Dengue fever rise in Thailand expected
The number of cases of dengue (dengue fever) in Thailand is alarmingly high and the medical sector is therefore raising the alarm. In 2008, nearly 90.000 people were infected, of which 102 died. A year later, those numbers fell to 57.000 cases with 50 deaths, but in 2010 there were more than 113.000 with 139 deaths.
Doctors say they expect a significant rise in this very serious disease this year with summer just around the corner. It has recently rained heavily in many regions of the country, while the rainy season has not even started yet. An ideal climate for mosquitos, the carrier of the responsible virus, to multiply and spread on a large scale. The mosquito prefers to lay its eggs in clean, stagnant water, such as water barrels or flower pots.
From 2006 to 2010, the Department of Medical Sciences of the National Institute of Health conducted research into dengue outbreaks in 25 provinces. The scientists concluded that a mosquito can transmit two types of the virus, which infect their larvae. The blood-sucking mosquitoes Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus can even transmit four different viruses. The study also dispelled the prevailing opinion that the Aedes mosquitoes cannot survive in higher elevations and that they are only active during the day. Both mosquito species were found in the province of Chiang Mai at almost 2.000 meters above sea level, which also did their evil work at night.
Dengue fever occurs throughout Thailand and there is no vaccine or cure available. It is accompanied by a severe fever, up to 41°, but the treatment is only symptomatic and supportive. The patient must drink plenty of fluids, and possibly receive extra fluids through an IV if this cannot be done normally.
Prevention is therefore essential according to tropical medicine. Tourists passing through Thailand journey it is recommended to dress well, that is to say clothing that covers the skin as much as possible, light in color and not tight around the body. The mosquitoes don't like bright colors either. With looser clothing, the mosquito cannot reach the skin and burrows into the open space.
Natural protectants like lemon or sandalwood oil work, but only for a short time, say 20 minutes. Travelers are advised to use chemical insect repellents, especially at night. This makes it quite safe for four to eight hours. There is also an anti-mosquito agent to impregnate clothing before a trip. The agent is added in a washing machine and protection is provided in these washed clothes for a few weeks.
You have been warned!
Partially and freely translated from “Der Farang”
You forgot to mention about chikunkunya, similar to dengue. Is slightly less deadly, but is advancing from the south of Thailand.
The advice about clothing can be found in every travel guide, but in fact it is utter nonsense. Which tourist wraps himself in 'as much skin-covering clothing as possible' every hot day? Bermuda and shirt is the everyday wear for tourists and expats.
I seem to remember that a Thai university is quite advanced with a vaccination against dengue.
My wife also contracted chikunkunya in Nov. 2009 and is still not the old one.
Still no strength in her hands and joint pain.
On Phuket, a doctor misdiagnosed her and sent her home very ill
was accompanied by fever and severe joint pains.
Came home 5 days. located in the Havenziekenhuis in R'dam, where they are buckled. in
tropical diseases.
You can be so sick of such a small pokke animal.
We still go to Phuket twice a year and rub ourselves well with deet
and wear spec. bracelets with a kind of citric acid and still wear as much as possible
long sleeves/pants in the evening.
Hoping that the wrong mosquito doesn't want us, we're going in Nov. Enjoy another 3 weeks on Phuket because it remains our favorite holiday country.
By the way, where is that mosquito? All of Asia, Brazil, Antilles, even Italy has already been an epidemic. In the Netherlands, containers with plants, etc. are already treated with gas preventively, so you have to be careful with these mosquitoes everywhere. But what surprised us the most is that the pharmaco. industry is not yet coming up with a vaccine because they would have gold in their hands
Last year I also contracted an infection in Thailand, resulting in cirrhosis of the liver and intestinal bleeding. It's another miracle I'm alive.
Spent a month in isolation in the hospital, had 3 series of heavy antibiotics, took 16 tubes of blood in one day (according to the nurse I was the new record holder) and the next day another 7 for examination.
The fever did not go away and the doctor thought that I should continue to work it out at home. went home on Saturday, took a temperature on Monday and the fever was gone.
How that could suddenly happen and what kind of infection I had is still a mystery.
The GGD did advise me to get vaccinated for TB when staying in Thailand for a longer period of time, while the GP told me nothing about it.
@Hans, I also had something similar about 12 years ago after a holiday in Thailand, was 2 days back and got a fever of 5 degrees in a period of 40,6 hours. The GP thought it was not responsible and had me taken to the Havenziekenhuis in R'dam at night, the first 3 to 4 days the fever remained high until 41, then it suddenly disappeared and I was allowed to go to the hospital after 1 week located back home. Live in Thailand, and I'm terrified that I'm being stung again, but I'm really not going to use repellent every day. Don't have so much faith in the stuff if you put it on your skin every day, maybe the cure is worse than the disease?
You may be right, don't know, that stuff is absorbed into your body and has to be broken down. The fact that I still do not know what I suffered at the time also indicates that the gentlemen doctors cannot explain everything.
Maybe I believe in fairy tales, but quietly in my silly mind I think I'm immune now. Can still remember very well what the doctor said at the time.
Ok that first antibiotic was too light, I now have to order special antibiotics.
I can promise you that all the vermin in your body will now die, not so good, 2nd course even heavier, did not help either, After all the outcome and conditions, the doctor gave me a life expectancy of another 1 to max 2 years.
I am now 1,5 years further and still walk around in Thailand fairly healthy (knock on wood)
My girlfriend said she had prayed to budda and that is why everything is still ok, let me stop there.
That of that Thai university is correct, a French pharmaceutical company is also quite far in this.
However, it is still in the laboratory phase and it may take a while before it comes to the market.
Worldwide, however, it affects almost 50 million (according to WHO) people, so it is commercially a very interesting market, and they are therefore naturally trying to bring this vaccine to the market as soon as possible.
I also have the following question, it has nothing to do with the dengue fever.
I myself suffer quite a lot from the sand fleas on the beaches in Thailand, does anyone have any tips for that, other than keeping your socks on.
The travel clinic in Rotterdam writes this about it:
Dengue is a virus infection that is transmitted by a mosquito. There are two variants, one of which is serious to fatal.
Areas
Dengue is found in all tropical areas, especially in Southeast Asia, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Africa. Every year, more than two billion people from XNUMX countries are at risk of infection.
Contamination
The tiger mosquito, a small black and white mosquito, transmits the virus from one person to another.
Symptoms
There are two forms of the infection. Dengue fever is a flu-like illness. These include symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, muscle and joint pains, and red skin rashes. Nausea and vomiting may also occur. Dengue hemorrhagic fever is the severe form. In addition to the symptoms already mentioned, bruises, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, restlessness and thirst occur. Furthermore, bleeding and shock can occur, possibly with fatal outcome. Among travelers, dengue haemorrhagic fever with shock almost only occurs if someone has had dengue before.
Therapy
A vaccine or treatment against dengue is not yet available. Adults usually heal completely, although the recovery period is long. Children under ten years of age require medical treatment. Patients with dengue haemorrhagic fever and shock should be admitted to an intensive care unit and given supportive therapy. They are seriously ill.
Appearance
Avoid places with stagnant water, where dengue mosquitoes breed. The mosquitoes bite mainly during the day. Therefore, wear covering clothing and use mosquito repellent (DEET).
A visit to the website of this clinic is advisable not only for tourists who want to stay in Thailand for a few weeks, but also for those who already live here or want to live here in the future.
"anti-mosquito agent to impregnate clothing before a trip"..
This is new to me. Does anyone have more info on this?
It was new to me too, so I looked it up.
I found this:
kleren
Wear light-colored clothing (you can see the mosquitoes) that covers the arms and legs as much as possible (long pants, long sleeves, socks). If the fabric is too thin, mosquitoes can easily get through it.
In regions with dangerous mosquitoes you can impregnate outer clothing, anklets or bracelets and the like with permethrin (dilute 1 part of the solution at 10% with about 50 parts of water, let it dry completely). Examples of products that you can use for this are: Mouskito spray or Biokill, Permas. Direct contact with the skin should be avoided, so never impregnate underwear.
You can also make tent covers, curtains and so on with these products
impregnate.
Clothes can also be sprayed with a DEET-based insect repellent. Deet does synthetics
so you must be very careful when applying deet to clothing.
If you google permethrin, it is unfortunately - according to American studies - a possible carcinogen.
Thanks!
But yes, "Direct contact with the skin should be avoided"..
Then I would have to wear two long pants or something like that 😉
Was my thought too. Avoid direct contact with skin? In the tropics? I don't wear a shirt with something underneath, just as long pants??
Dilute Permethrin 1 part (?) of 10% with 50 parts water ? What don't I understand? So 1 in 500? in the washing machine that replaces 3 x 5 or more liters of water? Or just do it while rinsing?
Where to buy Permethrin in Thailand? And is an apparently carcinogenic agent freely available? And if it comes into contact with the skin?
What about Deet, can you just do that on your body, and is that Deet what you buy here different from Thailand, maybe it contains substances that are prohibited here. Seems to me that tourists just walk in shorts and not packed with 2 pants on
I bought an anti-mosquito product here in Thailand, some kind of oily stuff with 25% deet in it. In the Netherlands you have different products with different amounts of deet in them. The maximum deet in a product in the Netherlands is 40% and yes you put that on the skin. You can find and get more information at the Travelclinic. Also check out their website.
Have smeared the product of Thailand on my legs and it doesn't help. The mosquitoes just come and get their needed blood from me, DEET or not!
The bottle I bought looks white with blue, the cap is also blue.
Don't ask me name because it is only written in Thai
If everything on the bottle is written in Thai, how do you know it contains DEET?
Dear Hansy, For many words, the Thais have not made a Thai word and use the international word, including Deet. And that is stated on the packaging, including the percentages. In addition, my wife can read the Thai script and if it is only in Thai, she is my translator.
Yes, dengue fever is not just a disease. You can be very sick and apart from the fatalities, there are also other serious consequences. A friend of mine had it and lost part of his memory.
Before that time he could speak English and Thai well, now he has lost all that.
With a second infection, the consequences seem to be even more serious.
But despite that, I'm not going to rub myself with deet every day.
It really pisses me off when I put that stuff on my neck.
I do often wear covering clothing, because I don't need to get a tan.
I'll make sure my bedroom stays free of mosquitoes.
A vaccination would be a godsend.
A second infection does indeed have even more serious consequences, you have several variants, if you have had one you remain immune to it, but there is no cross-immunity with respect to the other.
Reading this today on wiki does not make me happy as I have now come to the conclusion that I was also allowed to experience this pleasure in 2009 and I suspect on Ko chang where I was eaten by mosquitoes and sand fleas.
The deet from 7/11 doesn't help me for a meter, best thing I buy is at the drugstore. pharmacy, plastic sachets with white lotion.
Do you also have a name of the lotion??? or else a photo that you can post here. On that
way we can also try it out if this helps against mosquitoes.
Anti-mosquito products with deet don't help me either.
It is written in Thai but my girlfriend translates it as follows
soffell lotion, now light pink packaging with partial white, per bottle 5 thb.
Just received a call from my mother-in-law that there are now 24 kilometers in her village
south of udon thani there are currently 6 people affected by dengue