[Mjyzpzph]

The water we drink from the storage jars comes from the water mains supply.

David

[Retapleapse]

National health agencies often list immunization recommendations for travelers to Thailand. Our CDC suggests Hepatitis A and Typhoid. After accidentally stepping in an uncovered sewer hole at the night market in Songkhla, I can say that these can provide some peace of mind.

It's also useful to carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer. There are many occasions when you want to eat with your hands but can't find a good sink with soap and warm water. I think some of my problems on my first trip were caused by not cleaning my hands at the right times.

[prearpaccew]

i will be traveling to thailand this summer for 2 months and am wondering if i need to take major precautions when eating or drinking thai food so that i won't get sick. is it common to get sick while in thailand? are there any sicknesses or diseases i should worry about getting?
any answers would be of great help! thanks!

[Mjyzpzph]

I spent 5 weeks in our village in Isaan last year and ate only local food a drank water we stored in stone jars outside and had no problems at all with guts or bowels. The only problem I had was at the begining of the visit I became de-hydrated and a visit to the Doctor advised me to stop taking my blood pressure medication and that fixed it. On my return to Wales I spoke with my Doctor and he also advised on future visits I stop taking the medication as it works by making you lose water.

David

[markshome23]

well you heard all the seasoned village veterans, but I would say stick to drinking bottled water you buy in shops, or water that is filtered if you are staying with someone. there are refill machines as well in the towns, which are safe as well. don't drink tap water unless you really have to.
if it comes to the worst, and you start throwing up and having diarrhea (first time it ever happpened to me in thailand was when I had had the most expensive pizza in town, so you never know), go to see a doctor if it goes on for over a day to prevent dehydration. but you can also readily get rehydration salts and antibiotics in pharmacies, pharmacists always speak good English and will give you the necessary broad spectrum antibiotics for two dollars or so.
as for malaria, dengue, etc. don't let mozzies eat you up, and very importantly, if you have high fever go to see a doctor ASAP so they can figure out what's wrong - probably nothing, but if you indeed have dengue, it is better to catch it early.
have a nice trip - don't be paranoid.

[ireleda]

Not really, just be careful and do as good as you can, The worst is Dengue Fever, so be careful of mosquito bites, and the ones that carry fever bite in the daytime and worst at dusk and dawn so sleep under a fan or in air con rooms, keep your skin covered and use bug spray.
Eat as clean food as you can because you have no bacteria protection and are not used to eating unrefrigerated food and and food kept right out in nasty air.

Yes it is fairly common to get the skidders or at least loose bowels and will pobly have it as long as you are here, I have been here for over 7 years and still get it every time I eat Thai food, so I just never eat it unless away from home and it is a necessity.

[Retapleapse]

And the hand sanitizer sounds like a good idea, as you just don't find soap setting around to wash your hands with. But I can't see where that will do much good, I have never seen a Thai wash their hands when cooking your grub, after just playing with a cat or petting a dog.
Or the server wiping her snotty nose on her hand while serving, coarse I didn't eat supper that night, Didn't seem to bother the Thai.

I've never seen anyone petting animals at restaurants or street carts where I've eaten, fortunately. Your server should have been more considerate about the wiping, but I wouldn't worry about it too much: what issues from the nostrils does not tend to cause GI distress.

[ireleda]

Betti well you heard all the seasoned village veterans, but I would say stick to drinking bottled water you buy in shops, Aw Yes, but you never heard me say to drink anything but bottled water. Altho we catch every drop of water that is used in this house, it is rain water roof harvested and stored in Thai 1400 liter water jars, and most of them you can lift a lid and see at least 1 floating rotting lizard and maybe a snailshell with the snail rotted out,, and of coarse it is just thick with bird shit that was washed off the roof,, but is just sanitary water to us but Thai catch it and drink it, and it is run thru a 5 micron filter before it comes in.

[ireleda]

And where do you suppose that they get the water David,, No I will not even drink water from a 1000 meter well, I have always bought drinking and tooth water ever since I had cholera in Nam from dirty ice in my beer.

And the hand sanitizer sounds like a good idea, as you just don't find soap setting around to wash your hands with. But I can't see where that will do much good, I have never seen a Thai wash their hands when cooking your grub, after just playing with a cat or petting a dog.
Or the server wiping her snotty nose on her hand while serving, coarse I didn't eat supper that night, Didn't seem to bother the Thai.

[favwebbb]

Make sure to keep hydrated and stay out of the heat, it is very hot and humid in Thailand, most American aren't used to this. My daughter usually gets heat exhaustion every time we go to Thailand but she loves it there. I hope you'll love it there too.

[Arkadiyas]

have a nice trip - don't be paranoid I think that is the key...relax and enjoy the trip. Be aware of your surroundings and pay attention to your food/drink intake. Things may happen, and they may not. Hospitals are great and the medical staffs are trained to know to treat illnesses commonly found in Thailand (their own country).

I can tell you about all of the disgusting things that I've eaten, drank and never had a problem... or I could tell you about the time I had Typhoid Fever. Which story would you prefer? (rhetorical, of course).

[Mjyzpzph]

Well most that I drink is boiled in tea, though I'm the only one that drinks tea.
David

[Arkadiyas]

tell me about typhoid fever pls. Oh that was an exciting time...in the hospital in Trang for 2 weeks and then at home with an IV for fluids for another week after that. The biggest freak out came from my US doctor when I returned home a month later as typhoid stays with you for many months after (contageous).

[markshome23]

tell me about typhoid fever pls.
my mom is always kicking me when she visits because my vaccination is outdated and I should get a new one, but I keep forgetting about it.

[BrodiKennedy]

I was in Issan and Bangkok and had no problems, even though I was drinking water from cisterns and eating all local food, even from street vendors.

I did, however, get sick when I got back to the States. Our greasy American food just didn't agree with me any more.

[adultcheee]

Because of the proper use of Thai toilets, and often limited sanitation, Hep A vaccinations are a good investment.

Pick up some chewable Pepto Bismal tablets before leaving the States.
They help resolve stomach maladies, and go beyond simply hammering diarrhea.
Imodium simply plugs you up.
Gastol Bismol is the Thai equivalent, but it only comes in liquid (hard to transport!).

[Lebybynctisee]

Just stay away from the condiments (chili sauce, fish sauce, whatever sauce on tables) when eating out in street stalls. Within the depths of such liquids lurk flies, spiders, bees, ants and other exotic Thai insects drowned up till a week ago. I saw a floating fly, I tried to scoop it out, it disintegrated and sank, I left.

^ thanks!
that made me laugh. my first laugh of the day.
thanks.
but i understand what you mean.

but im sure it's not the stall owner's intentions to do so.
food can easily be different for different people.
i think i have a strong stomach.
us asians eat anything, right?
so... i guess i'll be able to handle food there.

but i am scared of diseases.
i need to get my shots before i go,
but if i dont, i think... i'll just.. experience something new.
or death.
hope not.

thanks.
this is a great topic.

[QxmFwtlam]

Just stay away from the condiments (chili sauce, fish sauce, whatever sauce on tables) when eating out in street stalls. Within the depths of such liquids lurk flies, spiders, bees, ants and other exotic Thai insects drowned up till a week ago. I saw a floating fly, I tried to scoop it out, it disintegrated and sank, I left.

[Mjyzpzph]

Just stay away from the condiments (chili sauce, fish sauce, whatever sauce on tables) when eating out in street stalls. Within the depths of such liquids lurk flies, spiders, bees, ants and other exotic Thai insects drowned up till a week ago. I saw a floating fly, I tried to scoop it out, it disintegrated and sank, I left.

Mmmm, protein.

David

[markshome23]

you don't eat Thai street food so I really didn't suppose you would drink rain water
I even get infections just taking a shower in rain water when I go on holiday.