Illnesses and Travel Discomforts

Common Travel-Related Illnesses

An overview of around fifteen recurring travel-related illnesses: amoebiasis, schistosomiasis, cholera, chikungunya, dengue, diarrhoea and traveller’s diarrhoea, Japanese encephalitis, yellow fever, avian flu, hepatitis A and B, meningitis, malaria, rabies, typhoid.

Amoebiasis

Amoebiasis (see details) is an infectious disease caused by a microscopic parasite that claims thousands of lives each year among local populations worldwide.

• Origin: parasite transmitted via contaminated water or food, or through direct contact with soiled hands or objects.

• Affected regions: tropical zones.

• Symptoms: fever, sometimes bloody diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain.

• Protection: hygiene practices.

Schistosomiasis

Schistosomiasis (see details) is a tropical disease, primarily rural, responsible for 250,000 to 300,000 deaths annually, according to the WHO, out of around 200 million infected people.

• Origin: parasite transmitted via a small worm that burrows into the skin after contact with contaminated freshwater (ponds, lakes, small rivers, and even some swimming pools). Generally, the more stagnant the water, the higher the risk.

• Affected regions: tropical and subtropical zones in Africa, the Americas, and Asia.

• Symptoms: fever, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, itching, redness, and skin rashes.

• Protection: avoid swimming in freshwater in infected regions.

Cholera

Although cholera (see details) is endemic in several parts of the world, very few travellers contract it.

• Origin: bacterial, due to poor food hygiene or other factors, and transmitted among individuals.

• Affected regions: outside Europe, the Pacific, and North America, all countries are more or less affected, though usually in isolated or geographically targeted outbreaks.

• Symptoms: diarrhoea, mild fever, vomiting, abdominal pain.

• Protection: strict hygiene practices. A cholera vaccine has also been available since 2005.

Chikungunya

"Chik" (see details) is a tropical disease that can be fatal for the most vulnerable individuals, particularly noted in 2005/2006.

• Origin: viral, transmitted via mosquito bites.

• Affected regions: primarily the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia.

• Symptoms: high fever, muscle and joint pain, skin rashes.

• Protection: avoid mosquito bites (use repellents, etc.).

Dengue

Less "media-covered" than malaria, dengue (see details) still affects around 50 million people worldwide, according to the WHO.

• Origin: viral, transmitted via mosquito bites.

• Affected regions: all tropical zones, with gradual spread to areas like southern Europe or the USA.

• Symptoms: high fever, muscle pain, and headaches.

• Protection: primarily avoid mosquito bites (use repellents, etc.).

Diarrhoea and Traveller’s Diarrhoea

Nearly one in two travellers to countries with lower hygiene standards falls victim to diarrhoea and traveller’s diarrhoea (see details), ranging from mild to severe. One in four affected travellers will be bedridden for a day or two during their trip.

• Origin: bacterial, viral, or parasitic, depending on the type. Contaminated water and raw vegetables are the main causes, though diarrhoea can also be a symptom of another illness or simply due to anxiety.

• Affected regions: no region is entirely spared, though risks are very low in Western countries.

• Symptoms: unusually loose stools, with possible fever in more severe cases.

• Protection: in addition to good food hygiene, an anti-diarrhoeal, a light diet, and proper hydration are sufficient in most cases.

Japanese Encephalitis

Japanese encephalitis (see details) is a disease found in rural areas of Asia, against which travellers (staying long-term in these zones) can protect themselves with a vaccine.

• Origin: viral, transmitted via mosquito bites, primarily in rice-growing areas during the rainy season.

• Affected regions: Asia.

• Symptoms: high fever, chills, headaches.

• Protection: avoid mosquito bites (use repellents, etc.) and get vaccinated beforehand.

Yellow Fever

Yellow fever (see details) is a deadly disease, but travellers can easily protect themselves with a reliable vaccine valid for 10 years. Note that this vaccine can only be administered at approved centres.

• Origin: viral, transmitted via mosquito bites.

• Affected regions: central and northern South America, and in Africa, the intertropical zone. There is no yellow fever in Asia.

• Symptoms: fever, muscle and back pain, headaches, red eyes, and occasionally vomiting.

• Protection: vaccination at approved centres.

Avian Flu (H5N1)

H5N1 (see details) is a disease that infects wild and domestic birds and can then be transmitted to humans. It has been widely discussed since 2004.

• Origin: viral, through contact with an infected animal.

• Affected regions: primarily Southeast Asia.

• Symptoms: among others, high fever and muscle and joint pain.

• Protection: hygiene practices and avoid all contact with animals, especially birds and poultry, in affected areas.

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A (see details) is a disease that attacks the liver. It is the most common viral illness among travellers.

• Origin: viral, transmitted via contaminated water and food, or through direct contact (faecal-oral route).

• Affected regions: anywhere hygiene is poor.

• Symptoms: fatigue, fever, pain and aches, followed by jaundice.

• Protection: hygiene practices and vaccination.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B (see details) is the third most deadly infectious disease worldwide, with one million deaths per year. Many travellers are also carriers of this disease without ever developing it.

• Origin: viral, transmitted through contact with other people, particularly sexual or blood contact.

• Affected regions: sub-Saharan Africa, China, Central and Southeast Asia, the Amazon basin.

• Symptoms: liver inflammation, digestive issues, nausea, and vomiting in the acute form. For the chronic form, primarily fatigue, mild fever, digestive issues, jaundice.

• Protection: vaccination.

Meningitis A/C

Meningitis A/C (see details) is a relatively rare disease in Europe but occurs elsewhere, particularly in Africa.

• Origin: viral, with human-to-human transmission.

• Affected regions: locally in Asia and South America, and more generally in the equatorial zone of Africa.

• Symptoms: fever, headaches, vomiting, stiff neck.

• Protection: vaccination.

Malaria

Malaria (see details), also called malaria, is the most widespread parasitic disease in the world. It kills between one and three million people each year out of hundreds of millions infected. Malaria also affects many travellers; around fifteen French people die from it annually.

• Origin: parasite transmitted via the bite of the Anopheles mosquito.

• Affected regions: tropical and subtropical zones below approximately 1,500 m.

• Symptoms: fever, chills, sweating, fatigue, headaches, vomiting, aches, diarrhoea.

• Protection: avoid mosquito bites (use repellents, etc.) and take preventive treatment.

Rabies

Although very rare, cases of rabies (see details) are detected each year among travellers. That said, the preventive vaccine is mainly useful for extended stays or adventurous trips in remote areas where rabies cases regularly occur.

• Origin: viral, transmitted via the bite or, occasionally, scratch of an infected animal.

• Affected regions: theoretically, all countries are affected, but rabies is most prevalent in Eastern Europe, East Africa, Asia, China, Thailand, and South America.

• Symptoms: impaired brain function, anxiety, agitation, hallucinations, insomnia, and excessive salivation.

• Protection: obviously avoid bites and get vaccinated.

Typhoid

Widespread in various parts of the world, travellers can easily protect themselves against typhoid (see details) with prior vaccination.

• Origin: bacterial, transmitted via contaminated water and food, or through direct contact (faecal-oral route).

• Affected regions: Africa, Asia, and occasionally Latin America.

• Symptoms: among others, high fever and diarrhoea.

• Protection: hygiene practices and vaccination.

Minor Discomforts

Less serious than the illnesses that threaten travellers, these minor and major discomforts can still ruin a trip: fear of flying, jet lag, seasickness, altitude sickness, sun and heatstroke.

• Fear of Flying

• Jet Lag

• Seasickness

• Altitude sickness

• Sun and heatstroke