Japanese Encephalitis

Life Health & Fitness
1

This disease scares the crap out of me!!

Well I live in the U.S.A,

I went to my doctor today, so that she could fill out my health certificate to go study chinese at a given school. (The school is actually feng chia university in Taichung, if you have studied there by chance please do to tell how it is :slight_smile: ).

Anyways, she said, “Well I could give you the vaccine, the only problem is, there is a one in 250 chance that you could react to the vaccine, choke and be sent to the hospital.” I was like… uh ok but what about the disease.

Well that just makes your brain swell and leaves you retarded…

Has anyone by chance seen the effects of this disease… or actually have experienced it? For some reason im freaking out about it, even though ill be in taichung with my mosqiuto repellent. Im freaking scared! :stuck_out_tongue:

Thanks guys.

2

I’ve never heard of anyone contracting a case of it.

If it scares you, you might as well wait until you come here to get vaccinated, because it costs a king’s ransom in the US to get the JE vaccination. I don’t know how much it costs here in Taiwan, but I’d imagine it would be cheaper here.

I’d also recommend waiting until your arrival in Taiwan to get any health checks for resident visa requirements for the same reason: it’s far cheaper here.

3

very serious illness. My half brother died of it in Taiwan many years ago. He died within 24 hours after exhibiting signs of illness.

He was only six years old, and his death nearly overcame my mom.

4

[quote=“Chris”]I’ve never heard of anyone contracting a case of it.

If it scares you, you might as well wait until you come here to get vaccinated, because it costs a king’s ransom in the US to get the JE vaccination. I don’t know how much it costs here in Taiwan, but I’d imagine it would be cheaper here.

I’d also recommend waiting until your arrival in Taiwan to get any health checks for resident visa requirements for the same reason: it’s far cheaper here.[/quote]

Actually, I think that my insurance covers it, so im good on that account. My doctor recommended not to get it because of the vacine side effects.

5

[quote=“tommy525”]very serious illness. My half brother died of it in Taiwan many years ago. He died within 24 hours after exhibiting signs of illness.

He was only six years old, and his death nearly overcame my mom.[/quote]

That’s really scary man. But adults such as myself (19 years old) Have a much higher chance of survivng right? If I ever got it, would i get mental retardation if i survived? Its more dangerous for developing brains not developed ones… right?

Man the mental retardation as a end result… to be honest scares me more then death.

6

[quote=“Rabidpie”][quote=“tommy525”]very serious illness. My half brother died of it in Taiwan many years ago. He died within 24 hours after exhibiting signs of illness.

He was only six years old, and his death nearly overcame my mom.[/quote]

That’s really scary man. But adults such as myself (19 years old) Have a much higher chance of survivng right? If I ever got it, would I get mental retardation if i survived? Its more dangerous for developing brains not developed ones… right?

Man the mental retardation as a end result… to be honest scares me more then death.[/quote]

While stuff like that is indeed scary, probability-wise you are more likely to be hit by a car. But do you sit up at night worrying about that? Thought not.

7

adults usually dont have too many problems. its much more of a problem in children. YOu shouldnt be overly worried.

worry about the traffic

8

Awww man, I just don’t want to become a mentally retarded person because of the disease.

Yeah, if i get hit by a car, then I probably may be paralyzed, but only if i get hit in the brain will there be mental effects…

9

Well I better get to bed, its late, but if anyone wants to share stories of getting the disease (In incredibly long detail) I’d greatly appreciate it.

10

[quote=“Rabidpie”]
Yeah, if I get hit by a car, then I probably may be paralyzed, but only if I get hit in the brain will there be mental effects…[/quote]

it could also come from eating infected beef, it could also come from blah blah blah…

You cannot live your life by “what if’s”… Really, if you are living that now in the US, Taiwan is really gonna scare the shit out of you.
EDIT for clarity…

11

[quote=“Funk500”][quote=“Rabidpie”]
Yeah, if I get hit by a car, then I probably may be paralyzed, but only if I get hit in the brain will there be mental effects…[/quote]

it could also come from eating infected beef, it could also come from blah blah blah…

You cannot live your life by “what if’s”… Really, if you are living that now in the US, Taiwan is really gonna scare the shit out of you.
EDIT for clarity…[/quote]

No I don’t live that way in the U.S., I’m just slightly… well my family is Mexican i go to mexico ever year and im fine. Im hoping Mexico could be worse then taiwan. Well we will just see i guess. But still I’m sorry but I just can’t get over the “scariness” of Japanese E.

12

I remember getting this shot before coming to Taiwan. I thought they said Japanese Elephantitis.

Imagine, having morbidly gigantic balls and a triple helping of shame to go along with it.

THAT scared the shit out of me.

13

I seem to remember my GP in the UK telling me the vaccine is unlicensed and he wouldn’t recommend it unless I were to visit an area with a high incidence of the disease.

He also told me that if you get it, your brain turns to soup.

14

[quote=“Rabidpie”]This disease scares the crap out of me!!

Well I live in the U.S.A,

I went to my doctor today, so that she could fill out my health certificate to go study Chinese at a given school. (The school is actually feng chia university in Taichung, if you have studied there by chance please do to tell how it is :slight_smile: ).

Anyways, she said, “Well I could give you the vaccine, the only problem is, there is a one in 250 chance that you could react to the vaccine, choke and be sent to the hospital.” I was like… uh ok but what about the disease.

Well that just makes your brain swell and leaves you retarded…

Has anyone by chance seen the effects of this disease… or actually have experienced it? For some reason I’m freaking out about it, even though ill be in Taichung with my mosqiuto repellent. I’m freaking scared! :stuck_out_tongue:

Thanks guys.[/quote]

Taiwan is not SE Asia or Africa. It is not riddled with malaria and exotic diseases. Don’t worry, the best things you could do is to get vaccinated against hepatitis.

There’s a 1 in 250 chance you’ll get a severe reaction to this disease and almost infinitesimally small chance you will contract this disease. You probably have more chance to get west nile virus where you are than this disease which I have almost never heard reported in Taiwan. Not to say tragedies don’t happen of course but it must be extremely rare here.

15

[quote=“headhonchoII”][quote=“Rabidpie”]This disease scares the crap out of me!!

Well I live in the U.S.A,

I went to my doctor today, so that she could fill out my health certificate to go study Chinese at a given school. (The school is actually feng chia university in Taichung, if you have studied there by chance please do to tell how it is :slight_smile: ).

Anyways, she said, “Well I could give you the vaccine, the only problem is, there is a one in 250 chance that you could react to the vaccine, choke and be sent to the hospital.” I was like… uh ok but what about the disease.

Well that just makes your brain swell and leaves you retarded…

Has anyone by chance seen the effects of this disease… or actually have experienced it? For some reason I’m freaking out about it, even though ill be in Taichung with my mosqiuto repellent. I’m freaking scared! :stuck_out_tongue:

Thanks guys.[/quote]

Taiwan is not SE Asia or Africa. It is not riddled with malaria and exotic diseases. Don’t worry, the best things you could do is to get vaccinated against hepatitis.

There’s a 1 in 250 chance you’ll get a severe reaction to this disease and almost infinitesimally small chance you will contract this disease. You probably have more chance to get west nile virus where you are than this disease which I have almost never heard reported in Taiwan. Not to say tragedies don’t happen of course but it must be extremely rare here.[/quote]

Your right, I shouldn’t even be worrying about such trivial and silly things. Anyhow, I decided I’d take the vaccine, I am insured after all. But, I think the idea of getting hurt is present everywhere, so i shouldn’t restrict myself to places. And your right about West nile, and the worst part is that we do not even really take it that seriously.

16

Watch out for the galloping fungatroids. That’s all I’m saying. And there’s NO vaccine! Stay away from rice and noodles and you should be fine, however.

17

Get yourself vaccinated against the charms of the Taiwanese ladies if you know whats good for ya :slight_smile:

18

[quote=“cake”]I seem to remember my GP in the UK telling me the vaccine is unlicensed and he wouldn’t recommend it unless I were to visit an area with a high incidence of the disease.[/quote]Unlicensed? Not sure how the MASTA travel clinics in the UK can offer it then. Or how it got to be a routine vaccination for all kids here in Taiwan. I think your GP was talking bollocks.

Anyway, here’s some actual information on Japanese encephalitis in Taiwan:[quote=“http://www.nathnac.org/ds/c_pages/country_page_TW.htm”]JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a viral disease affecting the central nervous system.
Risk assessment

* EpidemiologyInformation on the occurrence of disease within this country - JE occurs in this country. The transmission season is April to October, with a peak in June. Cases have been reported in and around Taipei. Local human JE incidence rates may not accurately reflect the risks to non-immune visitors because of high vaccination rates in local populations. High levels of viral transmission can occur in the absence of human disease.
* ExposureInformation on the mode of transmission and factors that may increase disease risk - JE virus is transmitted to humans from animals (mainly pigs) and birds via the bite of an infected Culex mosquito. Culex mosquitoes feed predominantly during the hours from dusk to dawn. Short-term travellers and those who restrict their visits to urban areas are at very low risk. Those at higher risk are travellers who visit or work in rural agricultural areas such as rice fields and marshland. Long-term travellers and expatriates are also at higher risk.

Risk management

* Travellers should take mosquito bite avoidance measures. Culex mosquitoes feed predominantly during the hours from dusk to dawn.
* Vaccination should be givenAll travellers in risk categories should receive vaccine to travellers whose planned activities put them at higher risk (see above).
* There are specific contraindications and adverse events associated with JE vaccine. A careful risk assessment should be made before administration and specialist advice sought as appropriate.

[/quote]

19

Well, Mr Rabidpie, I got me a case of encephalitis last year. Was at work, and had my first seizure, ambulance carted me off to the hospital where I had another two seizures (the second two I could feel coming and told my friend to hold me down, although I stopped breathing during the third one).

After a spinal tap the doc decided I was to be hospitalized for a while. I got out after two weeks, with no more seizures or any other problems. Frankly, after Day 3 in the hospital I was ready to walk out by myself (very stupid in hindsight).

After getting out a lot of my mates said that I looked terrible in hospital - I replied that they hadn’t been at the hospital - obviously my brain was well fucked up.

MRI showed no swelling of the brain, and as a precaution I was put on anti-seizure meds.

Since then, no problems, but I still take anti-seizure meds as a precaution.

The scariest thing was seeing the other people in the Neurological ICU - totally wasted.

Take care of yourself out here, no mom or dad to call on, just friends.

20

[quote=“Baas Babelaas”]Well, Mr Rabidpie, I got me a case of encephalitis last year. Was at work, and had my first seizure, ambulance carted me off to the hospital where I had another two seizures (the second two I could feel coming and told my friend to hold me down, although I stopped breathing during the third one).

After a spinal tap the doc decided I was to be hospitalized for a while. I got out after two weeks, with no more seizures or any other problems. Frankly, after Day 3 in the hospital I was ready to walk out by myself (very stupid in hindsight).

After getting out a lot of my mates said that I looked terrible in hospital - I replied that they hadn’t been at the hospital - obviously my brain was well fucked up.

MRI showed no swelling of the brain, and as a precaution I was put on anti-seizure meds.

Since then, no problems, but I still take anti-seizure meds as a precaution.

The scariest thing was seeing the other people in the Neurological ICU - totally wasted.

Take care of yourself out here, no mom or dad to call on, just friends.[/quote]

That’s crazy man! Did you have any permant damage? Probably not, but still that’s crazy.