A peaceful villa scene in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. (Photo
credit: Robert Schrader)
Typhoid, Hepatitis, Malaria, oh my! If you're at all read about India's health situation, you'll know that infectious disease is all-too-common there. A more personal concern, however, is how that disease affects potential tourists like yourself. What are you at risk for? Are you too worried? Not worried enough?
There are about 20 vaccines and prevenetives that fall into the "recommended" category, but only a few are considered essential and none are officially required. Passport Health at 38th and Guadalupe is a leading provider of medical travel preparation here in Austin and nationwide. When I went there prior to my first trip to India in March, the nurse educated my friend Dora and I on the various risks and precautions necessary.
It should be noted that vaccinations are relatively costly and can often run, in total, as much as your plane ticket to India, depending on which ones you opt for. The greatest immediate risks to Western travelers are Typhoid fever, Hepatitis A&B, and Meningitis, full series of which will run around $800 at Passport. A hefty upfront cost, yes, but far less costly (and potentially miserable) than if you were to fall ill in India or, worse, upon your return to the United States.
The largest conundrum and least-agreed upon health affliction present in India, however, is malaria. Treatable by several methods, malaria is a disease primarily present in the jungles of Southern India--Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu--though some health professionals argue the risk exists throughout the country. As a general rule, it is wise to take some sort of prevenetive, though many argue against these measures because, well, the three prevenetives in common use all have relatively major drawbacks.
Lariam, the trade name for the drug Mefloquine, is relatively cheap--and convenient, as well, taken only once weekly as a prophylaxis. The major drawback? Dramatic central nervous system issues, including hallucinations, occur in as many as 25% of those who take it. D'oh. Second, we have Doxycycline, which is extremely cheap and prevents the development of malaria in the liver after a person has been bitter by an infected mosquito. A harsh antibiotic, Doxycycline frequently produces violent nausea and diarrhea and can cause yeast infections in women. Which leaves us to Malarone, taken once daily with few known side effects, but a price tag of over $200 for most trips. There also exist a number of alternative therapy methods, though none of them have been shown to work consistently. My recommendation? Unless your budget is extremely tight, go for the Malarone. The sickness that comes with Doxycycline is unpredictable and enhanced by India's tropical climate. Nausea can be somewhat avoided by taking the pill with a full meal, but the accompanying diarrhea is relatively universal.
If you have more questions, specifically with regard to your personal medical history, contact your physician or Passport Health.
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