What is rabies?
In Europe rabies is mainly carried by the fox.
Rabies, or 'hydrophobia', is known as a disease that makes dogs sick and mad.
Consequently, all dogs in many northern European countries are vacc...
Treated mosquito nets placed around your bed significantly
reduce the risk of infection.
Malaria is a serious
disease, which in the worst case may be fatal. It's widespread in tropical and
subtropical areas.
From a global vie...
What is malaria?
Malaria is a potentially fatal tropical disease that's caused by
a parasite known as Plasmodium. It's spread through the bite of an infected
female mosquito.
The infected person may have feverish attacks,
influenza-like...
What is Lyme disease?
Borrelia (Lyme disease) is caused by an infection resulting
from a tick bite. The tick (shown above) often buries its head into the skin.
Lyme disease is an infection that derives from a
tick bi...
What is Japanese encephalitis?
Japanese encephalitis is a viral disease, transmitted by
mosquito bites.
It causes serious inflammation of the brain, which may lead to
permanent brain damage, and has a high mortality rate.
But the grea...
What is typhoid fever?
Typhoid fever is an infectious feverish disease, with severe symptoms in the digestive system in the second phase of the illness. The French used to call the disease a 'boil of the intestine'.
Classic typhoid fe...
Causes of travellers' diarrhoea
The most common cause of holiday or travellers' diarrhoea is
the different types of virus and bacteria at the destination.
The local drinking water in particular is an obvious source of
risk in many place...
What is hepatitis A?
Hepatitis is the Greek term for liver inflammation.
Hepatitis A is caused by hepatitis A virus (HAV).
Viral hepatitis can be caused by many other viruses – including hepatitis B, C, D and E.
How do you catch...
What is amoebic dysentery?
There are several different species of amoebae, but the most dangerous, such as Entamoeba histolytica, live predominantly in tropical areas.
These species are able to burrow through the intestinal wall and spread throu...
What is sun rash?
For some people, exposure to the sun will result in a
rash.
Most of us enjoy the sun, but some people's skin can be
very sensitive to the sun in spring and summer, especially those with pale skin
and r...
Nothing heralds the start of the summer holidays so distinctly as a bout of travel sickness. According to a recent scientific study entitled 'Motors in Motion', by esure car insurance and Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), a third of children have ...
We all enjoy the sun, but how we react to its rays varies from
one individual to another.
The number of cases of skin cancer has doubled in the last 20
years.
The Australians launched a successful campaign:
'Slip,Slop,Slap', to reduce s...
Anyone who's flown across the Atlantic or further afield will know the feelings of exhaustion that can overwhelm you on arrival. But why does jet lag happen and is there any way to minimise its effects?
Don't nap: head for t...
What is heatstroke?
Heatstroke is a condition in which the body becomes overheated
in a relatively short space of time.
This can be a life-threatening condition, requiring urgent
medical attention. Some soldiers on training have died fro...
Safe versus dangerous diving
Make sure you attend a recognised diving school.
Over the past 20 years diving has become extremely popular, both
at home and abroad.
But diving is not without its dangers. It's vital to
attend a r...
What is altitude sickness?
Altitude sickness is the name given to the physiological and
symptomatic reactions of the human body to the low oxygen pressure ('thinner'
air) that occurs at high altitude. It's also known as acute mountain
sickn...
As the temperature continues to rise, make sure you keep cool.
It's forecast to be a long and hot summer, which means heat related-illnesses are likely to be on the increase. We look at the warning signs and how to keep cool over the holiday per...
Before you go, make sure you're aware of
the potential dangers of your destination.
Every year more than 30 million holiday and business
trips are taken overseas by Britons, with no corner of th...
People are now travelling more than ever before – both for
pleasure and business.
Many women, therefore, need to know where and how they can
travel if they're
pregnant or planning
to become pregnant.
In most cases, pregnant women...
In alphabetical order, we take a look at what to include in
your holiday first aid kit.
But don't think you need to haul all these items along with you
every time - there's a difference between a trip to Bangkok and a stay in
Paris.
Thi...
Be prepared when travelling abroad
If you need medication every day, you should carry it with you
in your hand luggage.
Be aware that medication for
HIV or for
tuberculosis (TB) may lead to panic
reactions in some airlines or countrie...
With so many things to include for your trip, it's easy to
forget essentials.
It's the same every time. You'd planned it all so carefully
with a list as long as a telephone directory. Then halfway through your holiday
you find you've ...
Main useActive ingredientManufacturer
Prevention of typhoid Live, attenuated Salmonella typhi bacteriaMASTA
How does it work?
Vivotif is an oral typhoid vaccine that contains live, attenuated (weakened) cells of the bacteria that cause ty...
Main useActive ingredientManufacturer
Preventing hepatitis A in children Inactivated hepatitis A virusSanofi Pasteur MSD
How does it work?
Vaqta paediatric is a hepatitis A vaccine that contains
inactivated hepatitis A virus. It works b...
Main useActive ingredientManufacturer
Prevention of typhoid Vi capsular polysaccharide of Salmonella typhi bacteriaSanofi Pasteur MSD
How does it work?
Typhim Vi vaccine contains fragments of inactivated Salmonella typhi bacteria (the bact...
Main useActive ingredientManufacturer
Prevention of typhoid Vi capsular polysaccharide of Salmonella typhi bacteriaGlaxoSmithKline
How does it work?
Typherix vaccine contains fragments of inactivated Salmonella typhi bacteria (the bacteria...
Main useActive ingredientManufacturer
Prevention of tick-borne encephalitis Inactivated tick-borne encephalitis virusBaxter
How does it work?
TicoVac and TicoVac junior are vaccines against tick-borne encephalitis. They contain inactivat...
Main useActive ingredientManufacturer
Prevention of yellow fever Yellow fever virus (live, attenuated)Sanofi Pasteur MSD
How does it work?
Stamaril is a yellow fever vaccine that contains a live, weakened form of the yellow fever virus. It...
Main useActive ingredientManufacturer
Booster vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus and polioPurified diphtheria toxoid, purified tetanus toxoid, inactivated poliomyelitis virusSanofi Pasteur MSD
How does it work?
Revaxis is a vaccine ...
Main useActive ingredientManufacturer
Prevention of rabies Inactivated rabies virusSanofi Pasteur MSD
How does it work?
Rabies vaccine contains inactivated rabies virus. It works by provoking the body's immune response to this virus, witho...