Rules to Staying Healthy in Thailand
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While preparing to travel to Thailand, or any other destination in Southeast Asia, being aware of a few simple things can often save you from any unnecessary downtime in your explorations. Anyone who has ever been to Thailand can tell you that its amazingly safe, the people are extremely friendly, and it is generally fine to roam around without a care in the world. Many people however have made the mistake of overlooking a few basic rules, which can easily fall off your radar while enjoying yourself in the land of smiles.
Taking Care of Your Health While in Thailand
When traveling in Thailand, preparation before departure is important as well as your daily precautions concerning your health, the food that you take while traveling and to avoid health risks. Although the potential dangers can be quite frightening, in reality few travelers experience anything more than an up-set stomach.
The Basic Rules
Food: Choosing food and restaurants is pretty much a case of common sense. If the restaurant or food looks dirty then avoid it. Also stay away from shellfish, no matter how that dish may look, and raw or fermented products such as ‘pla ra’ (fermented fish), which are known to harbour parasites. Steer clear of suspicious-looking meat dishes that may have been cooled and reheated. Fruits and vegetables should be washed or peeled before eating.
Water: In Bangkok or upcountry, drinking water straight from the tap is not advisable. Like the Thais, use only a reliable brand of bottled water or boiled water from the tap. Be wary of ice, which may come from a questionable source. Cylindrical ice cubes with a hole through them are usually produced and delivered under hygienic conditions.
Infectious Disease (Diarrhea): For the frequent traveler, diarrhea is almost inevitable. Just a change in drinking water and food can trigger an attack. These are generally not cause for concern though. When diarrhea strikes, it is important to safeguard against dehydration by drinking lots of fluids such as tea or salts dissolved in water. Avoid food for a while to avoid recurrence. Severe attacks, with bleeding or mucus in the stools, accompanied by high fever could be an indication of something more serious such as dysentery. In this case, medical consultation should be sought.
Malaria: According to the government’s Department of Communicable Disease Control, Bangkok and most provinces in the central region as well as major tourist resorts such as Chang Mai, Phuket, Krabi, Hua Hin and Koh Samui have been free from malaria for decades. All cities in Thailand are malaria free and no special precautions against this mosquito-borne disease are recommended. Outside these areas some risk remains, especially in mountainous and border regions. Tourists planning to visit these areas are advised to take general precautions against mosquito bite. Those who develop a fever within two weeks of visiting a risk area or experience cold or influenza-like symptoms should seek prompt medical attention.
Dengue Fever and Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever: These viral diseases are endemic in south East Asia. They are transmitted by the ‘aedes’ mosquito, which is active during the daytime and is often found in areas of human habitation. Dengue infection in local people mostly children, often results in fever with bleeding from the skin and other organs (dengue hemorrhagic fever). It can be fatal . For travelers from non-endemic areas the disease usually manifests itself as a fever with skin rash, severe headaches and muscle pains, nausea and vomiting (dengue fever). This disease strain is usually non-fatal but recovery may be prolonged. Dengue infection is most common during the rainy season (Mat to September in Thailand) when the ‘aedes’ mosquito is abundant. There is no vaccine against the disease. The best prevention is to avoid mosquito bites: wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, and use mosquito repellent during the daytime. Anyone who becomes sick with dengue-like symptoms should seek medical consultation to establish the cause of illness.
Typhoid Fever: Typhoid is very rare in Thailand, but precautions against this food and water-borne disease should still be taken. General preventive measures against diarrhea are effective against typhoid. Vaccinations in either injection or oral can be administered prior to departure. Booster vaccinations are easy to get at hospitals and clinics throughout Thailand.
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"I just returned on a 2 week tour of Thailand and Laos with your company. Had a great time and it was so well organized. I would like to get Mr. Aesopa's email so I can email him some pictures of my son and I. Mr. Aesopa is a wonderful guide and he really enhanced the trip by showing us some unusual places and food. We even tried dried insects and snake whisky. Thank you again and we can't wait to plan our next trip. Our friends want to go to with us to Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos in the near future."
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