"Travelling and Health - Hepatitis/sexual diseases" by Myndo

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Hepatitis

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver.

Hepatitis A is a mostly benign, infectuous jaundice. It is a Virus transmitted via food and drink.
Hepatitis A makes an adult unable to work for about 4-6 weeks.

Hepatitis A exists in Africa, Asia, Latin-america and on the edges of Eastern Europe.
1 of 300 Travellers gets sick - if he/she is not protected.

There is a well tolerated Vaccination against Hepatitis A. You should be doing it, if you travel in these countries.
It consists of 2 shots in an interval of 6-12 months.
It protects you in 100% for the next 10 years.

By the way: newest studies show, that almost every second Mussel from the Mediterranean sea has the virus in it and 10% are very infectuous. Do you really want to try that?

The picture shows how yellow one can get, if the liver is damaged. The color comes from Bilirubin which can not be reduced by the liver anymore. Not everyone get soo yellow. It can be seen best in the eyes (see picture bellow).

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Eye, yellow cornea

Hepatitis B / C

Hepatitis B is transmitted in the whole world via blood (means sexual contacts, blood transfusion, injection needles, tattoo and acupuntcture.
If you are in "risc" of something like that or if you are staying longer abroad, you should take the necessary vaccination.

It consists of 3 shot at intervalls from 6 to 12 months.
After that you are protected to 100% for the next 10 years.

Hepatitis C:
very similiar to Hepatitis B, also transmitted via blood.
Often you wonęt realize you have it, but it makes liver damage later.
There is no vaccination.

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Condoms

Travelling and Sex(ual Diseases)

I do not want to offend anyone, so if this theme is annoying you or something: do not read it! I am also not talking about personal experiences, mind you! this is informational only.

Travelling means experience, fleeing the stress, get rid of the constraints, searching for what is missing at everyday: time, relaxing, excitement, love and sex.

The exceptionally situation and often the alcohol that is included, the distance from all restraints let some people get careless, and especially careless in their sexual encounters. The riscs they take are often severe and could be avoided with the right rules of conduct.

Before you travel:

- Take care for your feelings. Avoid sexual adventures, alcohol and drug intake, especially if you are feeling unhappy. If you go into these things carelss on your travels you will have to take the consequences (on body and soul) at home.

- Take enough quality condoms with you - often you will not find any (good ones) at the place.

- As a woman you should also take enough of your contraception plus a reserve package.

- Also take with you some desinfectant that you can use on mucous membrane (such as Betadine solution 10% or Hibiscrub-solution 4%)

- Make the necessary vacinations (especially Hepatitis B)

During the Holidays:

- Wherever you go, take the condoms with you as you would your wallet. (but not in there). Woman should have it in the handbag, men in the bag of their trousers.

- Keep a cool head when it comes to protect yourself of sexual diseases, HIV-Infection and pregnacy.

- Always, always, always use condoms.

- Do not use practices where Blood, Sperm or Mucous membranes are in direct contact with each other (no protection).

- Realize that sexual diseases and HIV occur more often in cheap establishments - but also in the "luxus-cathegorie" there is still the risk.

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aids ribbon

Travelling and Sex(ual Diseases) II

What to do after it happened anyway?

First it is advised to disinfect the sexual organs with a desinfectant that you can use on mucous membrane (such as Betadine solution 10% or Hibiscrub-solution 4%)

What follows is an uncomfortable time of waiting, whether you will show the symptoms.

The Incubation times and symptoms are (incubation time = time from infection until the first symptoms):

-Gonnorrhoe (Tripper):
2-5 days for the man, weeks for the women.
symptoms: purulent outflow (women often do not show these symptoms). Treatment: Antibiotics.

--Chlamydia:
they make an inflammation of the urethal system. It shows after 2-3 weeks.

-Syphilis / Lues:
3 weeks. First it is only a small not hurting ulcer on the outer sexual organs. This often goes unnoticed by woman. Later the lymph nodes get inflamed and hart. Note that the symptoms may vanish, but the diesease proceeds and has to be treated with antibiotics.

- Herpes:
some days. Then there are developping small vesicles filled with liquid. They itch.

- Hepatitis B:
2 - 10 weeks (See there)

- HIV-Infection:
about 3 months (then blood tests show it). The virus attacks your Immune cells so after some time you have no defence against other diseases or cancers. This disease you can have for years without any outer symptoms. It is common all over the world and in all cultural classes.
And don?t you dare to think there is a cure or vaccination. Todays medicaments only repress the virus, but for that you have to take about 30 pills a day with side effects you do not want to know or have and these pills just cost thousands of dollars a month for only one person.
So, please, protect yourself! with condoms.

- Scabies / Crablouse:
2-3 weeks. You will itch and have sometimes red skin.

So if the symptoms show (outflow, inflammation of the sexual organs, changes in the skin etc) go and see a doctor.

Do not treat yourself with some antibiotics. This only makes it harder or impossible to make a diagnosis.

Even if the symptoms got better, when you are home again it is advised to see a specialist in skin- and sexual diseases.

If you had Symptoms or had unprotected sex during your travels, use a condom at home (with your normal partner) until you have been checked at the doctor.

The advise on these sites is my personal opinion only and I am not liable for any misuse.
Go see a doctor, if you want professional advice.