Top 6 Most Common Rainy Season Illnesses in Thailand

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Thailand has three official seasons: hot, cool, and rainy. After months of stifling heat, the Kingdom will soon enter its rainy season. It begins around mid-May every year and continues until mid-October. While it’s a refreshing change of climate, the rainy season is also the flu season, bringing additional health risks to those traveling to and living in Thailand. Our friends at Pacific Prime Thailand will take a look at the most common rainy season illnesses and how to prevent them.

1. Dengue

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection and is common during the rainy season. The transmission rates are typically higher during this period. Transmitted through the bites of infected Aedes mosquitoes, its symptoms include fever, muscle aches, headaches, and skin rashes with red spots.

 

Complications: There is a 36% chance of this illness developing into Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) with more serious symptoms, like uncontrolled bleeding and high fever. It’s imperative that you seek medical treatment as soon as you can, as DHF can cause a circulatory system failure.

Prevention: Avoid mosquito-infested areas, use insect repellents, and sleep inside a mosquito net. You may also want to consider getting a Dengue vaccine beforehand, on top of all the essential vaccinations in Thailand.

 

Japanese encephalitis is another dangerous mosquito-borne illness. Your risk of contracting it is not as high compared to other similar diseases. However, you’ll be more exposed to Japanese encephalitis if you live in or travel to rural areas for a long period of time. In Thailand, this is prevalent in northern areas like Chiang Mai.

2. Pneumonia

Highly contagious, pneumonia is the infection of one or both lungs. Patients usually experience chills, fever, difficulty breathing, and shaking. It may also be a side effect of other health problems such as asthma.

 

Complications: While pneumonia can range from mild to severe, it can be fatal if left untreated.  Kids, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems are especially vulnerable to the illness.

Prevention: Maintain good personal hygiene to both protect yourself and prevent the spread of it to others if you suffer from any suspected symptoms of pneumonia.  

3. Flu

Rainy season coincides with the flu season in Thailand. Most opt for spending time together indoors to avoid the heavy monsoon rains outside. Unfortunately, this increases the chance of spreading and contracting the flu. The flu is a more severe version of the common cold, with symptoms such as body aches or headaches, high fever, and long-lasting fatigue.

 

Complications: Asthma, pneumonia, sinusitis, and bronchitis are a few examples.

Prevention: Stay healthy and boost your immunity by eating a balanced diet and regularly exercising. A habit of regular hand washing will also help. If you're particularly vulnerable to contracting the flu, then getting vaccinated is a good recommendation before the flu season arrives.

4. Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that takes its toll on both humans and animals. It spreads to humans through contact with food, soil, or water contaminated with the infected animal's blood, urine, or tissue. In addition, leptospirosis carriers tend to be animals in close contact with humans, such as rats, cows, buffalo, dogs, etc. Muscle aches on the calf and thigh, fever, and headache are typical symptoms of the disease.

 

Complications: Meningitis, liver failure, or even death may befall those with the disease.

Prevention: Avoid stepping on puddles on the streets as they may be contaminated by animal excretion. Also, wear long pants and protect your legs with rain boots. Only touch your face with clean, sanitized hands.

5. Hand-foot-and-mouth disease

This contagious viral infection spreads via physical contact with the infected person’s nasal secretions, saliva, and stool. You may develop a fever, muscle aches, and painful red blisters in your mouth, as well as on the palms and soles.

 

Complications: Encephalitis and paralysis may occur in severe cases.

Prevention: Make sure to only consume thoroughly cooked food. Avoid using other people’s items, especially if you suspect they’ve been infected with the hand-foot-and-mouth disease. Keep clean by sanitizing your hands and immediately washing any poop-stained clothes. 

6. Malaria

A disease caused by parasites, the risk of malaria is only present in rural areas like Chiang Mai and Pattaya but not in cities like Bangkok. It is carried by the Anopheles, a different strain of mosquitoes than the dengue carriers. While there are five species of human malaria parasites, the most dangerous is the Plasmodium falciparum. Some common symptoms of malaria include fever, malaise, chills, headache, vomiting, and diarrhea.

 

Complications: It has the potential to cause organ failures. Furthermore, cerebral malaria is another condition to worry about, as parasite-filled blood cells block vessels to your brain, causing brain damage.

Prevention: Preventive measures for dengue and mosquitoes, in general, will prove effective against malaria. Additionally, you might also want to consider bringing antimalarial medication with you if you’re planning to visit rural areas.

 

With so many health risks out there, it’s important to secure the best health insurance plans in Thailand. You’ll gain peace of mind knowing that you won’t have to pay out of pocket for any surprise medical bills.

 

From travel insurance to expat health insurance, our friends at Pacific Prime Thailand can help you find your best-fit plans. They have over 20 years of experience in the insurance brokerage industry and provide their clients with 100% impartial advice. 

 

Contact them today for a free plan comparison!