To know about
the major diseases and vaccinations for India
travelers, read the following paragraphs:
Vaccinations
for Indian Travel
Before embarking
on your India vacations, you must make yourself
familiar with different diseases that are common
in Indian climatic conditions. In addition to that
you should also consult your physician before going
for any vaccination or medicine. Here is a comprehensive
list of all the diseases that are common to India
and vaccinations for them.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis
B
Hepatitis A vaccination
is recommended for all travelers to India.
Travelers who may
have intimate contact with local residents should
take this vaccination, especially if their period
of stay is more than 6 months.
Polio
Yellow
Fever
In case of Polio,
one-time booster is recommended for any adult traveler
who completed the childhood series but never had
polio vaccine as an adult.
Vaccination for yellow
fever is required only for travelers arriving from
or transiting through any yellow-fever-infected
area like Africa.
Japanese
Encephalitis
This vaccine is recommended
for travelers staying for more than 1 month and
traveling to rural areas or travelers engaging in
extensive unprotected outdoor activities in rural
areas, especially after dusk.
Rabies
Typhoid
Any traveler
who may have direct contact with animals should
take this vaccination.
All travelers are
recommended to take Typhoid vaccination.
Measles,
Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
Tetanus-Diphtheria
If any
person born after 1956 has not previously taken
this vaccination, he/she should take two doses of
the same.
You need to take this
revaccination every 10 years.
Major
Diseases in India
Planning a trip to
India and worried about common diseases in India?
To make your India visit truly memorable, we are
highlighting some of the major diseases that occur
in India.
Malaria
Prophylaxis
with mefloquine (Lariam), atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone)
or doxycycline is recommended throughout India (including
Delhi and Bombay), except at places located at high
altitudes (2000 m/6561 ft). Long-term travelers
coming to India may not have access to medical care
all the time; they should bring along medications
for emergency self-treatment in case they develop
symptoms indicative of malaria, such as fever, headaches,
chills and muscle aches. It is importhant to note
that symptoms of malaria sometimes may not occur
for months or even years after exposure.
Diarrhea
The most
common ailment of travelers is diarrhea. The main
cause of it is unclean food and water. It is advised
to carry an antibiotic and an anti diarrhea drug
if significant diarrhea occurs. In case of diarrhea,
good amount of fluid intake is required. However,
if diarrhea gets severe you should immediately call
a doctor.
Altitude
Sickness
Altitude sickness
may occur in travelers ascending altitudes greater
than 2500m. This specifically includes the mountain
areas of northern India. Those with a history of
heart disease, lung disease, or sickle cell disease
are advised to avoid high altitudes.
