Malaria, Doxycycline

There are a few types of antibiotics that are currently taken by those entering Malaria stricken areas of the world. One that I was told to stay away from was Larium, so I read up on it to find out as to why it has such a bad reputation.
This is what I found on a [...]

Yellow Fever

Written by Dr Charlie Easmon, specialist adviser in travel medicine
What is yellow fever?
Yellow fever is a serious viral infection, transmitted by mosquitoes in tropical regions. It has both an urban cycle and a jungle cycle that relies on monkeys as carriers (’sylvatic cycle’).
In mild cases the symptoms are similar to influenza, but serious cases develop a high temperature and [...]

Blood suckers that fly

Honored by being placed atop of my ’scary creatures list’ are the flying vampires, mosquitoes. Geographically speaking, at lower altitudes mosquito populations are usually denser and as you gain in altitude the number of the little buggers flying around your head should steadily decrease. Having said that, my itinerary does include water activities… you know [...]

Sanke Bite! …now what?

Imagine yourself walking through the Kenyan grasslands… the odd tree, but most all you can see of the vast expanse is the shrub-like growth of green that stretched to the horizon…
That’s when you feel the piercing force of a puff adder’s fangs sink into your calf… no, no, your leg not your dinner walking next [...]

Hepatitis A (infectious liver inflammation type A)

Reviewed by Dr Janice Main, senior lecturer and honorary consultant physician in infectious diseases and general medicine
What is type A hepatitis ?
Hepatitis is the Latin word for liver inflammation. Type A hepatitis is caused by a virus called hepatitis A virus. Other types of infectious liver inflammation include hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
What causes type [...]

Typhoid fever (aKa paratyphoid fever)

Written by Dr Charlie Easmon, specialist adviser in travel medicine
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.
Classic typhoid fever is a serious disease. It can be life-threatening, but antibiotics are an effective treatment. The disease lasts several weeks and convalescence takes [...]

Hep B ~ not necessary but… it’s for me

OK, there’s been some hype as to the prevalence of Hepatitis B in Kenya on the blog recently, and I want to share what I know… Hep B is transmitted through blood/bodily fluids. I expect to be doing as the Maasai do, and well, blood is on the menu.
Throughout their history, the Maasai have drank [...]

all-in-one vaccination?

After a consultation with the doc, it turns out that insted of fussing around with schedules for individual vaccinations and whatnot, ALL can be taken on the same days which makes everything oh so much easier.
The way he went on like it was nothing special made me think… was this guy really just that good [...]

to Eat or not to Eat.

Well, fun is to be had in trying as much as possible in the Maasai culture during our stay, but the has to be some caution as well. All this fuss over the vaccinations are making me think again about eating everythiing in sight; Typhoid is just one disease that I risk contracting if I [...]

so the vaccination deadline is… a Month ago?!

Ok, down to business on this one. Apparently for both Diphtheria and Tuberculosis vaccines are to be taken three full months before your travel into Kenya. Not exactly what you would call comforting, as I’m scheduled to go two months today… As I’ve mentioned, this is my sister’s department but we’ll see how it goes [...]