Preparation

Naturally, you'll enjoy your visit most when healthy and fit, so be prepared. First of all, make sure you are up-to-date with your routine jabs such as tetanus-diphtheria, measles-mumps-rubella, and polio and varicella immunisation. Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended. Further vaccinations to consider depend on your behaviour and plans, and include Hepatitis B, typhoid, Japanese encephalitis and rabies. Ask your doctor for advice.

As a tropical country, Thailand bears certain health risks you wouldn't be exposed to at home, such as mosquito borne diseases. As a rule, you should always apply mosquito repellent. Malaria and dengue are both tropical diseases prevalent in Thailand that may concern you as a visitor to certain areas, though the popular tourist spots are generally not affected.

Malaria is a parasitic infection of red blood cells and the liver transmitted by the Anopheline mosquitoes, which typically bite between dusk and dawn. Typical symptoms of malaria are fever, sweats, chills, headache, body aches, and malaise.

Malaria prophylaxis is not recommended for Bangkok, as malaria is pretty much confined to rural areas, especially the forested and mountainous habitats bordering to Laos, Cambodia and Burma. All main cities in Thailand, including Bangkok, are considered malaria free. Consult your physician about the type of prophylaxis you should take when travelling to affected areas.

There has been some controversy about the actual effectiveness of preventative drugs, so visitors to endemic areas are advised to take general precautions against insect bites. Make sure you apply mosquito repellent when you're out after sunset, and wear light-coloured long-sleeve shirts and trousers.

Dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever are caused by the dengue virus which is transmitted by the aedes mosquito. Unlike other mosquitoes, the aedes mosquito bites during the day. Dengue infection in local people, mostly children, can result in fever with bleeding in the skin and other organs (hence dengue hemorrhagic fever) which for some can be fatal. But for travellers from non-endemic areas, the infection usually manifests itself as a fever with skin rashes, severe headache and muscle pains (thus dengue fever) which is usually not fatal.

Dengue infection is common during the rainy season when the aedes mosquito is abundant, and known to sporadically appear in Bangkok. There is no medication to prevent dengue, so your best way to avoid it, is to apply mosquito repellent during the day!