Seazonal diseases in Rio de Janeiro and consultation in English

Seazonal diseases in Rio and the importance of consultation in English

Rio de Janeiro is a city that attracts millions of tourists every year, with its vibrant culture, stunning beaches, and natural beauty. However, like many other tropical regions, it is also home to several transmitted diseases and some of them are transmitted by mosquitoes which increases during the summer. Dengue, influenza, and chikungunya are some of the viruses-transmitted diseases and common in Rio. While public health services are available in the city, it is not uncommon to encounter long waiting times and language barriers, especially for those who do not speak Portuguese. This is where telemedicine comes in handy.

Dengue is a viral disease that is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Symptoms usually appear 2-7 days after being bitten and include fever, nausea, vomiting, rash, joint and muscle pain, headache, and low white blood cell count. It doesn't necessarily needs hospitalar treatment, and it is possible to be evaluated by a doctor by telemedicine and perform Rapid Tests in some labs distributed in the city avoiding the discomfort of long waits and being exposed to the risk of viral infections from other patients.

In the realm of arboviruses, despite Dengue, there is also another viral disease called Chikungunya. Rio de Janeiro has observed a slight decrease in Chikungunya cases, from 661 in 2023 to 559 in 2024 . This slight reduction doesn't show control of this diis a hopeful sign, indicating possible improvements in vector control and public health responses. However, vigilance remains crucial as the year progresses.

Conversely, Dengue has seen a significant and concerning spike. In 2023, we recorded 22,710 cases with an incidence rate of 359.31 per 100,000 inhabitants. Alarmingly, by March 12, 2024, the case count has surged to 61,471, with an incidence rate of 972.57 per 100,000 inhabitants. Notably, Dengue is spreading beyond traditional hotspots to central and touristic areas of Rio, including the South area (3,918 cases), Tijuca (3,115 cases), and the Central area (4,325 cases). This trend underscores the importance of community-wide efforts in prevention and mosquito control.

Influenza, also known as the flu, is a viral respiratory illness that is highly contagious very frequent and, together with Covid-19, monitered by health authority in Rio de Janeiro. Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. The best way to prevent influenza is by getting vaccinated every year.

Chikungunya is a viral disease that is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. Symptoms include fever, joint pain, headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, and rash. The initial symptoms can last for 7-10 days, but joint pain can persist for months or even years. According to data from the Epidemiological Surveillance Coordination of the Rio de Janeiro City Hall, there has been an increase in the number of cases on the last year (2023), with 9.436 cases from January to May 2023 while in the same period in 2022 there was 2.503 cases registered, showing an uptrend on the Dengue transmission.

When it comes to transmited diseases that have similar and unespecific symptoms, such as Dengue and Chikungunya, it's important to consult a doctor who is knowledgeable about the epidemiological situation in the region and has experience treating these diseases, which is not the routine of doctors from abroad, especially from high-developed countries. Telemedicine with local doctors who speak English can be a safe and convenient option for visitors in Rio de Janeiro, it's crucial to find a doctor who is well-versed in these illnesses and can provide an accurate diagnosis. If you want to know more about Dengue you can check this article produced by our medical team.

Furthermore, finding a doctor who can communicate properly in English is essential to ensure that there is no miscommunication regarding the details of your symptoms. Not being able to convey your symptoms correctly can lead to a misdiagnosis or delay in treatment, which can be dangerous in the case of some diseases.

Health services in Rio de Janeiro

The health of its residents is challenge for Rio de Janeiro public authority, and there are a reasonable number of public health centres available to them, with more them 14 UPAs (Unidade de Pronto Atendimento) and at least 8 public hospitals. While the municipal authority has made these centres easily accessible through a provided link, it's important to note that due to the high population estimated in 2022 in 6 million and 625 thousand inhabitants in Rio, and reliance of majority of the population on public services, these centres can become overcrowded frequently, leading to long waiting times and other inconveniences. In addition, there is also other endemic diseases, STDs, external causes such as violence injuries, car accidents and all chronic illness that health centres need to deal, the situation of a great number of hospitals can be considered critical.

Despite these challenges, it's important to acknowledge and appreciate the hard work and dedication of the healthcare professionals who work tirelessly to provide the best possible care to the people of Rio de Janeiro. They are committed to serving the community and doing their best to provide access to the care needed, even in difficult circumstances.

Furthermore, efforts are being made to improve the healthcare system in Rio de Janeiro. For instance, there are ongoing initiatives to expand the number of health centres available and to provide more resources to those that are already in operation. While there may be challenges in accessing public healthcare services in Rio de Janeiro, it's important to acknowledge that there are options on the private sector with health centres and private hospitals of good quality but it can be costly, and unfortunatelly, it is not also common to find even on private services doctors, nurses and administrative staff who can properly assist foreigners in English.

Telemedicine: an easy access to local doctors who speak in Rio de Janeiro

Teleconsultation has been used in Brazil since the Covid-19 pandemic and is officially regulated by Brazilian federal health authorities. Additionally, telemedicine provides an excellent solution for visitors in Rio de Janeiro who need medical assistance for most common diseases. With teleconsultation, you can consult with a local doctor who speaks English and receive an online prescription valid with digital certificate immediatelly after your appointment without leaving your location. This is especially useful after Covid-19 situation, where many are avoiding crowded places to reduce the risk of infection specially by viral diseases.

If you need, you can also receive a lab request signed electronically by a local doctor and receive support to find a lab close to where you are staying, going directly to a diagnostic centre without the pitfalls of being on an A&E or a hospital.

In case you need a hospital treatment or a specialist consultation, we can also provide you a referral to a local service, in Portuguese to make communication and understanding of details of your case accurate. It is important to emphasize that if you have signs such as thoracic pain, shortness of breath or were involved on an accident it is important to go directly to a hospital.

Our team and experienced doctor provides same day consultations in English for most common conditions that you can find on What We Treat. You can easily schedule a teleconsultation with us and receive medical advice and prescriptions from your hotel room or apartment. Moreover, we are available even on weekends, and if you need a specific slot, contact us on our Whatsapp and we try to assist you as soon as possible.

To conclude, finding English-speaking doctors and staff even on private hospitals in Rio can be challenging and create inconveniences when you most need to be clearly understood. Public hospitals have long waiting times, with a risk of misunderstanding your symptoms and treatment due to language barriers. Teleconsultation with My Brazilian Doctor provides a safe and convenient option for visitors in Rio de Janeiro who need a medical assistance. Check our available slots on the link below or contact us today to schedule a consultation.