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Emergencies
Typhoid Fever How to prevent it



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EMERGENCYS
In the event of an emergency involving an American Citizen such as the death, serious illness or injury, arrest, or other serious threat to safety, please notify the American Citizen Services section by telephone. We can be reached during business hours, (Mondays thru Fridays between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.) at (63) (2) 528-6300 ext. 2246 or 2567.

If it is after office hours the Embassy's duty officer can be reached 24-hours a day through the Embassy operator at (63) (2) 528-6300. Please note, however, that non-emergency requests will be deferred until the next business day.

General information regarding our services can be found at:
http://philippines.usembassy.gov/wwwh3004 html.

American Citizen Services
U.S. Embassy, Manila
1201 Roxas Blvd., Ermita
Manila, Philippines
Tel. No.: (02) 528-6300 ext 2246
Fax No.: (02) 522-3242
 

Typhoid Fever How to prevent it...

Typhoid fever is a life-threatening illness caused by the bacterium Salmonella Typhi. Typhoid fever is still common in the developing world, where it affects about 12.5 million persons each year.
Salmonella Typhi lives only in humans. People with typhoid fever carry the bacteria in their bloodstream and intestinal tract. In addition, a small number of persons called carriers, recover from typhoid fever but continue to carry the bacteria. Both ill persons and carriers shed S. Typhi in their faeces (stool).

Manifestations:
Persons with typhoid fever usually have a sustained:

• Fever as high as 39° to 40° C (103° to 104° F )
• Malaise
• Abdominal pains
• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• Rash of flat, rose-colored spots.

Diagnose and treatment:
The only way to know for sure if an illness is typhoid fever is to have samples of stool or blood tested for the presence of S. Typhi. Treatment with antibiotics is available.

Vaccine is effective

Prevent typhoid fever by:

• Drink canned water
• Carbonated water is safer than uncarbonated water
• Ask for drinks without ice
• Avoid popsicles and flavored ices that may have been made with contaminated water
• Eat foods that have been thoroughly cooked and that are still hot and steaming
• Avoid raw vegetables and fruits that cannot be peeled
• Vegetables like lettuce are easily contaminated and are very hard to wash well
• Eat raw fruit or vegetables that can be peeled, peel them yourself. (Wash your hands with soap first.) Do not eat the peelings
• Avoid foods and beverages from street vendors. It is difficult for food to be kept clean on the street, and many travelers get sick from food bought from street vendors
   

  Source: http://www.traveldoctoronline.net/diseases/typhus.htm

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  Cholera

  Cholera is an acute, diarrhoea illness caused by infection of the intestine with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The infection is often mild or without symptoms, but sometimes it can be severe.

  Occurrence:
  Cholera occurs primary along the Ganges river and in Bangladesh. Epidemics can spread in other countries.

  The transmission is through contaminated water and food.

  Manifestations:

  The disease is characterized by:

  • Profuse watery diarrhoea
  • Vomiting
  • Leg cramps.
  • Rapid loss of body fluids
  • Dehydration
  • Shock.
  • Without treatment, death can occur within hours.
  •  

  Diagnose and treatment: The bacteria can be demonstrated in stools. Cholera can be simply and successfully treated by immediate replacement of the fluid and salts lost through diarrhoea. Patients can be treated with oral rehydration solution, a pre-packaged mixture of sugar and salts to be mixed with water and drunk in large amounts. This solution is used throughout the world to treat diarrhoea. Severe cases also require intravenous fluid replacement. With prompt rehydration, less than 1% of cholera patients die.
  
  Antibiotics shorten the course and diminish the severity of the illness, but they are not as important as rehydration.

  Vaccine against cholera is available.

  Prevent Cholera by:

  • Drink only water that you have boiled or treated with chlorine or iodine.
  • Other safe beverages include tea and coffee made with boiled water and carbonated bottled beverages with no ice.
  • Eat only foods that have been thoroughly cooked and are still hot
  • Eat only fruit that you have peeled yourself.
  • Avoid undercooked or raw fish or shellfish.
  • Make sure all vegetables are cooked
  • Avoid salads.
  • Avoid foods and beverages from street vendors.
  • Vaccine

Source: http://www.traveldoctoronline.net/diseases/cholera.htm