Travel and, if possible, travel safely

1999/06/20 Kortabarria Olabarria, Beñardo - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Osasuna

Holidays are to enjoy. However, travel carries risks, one of them, and not another, of catching an infection. The risk of having an exotic or common disease is due to factors such as poor health infrastructure, climatic fluctuations, change in diet, change in sleep habits, etc., factors that can generate psychological stress on travel, weaken the defensive system and facilitate the appearance of infectious processes.

Measures to address possible infection risks should be taken based on the characteristics of each passenger and the trip. Regarding the characteristics of travellers, age, sex, disease history, previous vaccines, general health status, allergies and medication are taken into account. Knowledge of incidents occurring on previous trips can also be important when taking one or another measure. The characteristics of the trip include the destination country, the duration of the trip, the type of trip (urban, mountain...), the type of accommodation chosen and the actions to be carried out during the trip.

All of these characteristics are foreseen and, consequently, the most appropriate measures are taken for travelers to associate travel with a short time, that is, with little time to decide which vaccines are the most suitable. However, the measures can be taken one month before departure, although they do not offer maximum protection.

In order to attend some countries, the law requires vaccination, especially in countries in South America, Africa and Asia. Apart from legally established diseases, the main preventable vaccination diseases are: yellow fever, tetanus, diphtheria, polio, hepatitis A and B, typhoid fever, rabies, meningococcal disease, cholera and Japanese encephalitis. Let's see it one by one.

Yellow fever

Yellow fever is viral, contaminated by the puncture of a mosquito. It can only be created in forest areas of Africa and South America. Although infections are frequent among the occupants of the area, in most cases they are not usually serious, while among travelers it is rare, but dangerous, as it can become deadly. In addition to vaccination, measures are recommended to prevent mosquito bites. The vaccine lasts 10 years. Pregnant women, children younger than 9 months, and people allergic to eggs are preferable not to take it. Most embassies and consulates accept documents that recommend not getting vaccinated.

Tetanus

It is due to the bacteria Clostridium tetani that can develop in tissues with low oxygen content. It is included in most vaccination programs in countries around the world and recommends taking them every 10 years. Knowing the route of transmission of this disease, Tetanus has the same risk for passengers and non-travelers.

Diphtheria

It occurs when the bacterium Corynebacterium difphteriae penetrates the airways. Diphtheria vaccine is safe and effective, but not included in vaccination programs in developed countries. Diphtheria occurs mainly in countries with little integration structure, but a few years ago it appeared with great force in some countries of the former Soviet Union. Except in the first three months of pregnancy, the rest can be vaccinated peacefully.

Poliomyelitis

This viral infection, caused by poliovirus 1, 2 and 3, is capable of causing paralysis and death. There are two types of polio vaccines: oral and oral. What is not taken by mouth is much safer, so, unless the decision to travel is taken at once, passengers are recommended to the latter. Polio has already disappeared since the beginning of this decade in South America, so vaccination recommendations are aimed at different destinations in Africa and Asia.

Hepatitis A

This disease is caused by viruses of the genus Heparnavantivirus of the family picornavirus, which is found worldwide. The disease spreads in the digestive system by ingesting contaminated water or food. Hepatitis A is common in developing countries and is very dangerous, as it can lead to death if hit hard. However, the vaccine against this disease is very effective and provides protection for 10 years.

Hepatitis B

Like hepatitis A, it is also widespread worldwide and its fault lies in the hepadnavantivirus virus, which adapts to all transmission routes. Given the effectiveness of the vaccine against the disease, the World Health Organization recommended in 1997 the inclusion of the vaccine in all countries of the world. Although it is preferable to take it a few months before the trip, there is a hepatitis B vaccination system for 2 weeks.

Typhoid fever

Widespread disease worldwide, especially in countries with poor health structure and poor hygiene habits. It is caused by the bacterium Salmonella typhi, embedded in the body by contaminated water and food. There are two types of vaccines, one by mouth and another by other systems, which offer some protection and not total. India, Africa and South America are the most vulnerable countries.

Rage

Rabies, in medicine, is a disease that occurs as a result of the rhabdovirus virus of the genus Lyssavirus, which in most cases is fatal. Although they are generally subjected to wild animals, it occasionally affects dogs, cats, animals and, theoretically, also humans. In practice, however, it only occurs from the stools or teeth of diseased animals in humans. About 30,000 people die each year because of anger. It is recommended that people who go to the jungle incorporate them, even if it is not completely safe, as it provides some protection.

Meningococcal disease

Although this disease is present worldwide, it occurs mainly in Mauritania and Ethiopia. Neisseria that enters the airways is caused by meningitidisea and can become severe. It is recommended for people to go to the indicated places, but since the effect is not known, it is preferable not to pregnant women.

Anger

A disease caused by the bacterium Vibro cholerae serogrupo, which begins with gut pains and ends with diarrhea. Despite the development of various vaccines, the World Health Organization recommends none and have been removed from compulsory vaccination programs worldwide. However, in some countries there are cholera vaccines that in some cases, as in trials conducted in Peru and Bangladesh, have been able to offer 85% protection. In the absence of vaccines, glucose is recommended.

Japanese encephalitis

Japanese encephalitis is an infection that reaches humans from mosquito bites of the genus Culex. It is very common in some countries of South and Northeast Asia, especially in rural areas. Most of the time the disease goes away spontaneously, but sometimes it has also caused death. They have therefore developed a vaccine against Japanese encephalitis that should be taken at least 10 days before traveling.

All of them are the most common diseases that can be predicted in some way by vaccines, although they are not the only ones, but they exist more in the world. But don't miss out on travelling!

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