People are planning a vacation in Thailand and want to know what actually threatens their health there besides what's written everywhere about rat-bite fever. What symptoms should they watch out for and how can they protect themselves?
I'll add to what's already been said about mosquitoes and water - make sure you always look before you sit down, and check your shoes before putting them on. Thailand has plenty of scorpions and centipedes that hide in dark spaces, and a bite can ruin your vacation for a long time. You should also avoid contact with animals - rabies is common there, and if a dog or even a bat bites you, you need to see a doctor right away, even if the wound looks minor. Overall, the main thing is not to panic, but to be more careful about the details that tourists usually miss.
In Thailand, you should really be careful about malaria, dengue, and Japanese encephalitis - especially in rural areas and during the rainy season 🦟 The main thing is to protect yourself from mosquitoes (nets, sprays, long clothes in the evening), drink only clean water, and don't touch animals; if you get a fever, headache, or rash - go to a doctor right away, don't wait.
Don't count on tourist areas on the coast to fully protect you from infections. Yes, the risk is lower in Bangkok and at popular resorts, but mosquitoes and contaminated water are everywhere. The main thing is not to panic and take prevention seriously, not treat it like a formality.
Besides what was mentioned in the previous answer, remember about typhoid and hepatitis A - they're transmitted through dirty water and food. Symptoms can be confused with regular food poisoning, but they last longer and are more severe. There's also leptospirosis (enters the body through small cuts when exposed to water during the rainy season), tuberculosis (rare, but tourists sometimes catch it in overcrowded buses), and street intestinal infections. There are vaccines for typhoid and hepatitis A - it makes sense to get them before the trip, it's more reliable than counting on luck.
Practically speaking: wash your hands before eating, drink only bottled or boiled water (even for brushing your teeth), don't eat street food from sketchy vendors, after sunset wear pants and long-sleeved shirts, use repellent on your skin. And yeah, pack a good anti-diarrheal medication - not a cure-all, but it saves you on the road.
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