There is much warning in the medical communities in North America and Europe on the over prescription of antibiotics. The viruses and bugs adapt and become immune to most antibiotics. There is also much concern by the environmentalists in Europe and North America about pollution but those countries are relatively clean and have much smaller populations than Asia and S.E. Asia who pollute much more.
In Thailand, any Thai can walk into a Thai pharmacy and request antibiotics for a cold and the sniffles. Thavorn has done it many times. I do not know about other countries in Asia and S.E. Asia but I suspect it is much the same. The interesting thing is that cough syrup and ibuprofen (advil) are behind the counter and you have to ask the pharmacist for them. I suspect, some Thais get high on the cough syrup.
We live in a global world and the microbes that become resistant to antibiotics in Asia do not even have to buy an air ticket to get to North America or Europe. They will arrive in the bodies of travelers from other parts of the world. My other prediction is the recovery rate for Asians will be higher than for North Americans and Europeans as their immune systems are highly developed as they are exposed to way more pathogens in their daily lives than we are in antiseptic North America. You can run but you can't hide.
Another interesting observation I have made is that hospitals in Thailand are much cleaner and more efficient than North America because labor is so much cheaper (no unions). The hospital where Thavorn gave birth to Jaidan was like a 5 star hotel. The total cost was 30,000 baht which included doctor's fee, all medical services, 5 star room for 5 days, 4 nights, and all meals. The large LCD TV, iPad, extra bed (for me), kitchen, and rain shower in the washroom were all included. AND, wonder of wonders, when you pressed the red button, 2 beautiful Thai nurses appeared within 5 seconds, with welcoming smiles.
Jabba and LOT headed off to the Wichian Buri hospital early this morning to see what can be done for her knees. I know what the doctor will say .. lose some weight. They don't seem to give the big needle cortisone shots here in Thailand. Jabba's only solution for weight loss would be to staple her stomach or surgery to slice off the 50 kilos of fat. At 55 years of age I am not sure either of those will happen. Even in Canada, they would not do a knee replacement until she lost weight. Sure is quiet here in the village without Jabba jabbering loudly all the time.
TTYL
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