You might think you already know this guy or girl. You know the stereotypes. We have the stinker, snorer, snoozie-nooner, party guy, captain go-go-go, no-doe, and the travel guru to name a few. Great, but I’m not talking about any of them.
I’m talking about a different kind of travel buddy that you will want to avoid at all cost. I’m talking about something so opportunistic that it gives a whole new meaning to the word “mooch”. These guys aren’t your buddy at all. These guys are true parasites.
1.) Giardia Lamblia – Topping our list as one of the most common is this guy. He might have you go-go-go but it’s always to the same place, the toilet.
Somewhere along the trail you came into contact with infected feces, ut-oh. Most likely it was in the form of contaminated food or water. The Route of infection, fecal-oral – eww!
If your traveling in developing countries where poor sanitary conditions, water quality control and overcrowding are prevalent then you are at increased risk.
Also at risk are campers and backpackers. This is particularly true in mountainous regions where streams can be infected with human or animal waste and carry Giardia cysts (resting stage). Always treat your water.
Once you ingest the cysts the acid in your stomach activates the cysts and releases trophozoites (active form of parasite in your body). From this point it’s all fun and games for the parasite as it attaches to your small intestine and starts to reproduce. As you pass feces it now contains more cysts waiting to reinfect another.
In the meantime you are blessed with sudden explosive foul smelling diarrhea, excessive gas, bloating, abdominal pain, nausea, tiredness and loss of appetite. When you think about the parasites method of infection your symptoms are great for its survival and desired goal to find more human hosts.
Preventive Measures for Travelers - Practice good hygiene, follow food and water precautions (appropriate water filtering), avoid accidental water intake during swimming.
Fun History - Giardia is often referred to as “Beaver Fever” due to the high occurrence of campers getting the disease from drinking contaminated water inhabited by beavers.
2.) Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous – This next one is going to have you feeling like the stinker. Why? Because once people catch site of your ugly lesions they are gonna avoid you like the plague.
This travel buddy can be picked up in southern Europe as well parts of the tropics and subtropics. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), over 90% of the world’s cases of CL occur in eight countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Syria (Old World); and Brazil and Peru (New World). Over 75% U.S. civilian cases are acquired in Latin America, including popular tourist destinations such as Costa Rica.
Travelers at increased risk for CL include adventure travelers, bird watchers, ecotourists, missionaries, Peace Corps volunteers, soldiers and anyone doing research outdoors particularly at night.
The vector-borne culprit is an infected female phlebotomine sand fly. Risk for infection is highest from dusk to dawn as they are night feeders. Although less active in the day, they may bite unsuspecting hikers that brush against tree trunks or other resting places.
The event of infection can go completely unnoticed. Sand flies make no buzzing noise, are about 1/3 the size of mosquitoes and don’t have a wicked mean bite. It’s what comes after that will remind you of your friendly new travel buddy.
Preventive Measures for Travelers - Reduce contact with sand flies. Avoid outdoor activities especially during the hours from dusk till dawn. Wear protective clothing and barriers. Use a repellent with DEET.
Fun History- That was the good kind. Visceral leishmaniasis, also known as kala-azar or black fever is the most severe form of leishmaniasis. If left untreated it will certainly cause death. Here’s the bad news, the World Health Oganization reports that in southern Sudan, “the number of cases from September 2009 until now is more than six times higher than in 2007-08.” and “more than 6,000 people have been infected and over 300 have died in the last year.”
3.) Malaria – genus: Plasmodium - The good old standby. If you travel abroad, come home and fall ill everyone will be quick to say “you probably have Malaria”. So do you?
According to the CDC there are about 1,500 cases of Malaria in the U.S each year, mostly from returned travelers. Sub-Saharan Africa travelers are at the greatest risk for both getting malaria and dying from the infection. However, any country where malaria is present results in a risk for travelers.
A great tool for you to use is the CDC Malaria Map Application. Users can search a interactive map and get information about malaria endemicity in any particular region. What’s great is it recommended medications for malaria prevention for that particular area.
Mosquitoes are the culprit carrying the parasite that causes Malaria. Mosquitoes are also the thing you want to avoid to avoid picking up this new travel buddy. Can you imagine that, heading out camping realizing there was a real legitimate risk of contracting Malaria. People in the States often joke, “Probably got Malaria” after being bit a bunch but we don’t really think we have it.
But what if the circumstances are right? You were in a high risk area, you got bit by mosquitoes. Did you know you could come down with symptoms up to a year later. Anyone that has traveled abroad should seek immediate medical attention up to a year after any possible exposure if symptoms present. Malaria is always a serious illness and sometimes deadly. Symptoms of Malaria include fever and a flu like illness.
