Illness in Vietnam and Cambodia?
Nov 21st, 2006, 02:10 AM
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Illness in Vietnam and Cambodia?
Hi,
What precautions did you take? We've been to China and Thailand and never had problems beyond the exhaustion that comes with heavy travelling.
We will visit HCMC, the Mekong Delta, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap in December. As for meds, we will all be taking doxycyclin (malaria prophylactic) and regularly basting bods and clothes with DEET and Permethrin spray, respectively. We rarely if ever eat street food but I am betting that pho may well change that to some degree.
Suggestions? Precautions? Warnings?
Thanks!!
Mary in Korea
What precautions did you take? We've been to China and Thailand and never had problems beyond the exhaustion that comes with heavy travelling.
We will visit HCMC, the Mekong Delta, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap in December. As for meds, we will all be taking doxycyclin (malaria prophylactic) and regularly basting bods and clothes with DEET and Permethrin spray, respectively. We rarely if ever eat street food but I am betting that pho may well change that to some degree.
Suggestions? Precautions? Warnings?
Thanks!!
Mary in Korea
Nov 21st, 2006, 02:30 AM
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We used to eat and drink very carefully...that got us upset stomachs on each Thailand trip, Hep A in Bali (in spite of vaccination...we just were lucky to get a milder case than we would have gotten without the vaccine), food poisoning so bad at home in Japan that once I was hospitalized, and another time my daughter spent the day in recliner hooked up to an IV, and last year my daughter was so sick she had under skin hemorraging that everyone thought was Dengue fever....makes for interesting hospital story though...we think she got sick swimming with elephants. Another trip I spent the entire plane ride home to Japan vomiting in the airplane toilet...we had eaten only at the Peninsula and an Outback Steakhouse that trip.
At least in our case, what we eat or don't eat has little or no effect on our health. Since getting Hep A in Bali, we have thrown out most food cautions and relied instead on common sense. We ate street food...this was after the Dengue scare, so we know the street food didn't cause this sickness.
We don't consume drinks with ice that isn't clearly identifiable from a delivery service. I don't buy already cut fruit sold in bags (for no reason other than it kind of grosses me out...I don't buy already cut fruit in the supermarket in Japan or the US either), we don't eat food that is not freshly cooked. We also don't eat much meat, but that's because we don't much like it, not because we have any problem with it. We do it salads, and I do eat cut fruit served at breakfast. I'd eat pho served up from a piping hot pot of soup in a heartbeat, maybe 3 meals a day.
If anyone in your family shows signs of being ill, the best advise I can give you is to waste no time getting to a doctor, as the quicker you get some fluids (IV or rehydration salts) and antibiotics if needed (blood test to see if its virus or bacteria), the quicker recovery will be. As sick my daughter was last year, and she was the sickest I have ever seen her, within 24 hours she was back in the pool feeling about 80%...though it was a week or so before her stomach welcomed much other than rice and toast. Had I waited to take her (but how could I with purpurae forming on her face and arms and growing by the hour), recovery would have been longer and harder. So, yes, seek medical attention sooner rather than later, so recovery can be as speedy as possible.
At least in our case, what we eat or don't eat has little or no effect on our health. Since getting Hep A in Bali, we have thrown out most food cautions and relied instead on common sense. We ate street food...this was after the Dengue scare, so we know the street food didn't cause this sickness.
We don't consume drinks with ice that isn't clearly identifiable from a delivery service. I don't buy already cut fruit sold in bags (for no reason other than it kind of grosses me out...I don't buy already cut fruit in the supermarket in Japan or the US either), we don't eat food that is not freshly cooked. We also don't eat much meat, but that's because we don't much like it, not because we have any problem with it. We do it salads, and I do eat cut fruit served at breakfast. I'd eat pho served up from a piping hot pot of soup in a heartbeat, maybe 3 meals a day.
If anyone in your family shows signs of being ill, the best advise I can give you is to waste no time getting to a doctor, as the quicker you get some fluids (IV or rehydration salts) and antibiotics if needed (blood test to see if its virus or bacteria), the quicker recovery will be. As sick my daughter was last year, and she was the sickest I have ever seen her, within 24 hours she was back in the pool feeling about 80%...though it was a week or so before her stomach welcomed much other than rice and toast. Had I waited to take her (but how could I with purpurae forming on her face and arms and growing by the hour), recovery would have been longer and harder. So, yes, seek medical attention sooner rather than later, so recovery can be as speedy as possible.
Nov 21st, 2006, 02:34 AM
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One other thing...be aware of the symptoms of malaria and dengue, because even taking the doxy, it is still possible to come down with malaria, and there is no drug to prevent dengue. And even the best regimen of repellent application doesn't always prevent mosquito bites. So if you know the symptoms to watch out for, you will be better prepared to self evaluate the need for urgent and high level care rather than wait until morning local clinic care.
Nov 21st, 2006, 02:58 AM
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Thanks Kim! Your story about your daughter was frightening. I will definitely fully understand the symptoms before we go!
We are also getting a rabies series, as suggested by the doc. Luckily we had most of the shots while in Italy. The Navy was thorough.
One interesting warning. Our doc also said we should look into the P of the DPT. Apparently there has been some resurgence.
The twins are 9 now I've dragged them as many places as I can. So far, we haven't been sick. Hopefully our luck will hold on this trip too.
I can hardly wait for the pho. My kids are such noodle fanatics we eat Ramyen frequently. They are going to LOVE the pho
Thanks again!!
Mary in Korea
We are also getting a rabies series, as suggested by the doc. Luckily we had most of the shots while in Italy. The Navy was thorough.
One interesting warning. Our doc also said we should look into the P of the DPT. Apparently there has been some resurgence.
The twins are 9 now I've dragged them as many places as I can. So far, we haven't been sick. Hopefully our luck will hold on this trip too.
I can hardly wait for the pho. My kids are such noodle fanatics we eat Ramyen frequently. They are going to LOVE the pho
Thanks again!!
Mary in Korea
Nov 21st, 2006, 06:50 AM
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You probably already are going to get it but travel insurance is a must. Make sure it covers evacuations. Heaven forbid but if you should have an accident or become seriously sick in Cambodia you will want to be evacuated to Bangkok as quick as possible. The hospitals there are not too good for anything of a major nature.
Can't comment on Vientnam.
Can't comment on Vientnam.
Nov 21st, 2006, 07:34 PM
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There are several good hospitals/clinics in HCMC. That being said, if I have serious medical problems, I'm heading to Singapore or Bangkok.
FV Hospital - Joint French/Vietnamese Hospital with new heart center (District 7) 411 3333
Cho Ray Hospital - specializes in trauma cases (they have a lot of practice due to the number of motorbike accidents).
Family Medical Practice - Specialist doctors from around the world (Diamond Plaza, District 1) 822 7848
www.vietnammedicalpractice.com
Columbia Asia - similar, but smaller facility to Family Medical. 823 8888
FV Hospital - Joint French/Vietnamese Hospital with new heart center (District 7) 411 3333
Cho Ray Hospital - specializes in trauma cases (they have a lot of practice due to the number of motorbike accidents).
Family Medical Practice - Specialist doctors from around the world (Diamond Plaza, District 1) 822 7848
www.vietnammedicalpractice.com
Columbia Asia - similar, but smaller facility to Family Medical. 823 8888
Dec 2nd, 2006, 04:44 AM
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Mary,
Do have Amex? I'm looking at a flyer for emergency med insurance, monthly fee, includes emergency evacuation. $18 mo for a family, says you can cancel at any time. I've never gotten trip insurance but may this time.
Also, did anyone mention yogurt/acydophilus? I've always added yogurt to my traveling diet as it seems to strengthen your digestive response to bacteria. Won't save you from microbes in water, etc, so you still have to be careful with washed veggies,fruits,water,icecream, ice, but it saved me in Mexico many times.
Do have Amex? I'm looking at a flyer for emergency med insurance, monthly fee, includes emergency evacuation. $18 mo for a family, says you can cancel at any time. I've never gotten trip insurance but may this time.
Also, did anyone mention yogurt/acydophilus? I've always added yogurt to my traveling diet as it seems to strengthen your digestive response to bacteria. Won't save you from microbes in water, etc, so you still have to be careful with washed veggies,fruits,water,icecream, ice, but it saved me in Mexico many times.
