Hepatitis A and B are both very contagious diseases that can cause serious liver infections if the proper preventative methods aren’t taken. These two viruses are somewhat uncommon in the US, but there are many popular travel destinations where both hepatitis A and B are prominent.

What is Hepatitis A?

Hepatitis A is a disease that can cause liver infection, according to Hastings Prince Edward Public Health. When the disease infects the liver, it can create difficulties with digestion and waste removal. In areas with poor water sanitation, the disease can easily be spread through contaminated food or water.

Not everyone who becomes infected with the disease shows symptoms, especially if the patient is a young child. But those that do experience symptoms may have nausea, vomiting, fever and jaundice. Most who come down with the disease recover within six weeks and also build an immunity to Hepatitis A.

What is Hepatitis B?

Much like hepatitis A, hepatitis B is a disease that infects the liver. It can cause discomfort in your abdominal, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and jaundice. Unlike hepatitis A, hepatitis B can be found worldwide, especially since it is spread through bodily fluids, which can include saliva, semen, vaginal fluids and breast milk. It can also be spread through needles since the infection can live for days on other surfaces.

Not everyone who has hepatitis B always shows symptoms. Although there is no treatment for the disease, most people do recover, with some becoming carriers for hepatitis B after recovery.

Twinrix Vaccine

While there are no treatments or medications to cure hepatitis A or B, there is a vaccine available called Twinrix. This immunization is a dual vaccine, preventing both hepatitis A and B and can be given to infants, children and adults. Since the vaccine is given in multiple doses, it’s important to start your doses with enough time between your first dose and the time of your trip abroad.

Before traveling, you should complete the Twinrix series of doses. This includes a total of three doses. The doses need to be given in at least a 6 month period before travel to allow time for the patient to receive all three doses. If you don’t have the time to wait 6 months, there is a Twinrix rapid dosing schedule, which can be given within a time period of one month.

Passport Health offers Twinrix and other hepatitis A and B vaccines for travelers. Make sure you are prepared with Passport Health. Call or book online to schedule your appointment today.

Written for Passport Health by Elle Johnson. Elle is a freelance journalist and social media content creator in Florida. Not only does she enjoy working as a freelancer, but in her free time she enjoys working on fictional stories.

HPV, also known as the human papillomavirus, is a common infection spread through skin-to-skin contact. There is currently no cure for HPV. Vaccination is the best form of protection against the virus.

Causes of HPV

HPV is spread through close skin-to-skin contact with an infected individual. This mainly happens through vaginal, anal or oral sex with someone who has the virus. Some people may not show signs and symptoms of being infected but are still able to spread HPV to those that they have sex with.

HPV infections are immensely common and according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), almost everyone will get HPV at a point in their lives. The CDC reported that more than 42 million individuals in the United States were infected with HPV. Each year, around 13 million additional individuals become infected.

Symptoms of HPV

The body’s immune system is often strong enough to fight the virus that causes HPV before it results in symptoms. But when symptoms do arise, they often present in the form of warts. These warts cannot be cured and will simply heal on their own. Warts caused by HPV can appear on genitalia, hands, feet or the face. They aren’t painful, but may cause some common discomfort such as itchiness or tenderness.

HPV Can Cause Cancer

While 90% of the types of HPV will usually resolve on their own, some forms of HPV can lead to cancer. Infections from specific types of HPV can cause cervical cancer in women as well as cancers of the vagina and vulva. These cancer-causing types of HPV can also result in cancer of the penis in men and cancers of the anus and throat in both genders.

HPV Prevention

As previously mentioned, there is no cure for HPV. The only way to prevent HPV and the possible cancer that can result is to get the HPV vaccine. The CDC recommends that children between the ages of 11 and 12 receive two doses of the HPV vaccine. It’s important that the vaccine is administered before exposure to the virus for the best level of protection.

Did you know individuals up to 45-years-old can receive the HPV vaccine to help prevent contracting the virus and the cancers it can cause? Passport Health offers HPV vaccination at its locations nationwide. Call or book online to schedule your appointment today.

Ese Agboh is a student nurse who wants to specialize in pediatric nursing and wound care. In her free time, she enjoys reading and writing articles related to medicine and the pathophysiology of communicable diseases. Ese currently lives and studies on the east coast of the United States.

A cruise is meant to be a very relaxing experience for you and anyone else traveling with you. With the beautiful ocean water surrounding you, and that sweet and salty sea breeze, it can be an exciting and wonderful experience. Even though you are on vacation, you can still maintain healthy habits while you voyaging between beautiful locations. Here is how to stay healthy on a cruise ship.

Do A Pre-Cruise Physical

This will make sure that your body is in good condition to set sail. Plus, your doctor will be able to give you insight into any vaccinations that you may need, depending on the area of the world that you are headed to. Once you get a clean bill of health, you are ready to head out on your luxurious journey.

Traveling in such close quarters with others can always pose a risk of passing around stomach bugs or respiratory viruses. It is important to also speak to your doctor about what medications that you could bring on the ship with you. For example, they might advise you to bring something like cold medicine to help reduce symptoms. Make sure that you have packed the proper medications, as well as a first-aid kit for you or your family.

Wash and Sanitize Frequently

The importance of washing your hands can never be stressed enough. This is usually how viruses are spread when someone who doesn’t wash their hands touches a surface. When you touch it, you can contract what they have. But with plenty of hand washing and sanitizing, you can keep yourself as safe as possible.

You’ll want to make sure that your hand sanitizer has at least 60% alcohol for disinfecting properties. Another item to keep with you is also sanitizing wipes. This way, you can bring them to tables and chairs that you want to use, and wipe them down before you do.

Take The Stairs

On a cruise ship, where you’re only really walking short distances, taking the stairs is a great option to get a little bit of cardio in. Plus, nine times out of ten, the stairs are often much faster than waiting for an elevator.

If you are looking for a little bit more exercise than just taking the stairs, you can also utilize the ship’s gym. While many cruise ships don’t often advertise a gym, many have one that is meant to be utilized by the passengers of the ship.

Find Travel Insurance

You never know when something could go awry. That is why it is important to have travel insurance in place. Many provide emergency extraction from the cruise ship, should you need to be transported to a local hospital.

Whether it is required vaccines for your trip or routine immunizations like influenza, Passport Health is here to help. Call or book online to schedule your appointment today.

Jennifer Passmore is a stay-at-home mom, writer and beader. She loves creating art with her words and through her jewelry. She is also a passionate mental health advocate. You can find more writing at her website Positivity In Pain.

Typhus is a group of bacterial diseases caused by rickettsia bacteria infection. It is zoonotic, meaning that the illness passes from infected animals to humans. Fleas, mites, and lice are some examples of typical carriers.

Typhus is more common in underdeveloped areas, but it can be found worldwide. One thing people are still unclear about is if typhus is deadly. Can this disease kill you? Discover more about typhus and its effects below.

How Deadly Is Typhus?

The earlier you visit a doctor and receive proper treatment for typhus, the better your recovery period will be. There are three types of typhus – epidemic, endemic, and scrub. Endemic and epidemic are the two main types. The longer you wait to receive a diagnosis or treatment, the more damage you cause to your health.

Untreated endemic typhus has a death rate of under .2% of patients. In contrast, untreated epidemic typhus has a death rate of 10% – 60% of infected patients. People over 60 years old have the highest death rates. Even if someone does not die from typhus, complications can make things very difficult. Some examples are renal insufficiency, pneumonia, and central nervous system problems.

Generally, physicians recommend antibiotic therapy for endemic, and epidemic typhus infections since early treatment can cure most infected individuals. Some antibiotics you may be placed on include azithromycin, doxycycline, and tetracycline. If treatment is delayed and complications become very severe, patients may die.

Prevention

To avoid typhus, the best thing to do is stay away from rodents and wild animals. Also, be wary of any animals that may carry mites, fleas, and ticks on their bodies. If you have pets, ensure that they avoid contact with rodents or animals that may spread fleas or mites. You can lower your risk of infection by limiting how pests can enter your home.

There was a vaccine for typhus during World War II, but the shrinking number of cases halted its production. The easiest way to prevent typhus is by shielding yourself from pests.

Some prevention tips are:

• Maintain adequate hygiene (guards against infected lice)
• Control the rodent population (rodents carry arthropods)
• Avoid traveling to regions where typhus exposure has occurred, or low sanitation is a high risk
• Take advantage of medicine (Ex. chemoprophylaxis)

Passport Health can advise you on what you may need to avoid typhus while abroad. Make sure you are protected by calling or book online to schedule your appointment today.

Written for Passport Health by Shelbi Jackson. Shelbi is a freelance writer from Illinois. She enjoys writing about various topics from health care to music and book reviews. In her free time, you can find her at a live event, taking a stroll outside, or playing with the family dogs.