Cholera and typhoid

[TomW]

One of the biggest killers after a disaster seems to be the above named. Has anyone considered getting the jabs for these and if so what reason did you give and how much did it cost? Thanks in advance for any help

[the-gnole]

A few places to learn more about the illnesses

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/choler ... ION=causes

http://www.medicinenet.com/typhoid_fever/article.htm

Good food, water and personal hygiene is a good start.

And no, I wouldn't consider having the vaccines, but that's just me. I don't see it becoming a problem in the UK.

If I was to be going to a place where there was likely to be a problem then maybe I would.

[TomW]

Thanks for the links gnole.

[diamond lil]

I have nursed typhoid, many years ago when I worked in an infectious diseases unit.

[TomW]

That's interesting lil, any advice for patient and carer? Would you consider it a threat to guard against?

[diamond lil]

As far as I remember it was just like any other severe case of the runs. A joy . LOL

[TomW]

Nice Bet you enjoyed that then lol

[diamond lil]

I can remember thinking "wow, I'm nursing typhoid!" ...and then thinking "hmmm. is this it?" It was an Italian seaman and I can't remember where he got it or if anybody else had it, was a long time ago.

[buttystella]

go to the Docs and tell them you are going abroad to a dodgy area. Last time i got a shot, which was about 1973, the shot cost was minimal but the form you needed to show you had the shot was pricy.

[bhakta]

There are 2 main types of Salmonella . The common one is a nasty but not usually fatal food poisoning the other is typhoid fever which kills 20 to 30 % untreated. They are quite different. The vaccine for typhoid fever only last 3 years so would require boosting. As you say most travellers to developing countries need typhoid often combined with Hep A. I guess you would be committing fraud if you told your GP you were going & didnt just to get the vaccine free on the NHS. However you could pay for it privately at a travel clinic about £30 I would guess. However there is a small risk with all vaccines and the risk benefit would depend on how likely and soon you think the NHS is going to shut up shop.

"Salmonella Basics

Not everyone who ingests salmonella bacteria will become ill. Children, especially infants, are the most likely candidates to get sick from it. About 50,000 cases of salmonella infection are reported in the United States each year and about a third of those are in kids 4 years old or younger.

The type of salmonella most commonly associated with infections in humans is called nontyphoidal salmonella. It is carried by chickens, cows, and reptiles such as turtles, lizards, and iguanas.

Another, rarer form of salmonella, typhoidal salmonella (typhoid fever), is carried only by humans and is usually transmitted through direct contact with the fecal matter of an infected person. This kind of salmonella infection can lead to high fever, abdominal pain, headache, malaise, lethargy, skin rash, constipation, and delirium. It occurs primarily in developing countries without appropriate systems for handling human waste."