Infectious Diseases in Koh Samui

Infectious diseases are disorders caused by pathogenic microorganisms, such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, or parasites. They can spread, directly or indirectly, from one person to another. Some infectious diseases are transmitted by insects or other animals. Infectious diseases can also spread through the consumption of contaminated water or food or exposure to organisms in the environment.

The branch of medicine that focuses on infectious diseases is called infectiology, which is a subspecialty of internal medicine. Doctors who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases are called infectious diseases (ID) specialists. While most common infections can be treated by general internists and other specialists, ID specialists are frequently called upon to help diagnose and assist in treating or managing unusual, difficult, or complicated infections. Since many infectious diseases are related to other medical conditions, ID specialists work with doctors in many specialty areas, such as doctors trained in dermatology, immunology, or cardiovascular medicine. 

Some of the most common infectious diseases that ID specialists diagnose, treat, and manage include:

• Bone and joint infections
• Heart valve infections
• Blastomycosis
• Complicated urinary tract infections
• Lyme disease
• HIV/AIDS
• Viral hepatitis
• Rubella, Measles, and Mumps
• Malaria
• Cholera
• Dengue
• Ebola
• Sepsis
• Tuberculosis
• Rheumatic fever
• Travel medicine
• Tick-borne infections
• Meningitis
• Pneumonia
• Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
• Post-operative infections.

There are numerous procedures that ID specialists and other specialists use to diagnose, prevent, and treat infectious diseases. These include, but are not limited to:

• Laboratory tests, including blood tests, urine tests, stool samples, throat swabs, and a spinal tap (lumbar puncture)
• Imaging scans, such as CT scans, MRIs, and X-rays.
• Biopsies.
• Antibiotic therapies
• Immunizations
• Infection control
• Fecal microbiota (stool) transplant
• Antimicrobial therapy (OPAT)
• Antifungal therapy
• Anti-parasitic therapy.

How Long Should I Stay in Koh Samui?

Your length of stay depends on the severity of your infection and which organ is affected by the infection. Some types of infectious diseases may require hospitalization, while others do not. It is generally advisable that you plan to stay in Koh Samui for at least 7 to 14 days. Even if you do not need hospitalization, some types of treatment may require several appointments. In addition, you may also need to attend follow-up checkups.

What's the Expected Recovery Time?

Recovery time after infectious disease can vary, depending on the type and severity of the infection. For some infectious diseases, the healing process can take time and it can take a few months until you can resume your normal activities. Some other types of infectious diseases, however, only need around 2 weeks or even less of recovery time. Your doctor will tell you when you can return to work and resume your normal activities.

What Aftercare is Required?

Your doctor will give you detailed aftercare instruction. It is important to follow every instruction closely. They may also tell you prevention measures to decrease the risk of infection from occurring in the future. These include washing your hands frequently, to get vaccinated, practice safe sex, travel wisely, stay home when ill, prepare food safely, and avoid sharing personal items. 

What's the Success Rate?

Active research in infectious diseases has resulted in new discoveries that help doctors to refine the treatment and management approach to infectious diseases. The success rate of infectious disease treatment has increased significantly in the past several decades. Some types of treatments even have 90% success rates.   

Are there Alternatives?

There are a number of products that have been studied for preventing or shortening the duration of some infections, such as vitamin C, vitamin D, garlic, ginseng, and zinc. However, it is best that you see your general physician, a specialist, or an ID specialist to treat your infection instead of taking alternative medicine.  

Infectious Diseases in and around Koh Samui

About Koh Samui

Koh Samui is the second-largest island in the Gulf of Thailand. Referred to as Samui, it was once a “backpacker’s paradise”. It has a bounty of natural wonders as well as man-made attractions such as the mummified monks and the glorious Buddha temples.

The idyllic atmosphere of Koh Samui makes it a perfect destination for both physical and mental wellbeing. It has become a preferred destination for medical tourism in the last few years. Visitors love the location and combine their holidays with medical and spa treatments.

The island has several sophisticated and state-of-art international hospitals such as the Bangkok Hospital, Samui, Bandon International Hospital, Samui International Hospital, and Thai International Hospital, Samui. These hospitals offer affordable and timely medical services to tourists who mainly come to undergo Cosmetic surgeries, Dental Aesthetic procedures, and Sex Reassignment surgeries. Such procedures when carried out in Koh Samui cost 20% to 25% less than the cost of the same treatments in their home countries.

With an eye on the possible growth within the realm of medical tourism, these hospitals are actively broadening the array of medical services they offer. They now furnish other types of procedures including, but not limited to, cardiac surgery, orthopedic surgery, and ophthalmic surgery.

In addition to these extended services, they have a roster of highly competent doctors on hand. These medical professionals are clearly proficient in English, thereby effectively ensuring smooth and easy communication with patients arriving from different parts of the world.

Popular Areas in Koh Samui

Koh Samui is home to many amazing beaches, locations, temples, and markets and some of the major and popular attractions of the island are:

• Ang Thong Marine Park – Ang Thong Marine Park is a group of 42 tiny lush green islands with lofty limestone cliffs, crystal clear beaches, fertile mangroves, waterfalls, hidden coves, and lakes. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Koh Samui, and it is easy to see why. The scenery is simply breathtaking.
• Wat Phra Yai – Wat Phra Yai, also known as the Big Buddha Temple, is one of the most iconic landmarks in Koh Samui. The golden-colored, 12-meter tall Buddha statue is hard to miss, and it is a popular pilgrimage site for both locals and tourists.
• Wat Plai Laem – Wat Plai Laem is an active Buddhist temple that is known for its beautiful architecture and its 18-arm image of Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy and Compassion. It is a popular place to visit for both religious and cultural reasons.
• Na Muang Waterfall – It represents a set of two magnificent waterfalls. These lie about 7.5 miles southeast to Nathon Bay in inland.
• Chaweng and Lamai Beach – Are the two most popular beaches on the island. Chaweng beach is on the east coast of Samui and is known for its nightlife. Lamai beach has a more laid-back atmosphere, but it still has a variety of accommodation, dining & shopping choices, luxurious spas, and tourist spots.

Koh Samui’s other attractions include Hin Ta and Hin Yai, Koh Phangan island, Fisherman’s Village Bophut, Mummy Monk at Wat Khunaram, and the Secret Buddha Garden. Full Moon Party is an all-night beach party held on the Koh Phangan island on full moon day.

Weather and Climate in Phuket

Nestled in a tropical climate, Koh Samui basks in hot and humid weather that extends throughout the year. The humidity level typically straddles between 70 and 85 percent, creating a warm atmosphere indicative of tropical locales. Meanwhile, the average temperature usually hovers around a cosy 28 degrees Celsius.

The island ushers in three distinctive seasons, specifically, hot, dry, and rainy, each of them bringing a unique texture to the overall climate.

• Hot Season is between March and September. The hottest period is March and April when the temperature is 30 degrees Celsius and above. From May to September, it’s like a mini monsoon season with bright sunny days and light showers in the evening.
• Dry Season runs from December to February. The weather is pleasant with light cool winds. The sea is balmy and tourists flock the region during this season.
• Rainy Season is between September and November and the island faces its maximum rainfall with unpredictable weather and rough seas.

Getting Around in Koh Samui

Koh Samui’s airport is a private airport built by Bangkok Airways. It is still the main operator of flights to Samui. Flights to and from Bangkok operate almost every hour. It operates domestic flights to Phuket, Pattaya, and Chiang Mai, and international flights to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Hong Kong every day. Thai Airways to flies between Bangkok and Ko Samui.

Besides Bangkok and Thai Airways, Berjaya Air & Firefly of Malaysia and Silk Air of Singapore also fly to Samui Airport. Air Asia offers a special ‘Island Transfer’ which comprises a flight from Bangkok to Surat Thani or Nakhon Si Thammarat, road travel to the port, and a ferry ride to Koh Samui.

Combined bus and ferry service from Surat Thani rail station or Surat Thani Airport are other options to reach Samui.

Moving around Koh Samui is easy as it is a small island and there are many transport options within Samui. They are songthaews, motorbikes, taxis, and cars and there are no tuk-tuks or buses.

• Songthaews – They are mini pick-up trucks that can accommodate 8-10 adults. They circle the main ring road of Samui and travel through the popular beach towns. The drivers pick you up from anywhere on the road.
• Metered Taxis – You can find them everywhere in the town. Despite having a meter, the drivers don’t use them. You need to bargain and fix a fare before you start your journey.
• Rent a Car – There are major car rental chains to book a car and they have a good collection of vehicles, but can be pricey. Then there are local car operators which are cheaper but can be unreliable.
• Scooter-taxis –These are the cheapest and quickest mode of transport.

Tourist Visas in Koh Samui

Visa Exemption or Visa Waiver Entry – Under a bilateral agreement, Thailand exempts nationals from 55 countries including the UK, USA, and many European countries from obtaining a tourist visa. The only condition is that tourists must have a passport that is valid for at least six months. They can get an arrival stamp on their passports, and stay in the country for a period of 30 days. They need not pay any visa fees, as it is not a visa on arrival rather just an entry stamp.

Visa on Arrival – Nationals from 24 countries like China and India with a valid Passport not expiring before six months, can get a visa on arrival at the airport. The visa permits them a stay of 15 days. There are designated immigration counters at the airport for issuing the visa.

Here are some additional tips for tourists applying for a visa on arrival in Thailand:

• Make sure that you have all of the required documents, including a valid passport, a return flight ticket, and proof of funds.
• Be prepared to pay the visa fee, which is 2,000 Thai baht.
• Be prepared to answer questions about your trip and your purpose for visiting Thailand.

Additional Information

• The main currency of exchange is the Thai Baht. One US dollar is worth about 34.5559 Thai Baht as of 2023. You can also use debit and credit cards.
• Most of the major banks operate in Samui Island. They exchange all major currencies and traveller’s cheques.
• ​​​​​​​You can find ATMs everywhere in Koh Samui. They accept both local as well as international debit cards. However, they charge you a small transactional fee when you withdraw from your country’s bank account.
• ​​​​​​​The locals of Koh Samui speak Thai – the official language of Thailand. People also understand and speak English to a certain extent, since the island is a famous tourist destination.
• ​​​​​​​Buddhism and reverence to the monarchy are striking aspects of Samui culture. It has a large Buddhist Thai population along with a traditional Muslim fishermen community.
• ​​​​​​​Important public holidays include:

1. The Chinese New Year in February
2. ​​​​​​​The Thai New Year (Songkran) in April
3. ​​​​​​​The Festival of Lights (Loi Krathong) in November
4. ​​​​​​​Christmas and New Year