rabies

[carol]

got bitten by a dog not too bad, got stung by st paulo hos terrible on the pocket.. is the hua hin general better or where should I go for booster injections ect in the future ?? also anyone had a full heath check done, any good, is it worth it, seems cheap compared to uk even at st paulo

[Jaime]

Some years ago I had the post exposure course here in the UK, after a cat bite in rural Thailand. It involved 2 large injections to begin with followed by a series of subsequent injections, each at a specified number of days after the initial pair. The initial two injections were meant to be in the wound but it had healed so were administered to my buttocks. I had not had a rabies vaccine before my holiday but I made sure we'd all had it by the time of the next trip to Thailand! I mention this because I wonder how the post exposure course in Thailand compares to the one I have described here? It is important that the course of injections is completed because once rabies starts showing symptoms it is too late and it can lay dormant for up to a year, although - without wishing to scaremonger - most cases result in death within three months.

If anyone is in any doubt about the terrifying finality of rabies then just do an internet search - it is not to be taken lightly.

[Khundon1975]

There is a video on the net which I saw a while back. This poor little Thai boy is strapped to a gurney, foaming at the mouth and dying of rabies, while his mother stands by, helpless.

What a tragic and terrible way to die.

I recommend that anyone going to Thailand considers getting the vaccine. I know it is not guaranteed to save your life but it may give you a fighting chance.

[chaspul]

Hi Khundon
Not sure that there is a vaccine to prevent contracting rabies, my wife an ex nurse says that the shots are administered post bite from a suspect animal, this may or may not show signs of having the disease. So if bitten seek immediate medical help to start the shots.
Regards
Chas

[chaspul]

Hi Carol
After a lot of research on HHAD we have always used Phetcharat hospital. They have an international section to deal with expats and we now have direct access, email and mobile number, of Nitta their International Marketing Director.
Without seeing a GP she recently provided a specialist doctor traveling from Bangkok just to see one patient at 6pm on a Saturday evening the whole thing cost 2,000 Baht of which 1,300 was for drugs! However I felt this to be cheap for such a fast personal service, giving peace of mind.
I have read on HHAD that San Paulo will send anybody that they can not deal with to this hospital anyway so I consider the 70 km journey worth it.
After this preamble, a friend who was looking after neighbors pet squirrel was bitten, and on my recommendation went straight to Phetcharat A & E who administered treatment and rabies shots, he subsequently receives his booster shots at HH Polyclinic which is staffed by Phetcharat doctors. The Polyclinic is more like visiting your GP in the UK, has its own pharmacy and will arrange specialist appointments if required.
I must stress that I have nothing to do with this organization only wishing to praise the service we have received for over a year now, if only the hospital was in HH!!!
Hope this helps
Regards
Chas

[Big Boy]

Not sure that there is a vaccine to prevent contracting rabies

When we've had rabies shots prior to visiting Thailand we've always been told the shot does not prevent rabies. It simply gives you a couple of extra hours to get to the hospital to start the post bite treatment.

[Khundon1975]

Hi Khundon
Not sure that there is a vaccine to prevent contracting rabies, my wife an ex nurse says that the shots are administered post bite from a suspect animal, this may or may not show signs of having the disease. So if bitten seek immediate medical help to start the shots.
Regards
Chas

chaspul Hi

Maybe I should have described it as pre-exposure anti-rabies vaccination

Check it out here.

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Rabies/Pag ... ntion.aspx