jump to navigation | jump to content

Ask The Travel Doctor-TMVC

Q: Hi, I have a blood disorder - Hereditary Spherocytosis and have had my spleen removed as a result. I am considering a trip to Thailand in October this year for approx 2 weeks and am seeking advice regarding vaccinations etc.  I remember being told by my Haematologist at the time, there may be some areas overseas I should not travel to, and if I do I would need to be very careful.  Are you able to provide any advice on this?  I have not made an appointment with my doctor at this stage as I am just looking into the options.

Fiona

 

A:  Hi Fiona. Because you have had your spleen removed in the past, it can affect your immunity. In particular your body's response to certain types of bacterial and parasitic infection can be reduced, which means those infections could be worse. In an international travel sense, the commonest problem this presents is for malaria risk, and that is why we would advise great care and extra protection if you were going to travel in a malaria area. Fortunately, there is very little chance of acquiring malaria in Thailand , so that is not an issue. Ensuring all your basic vaccines are complete and up-to-date is still important, as well as having extra protection against pneumonia, influenza and meningitis, and even haemophilus depending on your age. Travel vaccines are still required, and all of these are easily available in our clinics. If you take routine antibiotic prophylaxis, you should stay on that while you are away. Splenectomy is not a reason to avoid travel, just a good reason to be well prepared.

Dr Tony

 

Disclaimer: Information provided in this health column is of a general nature & should not replace specific advice from your own personal Travel doctor-TMVC consultation.
Not all questions submitted to the website will be answered & Users of this website should always seek the advice of a qualified health professional with any questions they have regarding their health or a medical condition.