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Ask The Travel Doctor-TMVC

Q: We are travelling to South America in July and are wondering about the need for taking something for Cholera before we go. One doctor has prescribed Dukoral suspension and the other did not. Also is the drug Diamox available here (for altitude sickness).

Terry

 

A:  Cholera vaccine is rarely indicated for travellers, because travellers are not usually at risk of getting cholera, which is a disease of local populations. The vaccine is very effective and lasts for about 2 years, and is used for cholera protection in people at high-risk, such as aid-workers. However, the vaccine is known to provide a short-term reduction against travellers diarrhoea, reducing the chance of getting this common travllers disease by about 20%- 25% depending on the destination. Many GPs are not so clear about this themselves, and so mixed messages are possible. This highlights a good reason to use specialist travel medical services.

Diamox is a medication used for prevention of altitude illness, and easily available in the small amounts that travellers need at Travel Doctor-TMVC clinics.

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.
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