Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton Medical Clinic
(
307-543-2514, 307-733-8002;
10am-6pm mid-
May-mid-Oct)
Near Jackson Lake Lodge.
Infectious Diseases
Amoebic Dysentery
Fluid replacement is the mainstay of management for serious diarrhea. Weak black tea
with a little sugar, soda water or soft drink allowed to go flat and 50% diluted with water
are all good. With severe diarrhea, a rehydrating solution is necessary to replace minerals
and salts. Commercially available oral rehydration salts (ORS) are very useful. You
should stick to a bland diet as you recover.
Lyme Disease
A bacterial infection, in the Rocky Mountains Lyme disease is mainly transmitted by the
deer (wood) tick. Although the number of cases reported in the US has skyrocketed during
the last two decades, Lyme disease remains relatively uncommon over large parts of the
Rockies. Early symptoms, which may take months to develop, are similar to influenza -
headaches, stiff neck, tiredness and painful swelling of the joints. If left untreated, com-
plications such as meningitis, facial palsy or heart abnormalities may occur, but fatalities
are rare. A safe vaccination is not yet available, but Lyme disease responds well to antibi-
otics.
West Nile Disease
Unknown in the United States until a few years ago, this disease has now been reported in
almost all 50 states. It's transmitted by culex mosquitoes, which are active in late summer
and early fall, and generally bite after dusk. Most infections are mild or asymptomatic, but
the virus may infect the central nervous system, leading to fever, headache, confusion,
lethargy, coma and sometimes death. There is no treatment for West Nile virus. See cur-
rently affected areas at the
US Geological Survey website
(
ht-
