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Guadeloupe Women Health Information
– Reported, February 18, 2012
Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is found throughout Grande-Terre and in much of Basse-Terre, including Grand Étang lake. The main method of prevention is to avoid swimming or wading in fresh water.
There have been recent outbreaks of dengue fever, aka breakbone fever because of the joint and muscle pain it inflicts. Its potentially fatal. Health professionals advise using insect repellent containing DEET or Picaridin on exposed skin. Dengue outbreaks tend to occur wherever theres standing water more frequent in cities than in the countryside.
Probably the greatest danger to women and travellers in the tropics is overexposure to the sun. Remember to work on your tan gradually and use plenty of sunscreen. Of course, it’s also a good idea to take along some mosquito repellent. In shallow water, watch out for sea urchins, sharp coral and jellyfish. Always wear fins (palmes) when snorkeling and ask the locals about swimming and diving conditions before you go in the water.
Outside of the rarely seen fer-de-lance snake on Martinique, there is not much in the way of really dangerous land critters in these islands. However, the Manchineel tree (le Manceniller) puts out a highly toxic sap. You should never stand under one in the rain or taste its little green berries. These trees are usually marked with red paint by the locals. The tap water is drinkable in most places and excellent local bottled water is available in stores and restaurants.
Infectious and parasitic diseases which formerly plagued the island (malaria, yaws, lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis mansoni) have now disappeared.
Dengue outbreaks occur periodically. A dengue outbreak has been spreading since February 2010 in Guadeloupe where local authorities reported 33,000 cases including 5 deaths over the last seven months. Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease. Symptoms are fever, headache, rash, muscle and joint pain, nausea and, in severe cases, hemorrhagic manifestations.
Diseases transmitted by food, water or through the environment
Ciguatera, is a serious food poisoning caused by fish. Get advice from locals before eating seafood. Common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, cramps, excessive sweating, headaches and muscles aches. In a few cases, it can lead to a sensation of “pins and needles” in the hands, and some infected people may experience “temperature reversal” (what is hot feels cold), and muscular weakness to the point of prostration.Some plants may cause severe allergies.
Sex ratio in Guadeloupe
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female
Life expectancy at birth in Guadeloupe for female is 80.84 years.Total fertility rate is 1.92 children born per woman.Median age for female is 31.9 years .
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