The Lexicon of Hepatitis A & Why You Should Get Vaccinated

     Who ever takes into consideration when they are eating or when they are outside that what we sometimes take or breathe into our bodies is not the healthiest or safest entity for our body’s function? It would only seem natural that what the earth produces was made for man’s benefit and never for their harm, but with the existence of bacteria in our environment, our immune system is subject to many risks that we don’t see nor taste. This is especially the case when individuals travel to other countries and/or cities that are still in the development phase or that have poor hygiene standards and because of this, neutralization of certain diseases is slow. One of these is Hepatitis A which is a worldwide viral disease. In mostly low-income regions is the virus more prevalent. The virus is not known to become fatal (mortality rate is only 0.5%) but the symptoms and the effects on an individual’s health is a burden that nobody would want to carry. Fatigue, consistent itching, loss of appetite, severe fever, nausea and vomiting, yellowing of the skin and eyes, and the darkening of the urine (due to liver infection) are just some of the symptoms of Hepatitis A.

     Hepatitis A can infect an individual in any region in the world where sanitary conditions are poor but it is especially more common in Asia, Eastern Europe, South and Central America. It can be transmitted through sexual contact with an individual who has the virus through anal-oral contact, contaminated food and water (especially fruit, vegetables, and shellfish), or through an individual with poor hygiene such as lack of proper hand-washing or showering and that touches objects and food after bathroom breaks.   

There is no known cure for Hepatitis A but there are ways to prevent infection, the most important being vaccination. Every day, we surround ourselves with individuals who we don’t know how their hygiene is and because nowadays most people choose to eat outside, unbeknownst to the individual, the purity and cleanness of what they are taking in may very well be lacking. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the best way to prevent Hepatitis A is by getting vaccinated. Here are three reasons why the vaccination should be considered and taken by individuals:

•  If you are an individual that likes to travel and are planning to do so this summer, the vaccine should be considered especially if you are visiting a region where hepatitis A is prevalent
•  If you have had close personal contact with someone who is infected, whether it is a spouse, sexual partner (especially anal-oral contact), or family member.
•  If you are an individual whose occupation involves working with animals, primates, children and people who are sick especially in veterinarians, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and hospitals.

     The side-effects of the Hepatitis A vaccine should not turn you away nor give you reason for not considering vaccination for they are not severe and in most cases are known to be mild such as headache, tiredness, and soreness where the shot was given. If you are planning to travel, the vaccine should be taken 4 weeks before you travel to allow time for the vaccine to work. My motto is that a clean bill of health is always bliss and in reality, it really is and it is worth every investment that we make. If you are considering taking the vaccine and seeking more info, visit us at our website at www.travelclinicny.com or call us at 212-696-5900 to schedule an appointment. A worry-free and healthy summer is bliss!

Planning For Healthy Travel: Yellow Fever Vaccine

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that approximately 4 million travelers to developting regions are ill enough to seek health care, either while abroad or upon returning home. While traveling internationally is already a painstaking process, involving visas, careful planning, packing and itineraries, a trip to the travel clinic must also be added to this list. The CDC notes that in order to ensure a healthful business or tourist excursion, one must adopt some preventative measures. In accordance with the Travel Health Notices they publish consistently, are necessary travel vaccinations. One such is the yellow fever vaccine. Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes. The "yellow" in the name refers to the jaundice that affects some patients once bitten. According to the World Health Organization, 50% of severely affected persons will die if left untreated. Given these sorts of statistics, preventative measures are most responsible.  

While there are many reasons to get vaccinated for yellow fever, the acute rapidity of the illness is most alarming. Once bitten, symptoms will ensue within 3 to 6 days. The symptoms of Stage 1 infection include  Headache, muscle and joint aches, fever, flushing, loss of appetite, vomiting, and jaundice are common. Though symptoms often go away briefly after about 3 to 4 days and stage 2 may be possible remission, some persons worsen drastically within 24 hours. Stage 3, called intoxication is marked by problems with many organs including heart, liver, and kidney failure, bleeding disorders, seizures, coma, and delirium.

In order to prevent these caustic symptoms and possible death, a vaccine should be prearranged 10 to 14 days before traveling. Ultimately, alongside the three pairs of bright swimsuits you’re packing, sunscreen and new shoes you bought yesterday just for this excursion, should be travel vaccines. The yellow fever vaccine is but one that may be necessary.

Protect Yourself against the Yellow Fever Virus

            If you’re planning on traveling in Africa or Latin America in the near future, you may need to think beyond packing sunscreen and booking accommodations.  Visiting many countries in the regions carries high risk of contracting yellow fever. 

            Yellow fever is a serious disease caused by the yellow fever virus.  It is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito, and cannot be passed among humans.  Typically, people with yellow fever have to be hospitalized.  It can cause fever, jaundice, bleeding, organ failure, and even death in many serious cases.  There is no cure for the virus, making prevention all the more important. 

            Other than avoiding mosquitoes, an almost impossible task, there is no other way to prevent the virus than getting vaccinated.  The yellow fever vaccination is only given at certain vaccination centers such as Travel Clinic New York.

            The vaccine is recommended by the CDC for most individuals traveling to high-risk areas over the age of 9 months as well as lab personnel who might come into contact with the virus.  Although people outside of high-risk areas are not recommended the vaccine, yellow fever can affect a wide geographic area, including the United States, and can prevent yellow fever wherever it may occur.  The risks are also relatively mild, making the vaccine suitable for the vast majority of people. 

            As if preventing yellow fever wasn’t sufficient reason to get vaccinated, many countries require proof of vaccination or a “yellow card” for entry.  A “yellow card” is given to all vaccinated persons and is valid between 10 days after vaccination and 10 years after vaccination.  If you have previously had the vaccine and are planning on traveling, make sure that it is up to date!

            If you have questions about the vaccine, please consult your doctor and the CDC's FAQs.

Typhoid Vaccination? OF COURSE!!!

            If you are planning to travel this summer, be sure to double check everything you are taking with you especially a clean bill of health. Typhoid vaccination is being distributed across the nation and with typhoid fever on the rise in many countries, the vaccination is now being highly recommended for those who are planning to travel this summer and here’s why.

            In many countries around the world, typhoid fever is very common which is why if you are planning to travel, one of the things you should consider taking is the typhoid vaccination. It is not a guarantee that what you will eat and drink while away is completely pure. Typhoid fever has been known to infect individuals through the ingestion of contaminated food or water that have traces of the disease from an infected person. People who become carriers of the disease can easily spread it to others if not treated. The disease also occurs through bad hygiene and sanitary conditions and since we everyday citizens are surrounded by thousands of people each day, we are at risk.

            Prevention is a necessity and the best way to prevent becoming an infected victim is to consider taking the vaccine especially if you are planning to travel this summer. The vaccine should be taken between one to two weeks before travel so that it can be allowed time to work within the body. Side effects of the vaccine are not severe and have been proven to be mild with such side effects as headaches, fever, and swelling at the site of the injection. People sometimes fear the side-effects or disregard the necessity of taking the vaccine with the thought that, “It will never happen to me… The disease is not widespread… The environment looks fine…” and etc. It is best to take precautions when traveling to be safe and avoid any possibility of becoming infected. Typhoid fever is not to be pondered with and every year there are 16 million new cases of the disease along with 600,000 of those cases becoming fatal according to the World Health Organization.

            The summer is knocking right at our door and if this summer you have travel plans, now would be the time to take into consideration an appointment to check if you can take the vaccination. If you already had a typhoid vaccination but had it done years ago, it would be recommend finding out if you need to take another shot due to the fact that the vaccination’s effectiveness wears off after several years.  It is important to consider this and it only takes a couple of minutes to take the vaccine and go on with your everyday life. If you would like to take the shot or are in need of one, visit us at our website at www.travelclinicny.com or call us at 212-696-5900 to schedule an appointment. Before long, you will be able to enjoy the summer strong, healthy, and with no worries!