Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
screened. Symptoms include nonspecific
abdominal pain, vomiting, loss of appetite, dark-
coloured urine and jaundice. Immunization may
be recommended if you are staying in Asia for
longer than six months. If you think you have
contracted hepatitis B, it's especially important to
seek medical attention.
A
combined vaccine
is available offering ten
years' protection against hepatitis A and five years'
against hepatitis B; your doctor will be able to
advise on its suitability.
cholera due to its poor e
cacy. From time to time
there are outbreaks of cholera in Cambodia that are
well publicized in the media.
General precautions
Cambodia is a hot and humid country, and
dehydration
is a potential problem, its onset
indicated by headaches, dizziness, nausea and dark
urine.
Cuts
and raw blisters can rapidly become
infected and should be promptly treated by
cleaning and disinfecting the wound and then
applying an air-permeable dressing.
Tuberculosis, rabies and tetanus
Tuberculosis
, contracted from droplets coughed
up by infected persons, is widespread in Cambodia
and is a major cause of death in young children.
You may have been inoculated against the disease
in childhood, but if you're unsure, consider a skin
(Heaf ) test, which will determine if you already
have immunity.
Rabies
is contracted from the bite or saliva of
an infected animal. Vaccinations are
recommended if you're going to be spending
a long time in rural areas; but even if you've been
vaccinated, if you are bitten (or licked on an open
wound) you will need to get two booster
injections as quickly as possible, preferably within
24 to 48 hours.
Tetanus
, a bacterial infection that causes
muscular cramps and spasms, comes from spores in
the earth and can enter the blood circulatory
system through wounds and grazes. If left
untreated it can cause breathing problems and
sometimes death. It's worth checking if you've been
vaccinated against tetanus in the last ten years and
getting a booster if necessary.
Bites and stings
Insects
are legion in Cambodia and are at their
worst around November, at the start of the dry
season, when there are stagnant pockets of water
left from the rains. Even during the hot season
(March-May) they come out in the evenings,
swarming around light bulbs and warm flesh -
they're annoying rather than harmful, with the
exception of mosquitoes (see opposite).
On the coast,
sand flies
appear in the late
afternoon and evening, delivering nasty bites that
don't erupt until a few hours later, when they
become incredibly red and itchy. Once you
scratch, the bites become even more inflamed
and can take up to a month to recede, leaving
behind nasty scars. These little blighters have a
limited range and mostly attack victims on the
sand; if you're on or near the beach, it's probably
best to use an insect repellent.
Sun and heat
Even when the sky is overcast the Cambodian
sun is fierce, and you should take precautions
against sunburn and heat stroke wherever you
are. Cover up, use a high-protection-factor
sunscreen
, wear a hat and drink plenty of fluids
throughout the day.
Typhoid and cholera
Typhoid and cholera, bacterial infections that
affect the digestive system, are spread by contam-
inated food and water, and outbreaks are thus
usually associated with particularly unsanitary
conditions.
Symptoms of
typhoid
include tiredness, dull
headaches and spasmodic fevers, with spots
appearing on the abdomen after about a week.
Vaccination is suggested if you plan to stay in rural
areas of Cambodia, but it doesn't confer complete
immunity, so it remains important to maintain
good standards of hygiene.
Sudden, watery diarrhoea and rapid dehydration
are among the symptoms of
cholera
, and medical
advice is essential to treat the infection with antibi-
otics. Vaccination is no longer recommended for
Hygiene and stomach complaints
Though catering facilities at many restaurants and
food stalls can appear basic, the
food
you'll be
served is usually absolutely fresh; all ingredients are
bought daily and are mostly cooked to order. A
good rule of thumb when selecting a place to eat is
to pick one that is popular with local people, as the
Khmers are fussy about their food and seldom give
a place a second chance if they've found the food
isn't fresh. Food from street hawkers is usually fine if
it's cooked in front of you. Tap water isn't drinkable,
but bottled water is available everywhere - stick to
