To ensure the success of the trip, watch out for these diseases that are found in Saudi Arabia.
West Nile Virus
Caused by a mosquito bite
Symptoms:
1/8 patients show no symptoms.
1/5 patients develop a fever, a headache, muscle pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and a rash..
1/150 patients develop sever symptoms such as encephalitis (swelling of brain) or meningitis (swelling of brain and spinal cord).
1/10 of the above patients will die.
Treatment:
Non-prescription pain medications can help with fever and associated fever symptoms, but hospitalization may be required in severe cases.
Prevention:
No vaccination is currently available for the West Nile Virus. The best way to prevent exposure to the disease is to lower the risk of a mosquito bite by:
Wearing long sleeved shirts and pants
Using insect repellent
Utilizing a mosquito net
Life Cycle of the Disease:
Symptoms:
1/8 patients show no symptoms.
1/5 patients develop a fever, a headache, muscle pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and a rash..
1/150 patients develop sever symptoms such as encephalitis (swelling of brain) or meningitis (swelling of brain and spinal cord).
1/10 of the above patients will die.
Treatment:
Non-prescription pain medications can help with fever and associated fever symptoms, but hospitalization may be required in severe cases.
Prevention:
No vaccination is currently available for the West Nile Virus. The best way to prevent exposure to the disease is to lower the risk of a mosquito bite by:
Wearing long sleeved shirts and pants
Using insect repellent
Utilizing a mosquito net
Life Cycle of the Disease:
Likelihood of Contracting Disease:
The odds of contracting West Nile Virus in the US is about 1/150. The likelihood of contracting the disease in Saudi Arabia is much higher however it can be prevented if you follow the advice found above.
The odds of contracting West Nile Virus in the US is about 1/150. The likelihood of contracting the disease in Saudi Arabia is much higher however it can be prevented if you follow the advice found above.
Typhoid Fever
Caused by contaminants in the food or water supply.
Symptoms:
High fever, weakness, stomach pain, headache, loss of appetite, rashes, and internal bleeding.
Treatment:
Treated with antibiotics.
Prevention:
Eat food that is cooked and served hot. Only eat produce that you have washed in clean water yourself. Do not eat street vendor food. Drink bottled water or water that has been boiled and disinfected. Practice general cleanliness.
Life Cycle of the Disease: Incubation period is 7-21 days.
Likelihood of Contracting the Disease:
There is a very small chance of an individual contracting typhoid however it is far more common in Saudi Arabia than it is in the United States.
Symptoms:
High fever, weakness, stomach pain, headache, loss of appetite, rashes, and internal bleeding.
Treatment:
Treated with antibiotics.
Prevention:
Eat food that is cooked and served hot. Only eat produce that you have washed in clean water yourself. Do not eat street vendor food. Drink bottled water or water that has been boiled and disinfected. Practice general cleanliness.
Life Cycle of the Disease: Incubation period is 7-21 days.
Likelihood of Contracting the Disease:
There is a very small chance of an individual contracting typhoid however it is far more common in Saudi Arabia than it is in the United States.
Otomycosis
Caused by contact with fungi.
Symptoms:
Ear pain, heaviness in ear, thick debris in ear, itchiness, hearing loss, ringing in ears, discharge from ear.
Treatment:
Treated with topical antifungals, antihistamines, and antibiotic drops.
Prevention:
Avoid getting water in ears. Dry ears after getting wet. Do not put q-tips in ears. Avoid scratching ears. Use acetic ear drops after getting water in ears.
Life Cycle of the Disease:
Otomycosis is often a recurring disease, but it generally dies after a few days of treatment. Immunocompromised patients may undergo treatment for years. There are no vectors.
Likelihood of Contracting the Disease:
1.02% chance in the US.
Symptoms:
Ear pain, heaviness in ear, thick debris in ear, itchiness, hearing loss, ringing in ears, discharge from ear.
Treatment:
Treated with topical antifungals, antihistamines, and antibiotic drops.
Prevention:
Avoid getting water in ears. Dry ears after getting wet. Do not put q-tips in ears. Avoid scratching ears. Use acetic ear drops after getting water in ears.
Life Cycle of the Disease:
Otomycosis is often a recurring disease, but it generally dies after a few days of treatment. Immunocompromised patients may undergo treatment for years. There are no vectors.
Likelihood of Contracting the Disease:
1.02% chance in the US.
Soil Transmitted Helminths
Caused by contaminated soil.
Symptoms:
Mild nausea, blood in stools, loss of appetite.
Treatment:
Treated with deworming and antiparasitic drugs such as albendazole and mebendazole.
Prevention:
Keep up with health and hygiene. Only stay in places with adequate sanitation.
Life Cycle of the Disease:
The worms are passed on in eggs from infected birds, which then infect the soil and are passed to humans through ingestion.
Likelihood of Contracting the Disease:
The chance of getting the parasite increases the poorer the country's sanitation and overall health is, so contraction of the disease is more likely in Saudi Arabia than in the United States.
Symptoms:
Mild nausea, blood in stools, loss of appetite.
Treatment:
Treated with deworming and antiparasitic drugs such as albendazole and mebendazole.
Prevention:
Keep up with health and hygiene. Only stay in places with adequate sanitation.
Life Cycle of the Disease:
The worms are passed on in eggs from infected birds, which then infect the soil and are passed to humans through ingestion.
Likelihood of Contracting the Disease:
The chance of getting the parasite increases the poorer the country's sanitation and overall health is, so contraction of the disease is more likely in Saudi Arabia than in the United States.