Other countries, other afflictions: A trip to Africa

Vaccines

For any destination in Africa we advise you to complete and refresh the standard vaccines such as Tetanus. A visit to your general physician is important for determining your current vaccine status. Depending on the destination, further vaccinations are recommended and even mandatory when travelling to certain countries. A vaccination against Hepatitis A is recommended for most African countries. For some countries and types of vacation, vaccinations against hepatitis B, yellow fever, cholera, rabies and typhus may be necessary. We recommend looking into this early on and seeking medical advice as some vaccines are only offered by tropical disease specialists.

Gastroenteritis

The most common travel disease is gastroenteritis, which is brought on by a disruption of the gut flora through foreign bacteria. In tropical regions and developing countries, diseases such as Hepatitis A, typhus and cholera can be transmitted through contaminated water or foods. Food preparation, hygiene, and clean drinking water are very important in these countries. It is recommended to only use packaged water for drinking, washing and cooking. If diarrhea should occur, the body needs sufficient fluids, salt and sugar to recover. The symptoms will usually subside after a few days, however if symptoms continue or worsen (such as bloody stool), a doctor should be consulted.

Insects

In tropical Africa and the national parks, there is a high risk of falling ill to infectious diseases that are transmitted via mosquitoes. The most common and widespread of these illnesses is malaria. It is transmitted over nocturnal anopheles mosquitoes and can occur weeks or months after a trip. In many cases, periodical fever attacks and flu-like symptoms will occur. If malaria remains untreated for too long, it can take a deadly course. Traveling to areas known for their malaria risk should only be considered with the necessary protection. A medicinal prophylaxes may be useful, and can be discussed with a tropical disease specialist beforehand.

Another disease becoming more common is dengue fever, which is transmitted by Egyptian tiger mosquitoes. Dengue fever is also known as “breakbone fever” and can cause fever, skin rashes as well as joint and bone pain. While the risk of malaria is especially high in rural areas, the Egyptian tiger mosquito prefers cities and agglomerations. Dengue fever should not be underestimated, as it can lead to death in some cases. If given medical attention at an early stage, the risk of death can be considerably lowered. Adequate protection from insects is a must. For this, we recommend wearing long and light-colored clothing during the day and night time, sleeping under a fine mosquito net, and using insect repellents. When using sunscreen, make sure to apply the insect repellent afterwards. Some of these viral infections, such as dengue, lassa or ebola fever, are recognizable by blood in the urine or stool, or sudden bruising. If these symptoms should occur with a fever, a hospital should be located as quickly as possible.

Wildlife

No less threatening are poisonous animals such as scorpions and snakes. These animals will most likely not bite unless provoked. You should always pay attention to where you step and reach, and never put on shoes and clothing without shaking beforehand.

In case of a bite, remain calm and try not to move the bitten body part. Tying the body part off is not recommended. After emergency treatment, the quickest possible transport to a nearby hospital should be arranged. In many countries in Africa, rabies is transmitted by animal bites. It is important to be cautious when dealing with wildlife and stray animals. When traveling to regions at risk, a rabies vaccine can come in handy. In case you are bitten by a potentially rabies-infected animal and are not vaccinated against rabies, medical help is required immediately. If medical help is not sought, the disease can be fatal.

Lakes and rivers

You should refrain from swimming in lakes and rivers, as parasites from the Schistosoma family live in many African waters. Their larvae can enter the body through the skin and cause the disease schistosomiasis. Unspecific symptoms, such as fever and exhaustion, are the first signs. On the course of the infestation, the parasite attacks and damages the inner organs. The parasite can be effectively eliminated through immediate medical treatment.

Medicinal treatment

It is best to put together a travel pharmacy that can be discussed with a general practitioner as well as a tropical disease specialist. This way, you will be well-equipped for emergencies, even in rural areas. Our list of help tips for travelling to Africa is quite long, yet you should not let that stop you from visiting this fascinating continent. The rule is, the better prepared you are, the lower the risk of one of the above cases arising.