You never feel better than your health — something that is even more true when you are out travelling. It is against this background that we have put together a series of recommendations for you to consider well in time before heading off to Thailand. The compilation has been put together on the basis of recommendations provided by European social authorities and vaccination centres as well as together with an experienced general practitioner. We strongly advice you to consult with a vaccination clinic as soon as you have decided to book a trip to Thailand.
Ten years ago, many people got terrified just by the thought of travelling 10,000 kilometres away from home. Today, however, people are more used to embarking on long trips. Travelling to the “Land of Smiles”, there are actually not that many dangers to worry about than in your home country. Nevertheless, well in time before departure, you should look over your vaccinations to make sure you have adequate protection against local viruses and bacteria (read more below and in our travel check list).
General Advice
Even though it is important to look over your protection against a couple of truly awful diseases before heading off to Thailand, it is more often than not minor “everyday” afflictions that might disturb your peaceful vacation. The most common one is the so-called tourist diarrhoea. As it is caused by many different contagions, a vaccination can barely be complete. If you suffer from serious diarrhoea you should especially bear in mind that you will rapidly lose a lot of fluid, which makes it critical for you to drink as much as possible — preferably fluid compensation, Sprite/Seven-Up, Coca-Cola/Pepsi or water with four teaspoons of sugar and one teaspoon of salt. Should the symptoms be very serious (high fever or blood), a doctor should be instantly contacted (read more under the hospitals in Hua Hin). However, don’t let the fear of food poisoning come at the expense of not trying all those local delicacies that will be enticing you during your trip! Rather try to make sure about eating well cooked food that smell and taste well. The vaccine Dukoral which partly gives protection against tourist diarrhoea but especially against cholera might be a good idea to bring on the trip.
It is often said that a person should drink at least as many litres of water every 24-hour period as the air temperature in Celsius units, divided by ten. Thus, if the temperature is 40 degrees Celsius, it implies that you should drink at least four litres during a 24-hour period — preferably even five. This piece of advice should indeed be taken seriously, since dehydration is more common than most people might think in warm countries. A similar affliction that many people experience is salt deficiency. The reason is simply that you sweat a lot more when it is hot, something that might lead to dizziness, headache, irritation, and weakness in general. Some good advice is to add some extra salt to your food. This is especially important in the beginning of your stay as the sweat glands, after a couple of days in a warm climate, “learn” to cope with the heat by economizing on salt.
Many are those who underestimate the sun’s effects in Thailand. One might think that preparing oneself by visiting solariums in one’s home country will protect one from getting burnt by the sun in Thailand, but this is rarely the case. A high factor sunscreen is therefore highly recommendable — especially for children, in combination with a sun hat and thin clothes. However, it is not only the sun at the beach that will expose you to potential dangers, but also the ocean. In addition to underwater currents, some good advice is to look out for jellyfish. These can give intense and sometimes lasting itch. In that respect, the swimming pool is a safer option. Swimming in fresh water lakes should, however, be avoided altogether since fairly unpleasant parasites can grow in such waters.
Vaccinations
The most important vaccinations to have before travelling to Thailand, are most likely against the viruses that give jaundice — hepatitis A and B. Hepatitis A is caused by an intestine virus that attacks the liver, whereas hepatitis B is caused by a virus that is transmitted through blood and unprotected sex. Typical symptoms are fatigue and lack of appetite. The combination vaccine Havrix will give you protection against both hepatitis A and hepatitis B.
Vaccination against cholera, a contagious intestine disease which is transmitted by food and water, might be considered. Even though cholera epidemics sometimes occur, the risk of catching the disease is very low. Vaccination against typhoid, a salmonella bacterium which is transmitted by food and water, might also be worth considering. Typical symptoms of typhoid are high fever, headache and muscular pain.
Despite the fact that rabies exists in Thailand, vaccination against it is uncommon. The most common carriers of rabies are dogs, so the best advice is probably to try to avoid getting in close contact with homeless animals. If you for some reason happen to get bitten you should instantly visit a hospital for vaccination or antidote.
Japanese encephalitis is a severe virus disease that is transmitted by mosquitoes and can affect the central nervous system and cause severe complications. However, it is a very rare disease. Only if you intend to stay in Thailand more than a month, vaccination against this disease might be worth considering. When it comes to malaria, which is spread by mosquitoes and still today kills a significant number of people in the underdeveloped part of the world, it exists also in Thailand. At holiday resorts, such as Hua Hin, malaria doesn’t exist. However, if you intend to travel in areas covered with lush jungle you might want to consider taking malaria prophylaxis. The reason for not unnecessarily taking prophylaxis is that it has various side-effects. In relation to mosquitoes, it can be worth mentioning that, luckily, they don’t like air conditioned rooms. Consequently, don’t be afraid of using the air condition during night time, especially if it is hot and many mosquitoes around — despite the old, and generally inaccurate, myth that various creepy diseases are transmitted through air conditioners.
Finally, a last word should be said regarding tetanus, polio and diphtheria. People from many of the western countries already have protection against these diseases. However, replenishment might be needed. If you don’t have protection, it might be a good idea seriously considering a vaccination.
Transportation
Without any hesitation, the traffic in most western countries is much safer than that in many Southeast Asian countries. In spite of the traffic being relatively unorganised in Thailand, a good thing about the vast majority of the Thai individuals, is that they — to the highest possible extent — try to avoid conflicts, unpleasant situations and to lose face (read more under Thai Culture). This also means that they normally do their utmost to avoid accidents. You sometimes get amazed by how flexible many Thais are when it comes to finding solutions to the most complicated situations that can arise at traffic intersections.
Travelling by air and train is normally as safe in Thailand as in most western countries. Also busses, taxis and the world-famous three-wheel tuk-tuk taxis are fairly reliable means of transportation. If you are considering to rent a car in Thailand, you should bear in mind that the traffic rhythm and the left-hand traffic require different driving skills than most of us are used to. The most dangerous way of getting around in Thailand is evidently by motorbike. If you wish to rent one, be careful and try not to adopt the worriless “mai ben rai” style practised by many a Thai motorbike driver.
During a long flight to Thailand, as in the case with many direct flights, you will have to sit still for a long period of time — maybe some 12 hours or more. If you have a poor blood circulation or, at any time, have been suffering from thrombosis, it could be a good idea to use a support sock during the flight. Another good advice is to move your feet, legs, arms and hands at regular intervals in order to stimulate the blood circulation.
A Travel Pharmacy
For a useful list of what medicines you may consider bringing with you to Thailand, please click here.
