syringes on holiday with you.
HIV cannot be passed on by normal everyday contact with infected persons, so there is no need to worry about using cutlery, bed linen, beds, bathrooms and WCs, swimming pools etc. during your holiday.
To summarise this article on THE PREVENTION of lethal communicable tropical diseases and viruses
BE SENSIBLE, UNDERSTAND THAT TROPICAL DISEASES AWAIT THE UNWARY, SO BE AWARE, VIGILANT, TAKE PRECAUTIONS.
IF YOU CAN’T BE GOOD BE CAREFUL!!
About the Author
Ian Smith goes to the tropics frequently and takes sensible precautions, find out what they are here.Travel advice about Lethal Communicable tropical diseases and viruses
what do you call,the procedure using electroencephalogram to treat diseases of the brain?
i love you help! thanks a lot!
Bio-feedback????
Build Brain Power, Protect Against Alzheimers Disease!
A very common problem now a day is mental disorder. It is a very general term that covers all the problems that are related to our mind. These problems arise when our mind is hit harshly by external and internal problem. These problems are the facts that are consciously or subconsciously not acceptable to our mind. This unwanted feeling of acceptance of the result of the given problem leads to the creation of psychic disease, which is termed as mental disorder. Our body’s mechanism is such that it tries to come in harmony by it self but if the person is not able to come out of the problem that is prevailing, it leads to mental sickness. This results in imbalance in mind; behavior, attitude, reactions, tolerance, manners, actions and outlook or simply we can say the person becomes abnormal in his day-to-day activities. These conditions can involve any person, of any age, either of the two sexes, of any place and of any socioeconomic background. Ayurveda has mentioned lot about mental disorders under the heading “UNNMAD”.
Now two types of queries might be sticking your mind.
1. How to cure mental sickness?
2. How to maintain stable state of mind that keeps us away from having these problems?
Answer to your query is only one i.e. AYURVEDA and YOGA
Basic principal on which ayurveda was designed was how to maintain a health of a healthy person and how to cure a diseased person. First of all I will mention about some urges which person should adapt of a peaceful living as mentioned in ayurveda. These are called “dharniye Vega” or the urges that should be adapted in life. These are: –
1. Should not be greedy
2. Should not be afraid of any one
3. Should not be short tempered
4. Should not be jealous on anyone’s success.
5. Should not speak bad words to any one.
6. Should always be helpful to others.
There are certain herbs that are mentioned in ayurveda, which has wonderful effects in treating mental disorders, and improve brains efficiency.
Some of those are mentioned below
1. Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) Commonly known as Indian Pennywort is generally found everywhere in India especially above 4000 ft. of height. This herb is most extensively used in Indian system of medicine as brain tonic and stress reliever. Due to its laghu (light) gunna (property), it is able to affect mind very easily thus giving mind a nourishment to develop. It is considered to be the nerve stimulant that helps in perceiving in better reflexes from brain. It is considered to be a nerve-rejuvenating herb, which has been used by ayurvedic practitioners un reluctantly since ages in any condition in which brain is found affected or in psyche related disorders. Good results have also been found in epilepsy attacks. Its action as non-sedative tranquilizer has made it a drug that can be used in anxiety and hypertension. Whole plant part is used in preparing medicines.
2. Ashwagandha (withania somnifera) commonly called winter cherry is one of the herbs that produce wonderful results in problems caused by vata disorders. Its main function is to maintain the harmony of vata whether it aggravates or become suppressed by effects of other dosha. Because of its ushan virya (hot potency) it acts directly on unstable vata thereby helping vata to remain in stable state. Thereby having good effect on nervous system, circulatory system as well as joint related problems. Ashwagandha plays major role in suppressing anxiety and hypertension. It has proved very affective in relieving stress and stress related problems. It has given wonderful results in joint pains and arthritic conditions. It has also proven it worth in improving body immunity and bodies overall strength to fight against the disease. It has also been found effective in treating weakness and mental fatigue of the body. Good results in depression and other mental ailments have also been seen. Plant part used is root.
3. Memocare: A rich mixture of herbs likes Brahmi, ashwagandha, mulethi, red chandan and vacha. It blends of most powerful herbs that have time proven results in promoting mental health and fighting against mental ailments. As mentioned earlier ashwagandha and Brahmi has a great efficacy in treating mental disorder along with it memocare contains mulethi (Glycyrrhiza glabra), which is sheet (cold) virya in property helps in improving mental strength and increase mental alertness. It has been rated one of the best medya rasayan as mentioned by charaka in his book charak samhita. Due to its property it has also been found very effective in treating anxiety and hypertension. It has been found effective in curbing depression and mind related problems. It has also been found effective in treating headaches and rheumatoid arthritis. It also possesses properties that lead to development of good quality of sperms. It has been found useful in providing strength to our nervous system and thereby helpful in countering nervous disorder. Being sheet virya in property it finds use in skin related problems
Plant part used is root. Along with mulethi it also contains Vacha (Acorus calmus) commonly known, as sweet flag is an herb very much in use in India presently by ayurvedic doctors. Its main property is of ushan virya that make is kapha vata suppressor and pitta increaser. Its actions also possess the property of pain reliever and anti-inflammatory. It is generally found in damp climatic condition with the height of 6000 feet. Because of its property it is also known for anti depressant and stress reliever. Moreover it is also consider good as brain tonic. It improves general body condition and helps in marinating normal mental structure. Plant part used is root and lower part of stem.
About the Author
Read more about Natural Stress Relief. Also read informative Home Remedies Health Forum to discuss your health problems, share your own experience and get the most effective Home Remedies here.
Dr John Anne
http://www.morphemeremedies.com
Robot with a biological brain (University of Reading)
Parkinson’s Disease and Deep Brain Stimulation Neurosurgery.?
Does anyone know of a Parkinson’s patient who has received DBS neurosurgery to reduce the tremors? I’m researching this type of neurosurgery and would like to know how the patients lives have been changed since their surgery. Thank you.
I have a family member who may be a candidate for Deep Brain Stimulation. We are researching the available options and we’re hoping for some type of treatment that will help the patient have a decent quality of life. I’ve heard that the medical community is having legal problems with the “leads” they have been using for DBS and they have to work out those issues before more surgeries are scheduled. There’s one company that has had their lead devices recalled and that has been causing many surgeries to be postponed. The leads have been used in heart defibrillators and have been causing the devices to misfire. Similar lead wires from the same company are used for DBS so now the manufacturer is under fire.
My husband was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at age in 1992 when he was 43 years old. He had Bilateral DBS surgery 5 years ago and it was extremely successful. He still has some problems with freezing and stiffness but he has absolutely no tremors or dyskenesia. The difference in him after surgery was like night and day. Parkinson’s disease is progressive and cannot be cured but we consider this surgery vital to keeping him going until something better comes along. He has had Parkinson’s disease for 16 years and he is still working full time. That just would not have been possible without the surgery. If you have any questions contact me as my husband would love to tell you anything you need to know about the surgery.
Parkinsons Disease Research
Anatomical brain and head charts, commonly available as 22 by 28-inch plain paper or laminated pages, or flip charts, are ideal patient and student education tools. These charts, with their wealth of anatomical diagrams and lengthy but comprehensible explanations, offer a complex, colorful, easily-followed map of the human brain and nervous system, and all the ills that can befall it. In fact, words alone do not do these charts justice; only seeing is believing.
Take for example the anatomical flip chart called Understanding the Nervous System. This 13-page book, printed on UV-coated, full-sized, 12-point paper stock that allows for dry-erase marking (markers not included) provides physicians a way to highlight specific features or points in completely removable fashion. The flip chart also comes with a heavy, laminated cover, and the optional easel is spiral bound for uncomplicated page-turning and folds flat for storage.
The labeled Brain Anatomy chart provides, in 10 separate, full color and highly detailed images with attached explanatory text, a comprehensive overview of parts of the brain. From the cerebellum to the spinal cord, including the meninges and a coronal cross-section, as well as blood vessels supplying the brain and a didactic image of the functional brain sections, this chart is a superb tool for explaining brain mechanics to a patient or a pre-med student.
The Central Nervous System (CNS) chart provides a remarkably detailed overview not only of divisions of the brain (cerebrum, cerebellum, etc. in full-color didactic display), but images and text dealing with such items as cranial nerves, spinal structure, cellular-level views of motor neurons and synaptic cleft, and a description of the action and function of neurotransmitters, as well as a discussion on cerebrospinal fluid. In addition, the chart provides a brief overview of such CNS disturbances as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases.
While the CNS chart is a stand-alone teaching tool, it also makes an excellent companion piece to various educational charts such as Understanding Migraines, Understanding Epilepsy and Understanding Stroke. The migraine chart, which examines the causes and symptoms of this genetic, neurological disease (which presupposes that migraine sufferers have overly excitable neurons), discusses cerebral microvascularization, vasoconstriction and vasodilation (narrowing or widening of blood vessels), and even displays and discusses the origin and nature of a migraine aura, defined as visual and/or sensory disturbances, and speech disturbances, developing gradually and usually lasting no more than an hour.
The epilepsy and stroke charts also provide detailed and easily understood information and diagrams on these two health problems. The first, epilepsy, while relatively uncommon, can be devastating to patients, limiting their social interaction and putting them at serious risk of falls and other hazards. Strokes, on the other hand, are quite common among the elderly, and the chart discusses not only the types of stroke (hemorrhagic and ischemic), but the risk factors like smoking and diabetes than can increase the likelihood of the latter.
The Parkinson’s Disease Education Poster is especially useful as the incidence of this neurological defect becomes more prevalent as the U.S. population ages. Parkinson’s, which results primarily from degeneration, has distinctive stages, as well as specific diagnosis and treatment protocols, all of which the chart examines in detail.
All charts, including the single-page nervous system anatomy chart, are available as plain or laminated 22 by 28 inch sheets, with the lamination perforated by metal eyelets for hanging. The plastic coating allows surgeons, teachers and others to mark the pages in greater detail without destroying them by using dry erase markers.
About the Author
Universal Medical Inc is a premier provider of
brain anatomy charts
and
nervous system posters
How the Brain Works Part 1 (UCLA)
