Frequent travellers know that nothing spoils a trip more then health problems. Specially if this is not a usual cold or upset stomach, but something much more serious. Health issues are a very important part of planning a trip. In addition to purchasing good travel insurance (special insurances are also available for long term living abroad) it would also be very prudent to check what vaccines might be needed to travel to your chosen destination.

There are various popular traveliving regions and Asia is taking the leading positions due to low prices and nice climate. Generally this is quiet a safe place to live, yet there are several diseases that are quiet widely spread and dangerous for Western people who have never been in contact with them. So, if your travel lifestyle leads you to any Asian country, consider the risk of being infected by Hepatitis A, B or Typhoid fever. If you are not in anti-vaccination movement, then set up a visit to your doctor 4-6 weeks before departure and make vaccines against these diseases to protect yourself while living abroad. And here’s some basic information on Hepatitis and Typhoid that might be useful for any traveliver.

Typhoid fever
Description:
Typhoid fever, also known as Typhoid,[1] is a common worldwide bacterial disease, transmitted by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person. This disease is also know as gastric fever, abdominal typhus, infantile remittant fever, slow fever or nervous fever. The bacteria which causes typhoid fever may be spread through poor hygiene habits and public sanitation conditions, and sometimes also by flying insects feeding on feces. Disease is characterized by a slowly progressive fever as high as 40 °C (104 °F), profuse sweating and inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Less commonly, a rash of flat, rose-colored spots may appear.
Vaccine:
There are two licensed vaccines: oral Ty21a vaccine and the injectable Typhoid polysaccharide vaccine. Both guarantee protection between 50% to 80%. Boosters are recommended every five years for the oral vaccine and every two years for the injectable form.

Hepatitis B
Description:
Hepatitis B is an infectious illness originally known as “serum hepatitis” that is quiet common in Asia, Africa and China. The acute illness causes liver inflammation, vomiting, jaundice (a yellowish pigmentation of the skin) and sometimes even death. This illness usually begins with general ill-health, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, body aches, mild fever, and dark urine
Vaccine:
Several vaccines have been developed for the prevention of hepatitis B virus infection, they are very popular and available in every immunization clinic. Luckily, Hepatitis B don’t spread through water and food, so to prevent it be sure to avoid unsafe sex and re-use of needles.

Hepatitis A
Description:
Hepatitis A or infectious hepatitis is an acute infectious disease of the liver. In developing countries, and in regions with poor hygiene standards, the incidence of infection with this virus is very high as it spreads through water and food. Early symptoms of hepatitis A infection can be mistaken for influenza (fatigue, fever, nausea), but sometimes there can be no symptoms at all.
Vaccine:
The injectable vaccine provides protection for more then 95% for over 20 years. It contains inactivated hepatitis A virus providing active immunity against a future infection.

If you choose life in travel and plan to live your life in travel, exploring the unexplored paths then bookmark the site of Center for Diseas Control and Prevention (CDC), where you can find full information on necessary vaccines for any country of the world. Be responsible and travel safe!