Travel Health

While travelling, we may face several health hazards, ranging from diarrhoea to AIDS. But a little preparation before you leave and some simple precautions while abroad can help to make your trip both safe and pleasant.

Pay a visit to your family doctor about 4 to 6 weeks before departure. He can advise you if you require any vaccinations for the places you plan to visit. He can also help to put together a handy travel medicine kit for you. This should include medicines for common complaints like diarrhoea, headaches and motion sickness, as well as items for cleaning and dressing cuts and wounds. If you have a long-term medical condition like diabetes or high blood pressure, your doctor can provide you with enough medicine to last the whole trip. He should also advise you if there are any special precautions you ought to take.

Sampling new cuisines is often the best part of a trip but if you want to avoid diarrhoea, typhoid, cholera or hepatitis A, try to eat only food that has been properly cooked and is served hot. Drink only boiled or bottled water. Avoid undercooked meat and seafood, as well as raw salads, unpeeled fruit and unpasteurised milk.

Mosquitoes are not only a nuisance, they can also transmit deadly diseases like malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever and Japanese encephalitis. Apply insect repellent to all exposed skin areas. Repeat the application as the repellent wears off. If your bedroom is not air-conditioned, sleep under a mosquito net or light a mosquito coil before going to bed. Wear light-coloured, long sleeved clothing and long pants, if possible, when going out at night.

Finding romance on your holiday may seem like an attractive idea but you should be careful about exposing yourself to the risk of sexually transmitted diseases. Syphilis, gonorrhoea, herpes, genital warts and AIDS can all be spread through unprotected sexual intercourse. It is usually impossible to tell if someone is infected, just by looking at him or her. It is best to avoid all forms of casual sex. Condoms if used properly can also reduce your risk of disease but they are not 100% foolproof. Also, reliable condoms may not always be readily available. Be careful when you are drinking alcohol, as it may cloud your judgement and make you more likely to act rashly.

In some countries, you may risk getting AIDS or hepatitis B from an infected blood transfusion or a contaminated needle. If you need to receive medical treatment while overseas, arrange with the local hospital to use only screened blood and sterile equipment. Don't abuse drugs or share needles. If you want to get a tattoo or have any body parts pierced, make sure you go to a reliable operator who sterilises his equipment properly. Visit your dentist before you go on an extended trip, so you won't need to seek dental treatment overseas. Avoid serious injuries, which might lead to blood transfusions, by taking simple precautions like wearing a seatbelt and avoiding alcohol when driving.

No matter how much you want to tan, you surely don't want to burn, so always use a sunscreen or sunblock with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15. Make sure you cover all exposed areas and avoid sunbathing during the hottest part of the day (late morning to early afternoon). It isn't just the peeling you want to avoid, but also the increased risk for skin cancer.

 

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