188体育

Main messages

Infectious diseases

Immunisation

Ensure that all patients, especially children, are up-to-date with the UK immunisation schedule. See Immunisation collection with complete schedules.

Tuberculosis

There is a high incidence of TB in Thailand (40 to 499 cases per 100,000), so:

• screen all new entrants (including children) for TB according to
• refer to TB services promptly if screening is positive
• maintain long term vigilance for symptoms of TB even if initial screening is negative
• be aware that TB is a notifiable disease

Sexually transmitted infections and HIV

There is a high rate of HIV in Thailand (>1%), so:

• offer and recommend an HIV test to all adults according to .
• consider offering an HIV test to infants and children who have recently arrived in the UK according to

Although recent global data on STIs are not available, countries with high HIV rates tend to have higher rates of STIs, and the range of STIs encountered in Thailand may vary from those in the UK, so offer to sexually active individuals:

• a full sexual health screen
• safer sex health promotion advice by referral to local genito-urinary medicine services

Hepatitis B

Thailand has a high prevalence of hepatitis B, so:

• consider screening for hepatitis B, particularly those who have recently arrived
• offer screening for hepatitis B to all pregnant women during each pregnancy
• immunise appropriately babies born to mothers who are hepatitis B positive, and follow-up accordingly
• be aware that the UK has a universal infant immunisation programme for hepatitis B聽and a selective immunisation programme for higher risk groups

Hepatitis C

Thailand has a higher prevalence of hepatitis C than the UK, so if other risk factors apply.

Travel plans and advice

Ask about any travel plans the patient may have to visit friends and relatives in their country of origin, and see , or the Health Protection Scotland websites ( and ), for travel advice.

Malaria

There is a high risk of malaria in in some areas of Thailand, mainly due to P. falciparum and P. vivax, so:

• who has travelled to-and-from in the last year
• remember that malaria can be rapidly fatal

Typhoid

There is a risk of typhoid infection in Thailand, so:

• ensure that travellers to Thailand are offered typhoid immunisation and advice on prevention of enteric fever
• remember enteric fever in the differential diagnosis of illness in patients with a recent history of travel to-or-from Thailand

Women鈥檚 health

Reproductive health indicators

Reproductive health indicator	UK	Thailand
Number of children per woman鹿	2	2
Use of contraception虏	82%	27.6%

鹿lifetime average; 虏by woman of reproductive age or partner

No data are available on:

• mammography screening rates
• cervical cancer screening rates

Find out more about women鈥檚 health.

Nutritional and metabolic concerns

Anaemia

There is a moderate risk of anaemia in people from Thailand (estimated prevalence in non-pregnant women is 20 to 40%), so:

• be alert to the possibility of anaemia in recently arrived migrants, particularly women and pre-school children
• test as clinically indicated

Vitamin D

Consider the possibility of vitamin D deficiency in people who may be at risk due to:

• covering their body for cultural or religious reasons (lack of sunlight)
• skin colour
• diet (vegan or vegetarian)

Country profile

Health indicators and health care

has a summary of health indicators and health care in Thailand.

Culture, politics and history

and provide background information on the culture, politics and history of Thailand.

Languages

The main languages used in Thailand are:

• Thai
• English (secondary language of the elite)
• ethnic and regional dialects

Source: .

Find out about language interpretation.

Religions

Religion	Population (%)
Buddhist	94.6
Muslim	4.6
Christian	0.7
Other	0.1

Source: .

Migration to the UK

At the time of the 2011 census there were over 41,000 people from Thailand living in England and Wales.

Source: