Vaccins and prevention


 

 

 

 Vaccins recommended :

Stay healthy:

  • Wash hands often with soap and water;
  • Drink only boiled water, or water and carbonated (bubbly) drinks in cans;
  • Avoid tap water, fountain drinks, and ice cubes;
  • Eat only thoroughly cooked food or fruits and vegetables you have peeled yourself. Remember: boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it;
  • Protect yourself from insects by remaining in well-screened areas, using repellents (applied sparingly at 4-hour intervals) and permethrin-impregnated mosquito nets, and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants from dusk through dawn;
  • Prevent fungal and parasitic infections, keep feet clean and dry, and do not go barefoot;
  • Do not travel at night;
  • Trafic accidents are frequent, be careful;
  • Always use latex condoms to reduce the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases;
  • Don't eat food purchased from street vendors;
  • Use mefloquine as malaria prophylaxis.(Chloroquine resistance)
  • Avoid undercooked or raw fish or shellfish.
  • Make sure all vegetables are cooked
  • Avoid salads.
  • Avoid foods and beverages from street vendors.
  • Vaccine

to avoid Malaria:

To prevent mosquito bites, follow these guidelines:
  • Limit your outdoor activity between dusk and dawn. Stay in screened or air-conditioned rooms.
  • Wear protective clothing (long pants and long-sleeved shirts).
  • Use insect repellent with DEET (N,N diethylmetatoluamide). The repellent is available in varying strengths up to 100%. In young children, use a preparation containing less than 35% strength, because DEET can be toxic if too much of the chemical is absorbed through the skin.
  • Use bed nets (mosquito netting) sprayed with or soaked in an insecticide such as permethrin or deltamethrin.
  • Use flying-insect spray indoors around sleeping areas.
  • Avoid areas where malaria and mosquitos are present if you are at higher risk (for example, if you are pregnant, very young, or very old).

Anti-malaria tablets (prophylactic)
There are a number of different types of anti-malaria tablets available. Choosing one depends both upon the particular area being visited, and the traveller's own medical history.

Mefloquine (mefliam) is taken in adult dosage of one tablet per week. This should be commenced at least one week before entering the malarious area and continued for four weeks after leaving the malarious area. Mefloquine (mefliam) is best taken at night after a meal, and with liquids. The principal contra-indications to the use of mefloquine (mefliam) are a history of psychiatric problems or epilepsy.

Doxycycline is taken in an adult dosage of 100mg per day, starting a day or two before entering a malarious area. Like mefloquine (mefliam) it should be taken for four weeks after return. The drug should be taken after a meal, and washed down with plenty of liquid. It should be avoided in pregnancy and children.

A combination of chloroquine and proguanil can be used as prophylactic against malaria. And is available without a doctor's prescription. This combination is more difficult to use than the simpler mefloquine and doxycycline regimes, and is believed to offer less protection. No method of malaria prevention is one hundred per cent effective, and there is still a small chance of contracting malaria despite the taking of anti-malaria medication and the adoption of personal protection methods. This does not mean that anti-malaria medication and personal protection measures should be neglected, simply that any traveller developing possible symptoms of malaria should seek medical advice despite having taken the prescribed precautions.