Typhoid Fever & Meningitis

This topic was created by Matt
[Thu 11 Feb, 19:50 Tasmanian Standard Time]

Hi everybody
I'd be interested in what kind of prevention / medication
people have taken on their trip. I'll be traveling with a 1
1/3 year old toddler........and I've been reading very
contradicting reports (e.g. Ciprofloxacin, some say: NO
PROBLEM, others: NO WAY! The same goes with the vaccines
for those two diseases)
Thank you very much for any information on this subject.
PS: Route: China, Central Asia, Iran, Turkey

[There are 8 posts - the latest was added on Mon 8 March, 4:16]

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  1. vaccines Added by: docrich
    [Timestamp: Sun 14 Feb, 10:28 Tasmanian Standard Time]

    Although vaccination is not perfect, It offers protection
    from diseases that could be deadly in small children. We
    tried to get the oral typhoid vaccine into our then 3yo
    without success. We opted for the injectible for her, but
    the rest of us took the oral (because the bug gets in
    through the gut, it make sense to use that route). Cipro is
    still contraindicated in children. Use it only if you have
    no options- a sick kid and no access to help. Take some way
    to get clean water and learn how to make oral rehydration
    solution. Check out "the pocket doctor" by Stephen
    Bezrushka.



  2. Typhoid Added by: Cindy
    [Timestamp: Fri 19 Feb, 21:44 Tasmanian Standard Time]

    I don't know very much about Meningitis, but had horrible
    experience in Egypt with Typhoid. My husband and I both had
    injectable typhoid vaccines and both of us got Typhoid in
    Egypt eight months later. This is in spite of the fact that
    we did not eat street food and were very careful about
    sanitation. The good thing was that the vaccine caused us
    to have very minor cases. I did not have to be hospitalized
    at all, and my husband was in hospital for only 2 days.
    Also, the Egyptians laughed at our paranoia because in egypt
    typhoid is considered a childhood disease.
    So I would say there is no real protection against Typhoid
    except to be extremely careful about what you eat. Also,
    after we contracted Typhoid, the doctor told us not to eat
    lettuce (which we had not been eating anyway) and to avoid
    any sort of dressings/sauce on food (which we had been
    eating). Even in "western" establishments in the third
    world, you can still get sick. So don't let down your
    precautions just because the place is "western" even if it
    is an American chain restaurant, as it is one of these
    places where I believe we contracted Typhoid.



  3. meningitis and thyphoid Added by: rudi Vermeirssen
    [Timestamp: Fri 19 Feb, 23:58 Tasmanian Standard Time]

    I am a medical student and therefor now a little abou
    vaccins. Typhoid is caused by Salmonella typhi. A very good
    vaccins exists against this disease. But of course one can
    not be 100% protected, a vaccin can always be bad or
    something. However, it is always better to get vaccinated
    than not. so for typhoid I certainly would get vaccinated
    and as for your toddler I will get back on that, there might
    be a problem because he is still very young.
    Meningitis is caused by different kinds of organisms,
    viruses and bacterias.There is a vaccin against one bacteria
    this is especially made for children, therefor I would go
    to your doctor and ask for one.
    P.S. this is not a cheap vaccin!



  4. vaccin Added by: natacha (natacha@arfract.net)
    [Timestamp: Tue 2 March, 6:00 Tasmanian Standard Time]

    i am planning to travel with an 18 onth bay to indonesia and
    i was told (by a vaccination center for traavellers) tiphoid
    could not be done before 2 years old the only solution is
    not to eat anithing that is not cooked (vegetables fruit
    milk has to be pasteurised) If you find any other
    information please do tell me about it



  5. vaccin Added by: natacha (natacha@arfract.net)
    [Timestamp: Tue 2 March, 6:00 Tasmanian Standard Time]

    i am planning to travel with an 18 onth bay to indonesia and
    i was told (by a vaccination center for traavellers) tiphoid
    could not be done before 2 years old the only solution is
    not to eat anithing that is not cooked (vegetables fruit
    milk has to be pasteurised) If you find any other
    information please do tell me about it



  6. Meningitis Added by: Tommy
    [Timestamp: Mon 8 March, 4:16 Tasmanian Standard Time]

    Being a medical student at Martin Luther hospital in
    Chicago I run across many cases in where meningitis is the
    problem. Meningitis occurs when a germ enters the
    cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This irritates the meninges
    which become red and swollen. If the germ infected with
    meningitis is exposed to the air and becomes airborne the
    meninges can be directly infected. The symptoms are pretty
    close to a fever state. The most important symptom is
    severe headache, usually associated with pain in the eyes
    on looking at ligt. The person may complain of a stiff
    neck, nausea, and vomiting.



  7. Meningitis Added by: Tommy
    [Timestamp: Mon 8 March, 4:16 Tasmanian Standard Time]

    Being a medical student at Martin Luther hospital in
    Chicago I run across many cases in where meningitis is the
    problem. Meningitis occurs when a germ enters the
    cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This irritates the meninges
    which become red and swollen. If the germ infected with
    meningitis is exposed to the air and becomes airborne the
    meninges can be directly infected. The symptoms are pretty
    close to a fever state. The most important symptom is
    severe headache, usually associated with pain in the eyes
    on looking at ligt. The person may complain of a stiff
    neck, nausea, and vomiting.



  8. Meningitis Added by: Tommy
    [Timestamp: Mon 8 March, 4:16 Tasmanian Standard Time]

    Being a medical student at Martin Luther hospital in
    Chicago I run across many cases in where meningitis is the
    problem. Meningitis occurs when a germ enters the
    cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This irritates the meninges
    which become red and swollen. If the germ infected with
    meningitis is exposed to the air and becomes airborne the
    meninges can be directly infected. The symptoms are pretty
    close to a fever state. The most important symptom is
    severe headache, usually associated with pain in the eyes
    on looking at ligt. The person may complain of a stiff
    neck, nausea, and vomiting.




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