| Travel health depends on your pre departure | | | | in a two-week stay experience this) but the majority |
| preparations, your day-to-day health care while | | | | of these upsets will be relatively minor. Don't become |
| traveling and how you handle any medical problem or | | | | paranoid; trying the local foods is part of the |
| emergency that does develop. While the list of | | | | experience of travel, after all. |
| potential dangers can seem quite frightening, with a | | | | WATER, JUICE & DAIRY PRODUCTS |
| little luck, some basic precautions and adequate | | | | - The number-one rule is do not drink the water that |
| information few travelers experience more than | | | | includes ice. If you don't know for certain that the |
| upset stomachs Pre-Departure Preparations Health | | | | water is safe always assume the worst. Reputable |
| Insurance | | | | brands of bottled water or soft drinks are generally |
| A travel insurance policy to cover theft, loss and | | | | fine, although in some places bottles refilled with tap |
| medical problems is a wise idea. Check the small print: | | | | water are not unknown. Only use water from |
| - Some policies specifically exclude "dangerous | | | | containers with a serrated seal - not tops or corks. |
| activities" which can include scuba diving, | | | | - Take care with fruit juice, particularly if water may |
| motorcycling, even trekking. If such activities are on | | | | have been added. |
| your agenda you will need another sort of policy. A | | | | - Milk should be treated with suspicion, as it is often |
| locally acquired motorcycle license may not be valid | | | | unpasteurized. Boiled milk is fine if it is kept |
| under your policy. | | | | hygienically and yogurt is always good. |
| - You may prefer a policy which pays doctors or | | | | - Tea or coffee should also be OK, since the water |
| hospitals directly rather than you having to pay on | | | | should have been boiled. |
| the spot and claim later. If you have to claim later | | | | - In hot climates make sure your children drink |
| make sure you keep all documentation. Some policies | | | | enough - don't rely on them feeling thirsty to indicate |
| ask you to call back (collect) to a center in your | | | | when they should drink. If you are breast feeding be |
| home country where an immediate assessment of | | | | prepared to feed much more frequently, or |
| your problem is made. | | | | remember to give frequent additional drinks from a |
| - Check if the policy covers ambulances or an | | | | bottle. Always carry a water bottle with you on long |
| emergency flight home. You may also need to cover | | | | trips. Not needing to urinate or very dark yellow urine |
| the expanse of an additional person to accompany | | | | is a danger sign. |
| you in the case of certain illnesses. If you have to | | | | - Excessive sweating can lead to loss of salt and |
| stretch out you will need two seats and somebody | | | | therefore muscle cramping. Salt tablets are not a |
| has to pay for them! Health Preparation | | | | good idea as a preventative, but in places where salt |
| - Make sure you and your children are healthy before | | | | is not used much, adding salt to food can help. |
| you start traveling. If you are embarking on a long | | | | FOOD |
| trip make sure your teeth are OK; there are lots of | | | | - There is an old colonial adage which says: "If you |
| places where a visit to the dentist would be the last | | | | can cook it, boil it or peel it you can eat it...otherwise |
| thing you'd want to do. | | | | forget it". |
| - If children wear glasses take a spare pair and the | | | | - Salads and fruit should be washed with purified |
| prescription. Losing glasses can be a real problem, | | | | water or peeled where possible. |
| although in many places you can get new spectacles | | | | - Ice cream is usually OK if it is a reputable brand |
| made up quickly, cheaply and competently. | | | | name, but beware of buying it from street vendors |
| - If your kids require a particular medication take an | | | | in developing countries in case the ice cream has |
| adequate supply, as it may not be available locally. | | | | melted and been refrozen. |
| Take the prescription or, better still, part of the | | | | - Thoroughly cooked food is safest but not if it has |
| packaging showing the generic rather than the brand | | | | been left to cool or if it has been reheated. |
| name (which may not be locally available), as it will | | | | - Shellfish such as mussels, oysters and clams should |
| make getting replacements easier. It's a wise idea to | | | | be avoided as well as undercooked meat, particularly |
| show you legally use the medication - it's surprising | | | | in the form of mince. Steaming does not make |
| how often over-the-counter drugs from one place | | | | shellfish safe for eating. |
| are illegal or even banned in another country without | | | | - If a place looks clean and well-run and if the vendor |
| a prescription. Immunizations | | | | also looks clean and healthy, then the food is |
| - Vaccinations provide protection against diseases | | | | probably safe. In general, places that are packed with |
| you might meet along the way. For some countries | | | | travelers or locals will be fine, while empty |
| no immunizations are necessary, but the further off | | | | restaurants are questionable. Busy restaurant means |
| the beaten track you go the more necessary it is to | | | | the food is being cooked and eaten quickly with little |
| take precautions. | | | | standing around and is probably not being reheated. |
| - It is important to understand the distinction | | | | NUTRITION |
| between vaccines recommended for travel in certain | | | | - If your food is poor or limited in availability, if you're |
| areas and those required by law. Essentially the | | | | traveling hard and fast and missing meals, or if your |
| number of vaccines subject to international health | | | | children simply lose their appetite, they can soon |
| regulations has been dramatically reduced over the | | | | start to lose weight and place their health at risk. |
| last 10 years. Currently yellow fever is the only | | | | - Make sure you have a well-balanced diet. Eggs, |
| vaccine subject to international health regulations. | | | | tofu, beans, lentils and nuts are all safe ways to get |
| - Vaccination as an entry requirement is usually only | | | | protein. |
| enforced when coming from an infected area. | | | | - Fruit you can peel (bananas, oranges or mandarins |
| - All vaccinations should be recorded on an | | | | for example) is always safe and a good source of |
| International Health Certificate, which is available from | | | | vitamins. |
| your physician or government health department. | | | | - Try to eat plenty of grains in the form of rice and |
| - Plan ahead for getting your vaccinations: some of | | | | bread. |
| them require an initial shot followed by a booster, | | | | - Remember that although food is generally safer if it |
| while some vaccinations should not be given together. | | | | is cooked well, overcooked food loses much of its |
| It is recommended you seek medical advice at least | | | | nutritional value. |
| six weeks prior to travel. | | | | - If your diet isn't well balanced or if food intake is |
| - Most children from Western countries will have | | | | insufficient, it's a good idea to take vitamin and iron |
| been immunized against various diseases during | | | | pills. Medical Kit |
| childhood but your doctor may still recommend | | | | - A small, straightforward medical kit put together |
| booster shots against measles or polio, diseases still | | | | with special thought for children's ailments is a wise |
| prevalent in many developing countries. Apart from | | | | thing to carry. |
| these, special vaccinations are not normally given to | | | | - Make sure that you know the appropriate children's |
| children under 12 months of age. Talk to your doctor. | | | | dose of any medicines you are carrying, and that |
| - The period of protection offered by vaccinations | | | | they are in fact suitable for children. |
| differs widely and some are contra-indicated if you | | | | - Ideally, antibiotics should be administered only under |
| are pregnant or likely to become pregnant within | | | | medical supervision and should never be taken |
| three months of the vaccination. | | | | indiscriminately. Take only the recommended dose at |
| - The possible list of vaccinations includes: | | | | the prescribed intervals and continue using the |
| - Smallpox: Smallpox has now been wiped out | | | | antibiotic for the prescribed period, even if the illness |
| worldwide, so immunization is no longer necessary. | | | | seems to be cured earlier. |
| - Cholera: Not required by law. Protection is poor and | | | | - Antibiotics are quite specific to the infections they |
| it lasts only six months. It is contra-indicated in | | | | can treat. Stop immediately if there are any serious |
| pregnancy. | | | | reactions and don't use the antibiotic at all if you are |
| - Tetanus & Diphtheria: Boosters are necessary | | | | unsure that you have the correct one for the |
| every 10 years and protection is highly | | | | infection. |
| recommended. | | | | - In Indochina, if a medicine is available at all it will |
| - Typhoid: Available either as an injection or oral | | | | generally be available over the counter and the price |
| capsules. Protection lasts from one to three years | | | | will be much cheaper than in the West. However, be |
| and is useful if you are traveling for long periods in | | | | careful when buying drugs in developing countries, |
| rural, tropical area. You may get some side effects | | | | particularly where the expiration date may have |
| such as pain at the injection site, fever, headache | | | | passed or correct storage conditions may not have |
| and a general feeling of being unwell. A new | | | | been followed. Bogus drugs are common and it's |
| single-dose injectable vaccine, which appears to have | | | | possible that drugs which are no longer |
| few side effects, is now available but is more | | | | recommended, or have even been banned in the |
| expensive. Side effects are unusual with the oral | | | | West are still being dispensed here. |
| form but stomach cramps may be one of these. | | | | - What you should bring along |
| - Infectious Hepatitis: The most common | | | | - Infant analgesic - with measuring cup or dropper |
| travel-acquired illness which can be prevented by | | | | - Antihistamine (such as Benadryl) - useful as a |
| vaccination. Protection can be provided in two ways - | | | | decongestant for colds, allergies, to ease the itch |
| either with the antibody gamma globulin or with a | | | | from insect bites or stings or to help prevent motion |
| new vaccine called Havrix. Havrix provides long-term | | | | sickness. Antihistamines may have a sedative effect |
| immunity (possibly more than 10 years) after an initial | | | | and interact with alcohol so care should be taken |
| course of two injections and a booster at one year. | | | | when using them. |
| It may be more expensive than gamma globulin but | | | | - Antibiotics - useful if you're traveling well off the |
| certainly has many advantages, including length of | | | | beaten track, but it must be prescribed and you |
| protection and ease of administration. It takes about | | | | should carry the prescription with you. Some people |
| three weeks to provide satisfactory protection - | | | | are allergic to commonly prescribed antibiotics such as |
| hence the need for careful planning prior to travel. | | | | penicillin or sulfa drugs. |
| Gamma globulin is not a vaccination but a ready-made | | | | - Kaolin preparation (Pepto-Bismol, Imodium) - for |
| antibody which has proven very successful in | | | | stomach upsets. |
| reducing the chances of hepatitis infection. Because it | | | | - Rehydration mixture - for treatment of severe |
| may interfere with the development of immunity, it | | | | diarrhea. This is particularly important if traveling with |
| shouldn't be given until at least 10 days after | | | | children who dehydrate easily. An electrolyte mixture |
| administration of the last vaccine needed; it should | | | | is available in sachets. |
| also be given as close as possible to departure | | | | - Antiseptic (like Dettol or Betadine), mercurochrome |
| because it is at its most effective in the first few | | | | and antibiotic powder or similar "dry" spray - for cuts |
| weeks after administration and the effectiveness | | | | and grazes. |
| tapers off gradually between three and six months. | | | | - Calamine lotion - to ease irritation from sunburn, |
| - Yellow Fever: Protection lasts 10 years. Vaccination | | | | bites or stings. |
| is contra-indicated during pregnancy but if you must | | | | - Bandages, band-aids, gauze and cotton wool - for |
| travel to a high-risk area it is probably advisable. | | | | minor injuries. |
| Check with your doctor. | | | | - Scissors, tweezers and a thermometer/fever strips |
| - Meningitis: This vaccination is recommended for | | | | - mercury thermometers are prohibited by airlines. |
| visitors to Nepal and for visitors to some areas of | | | | - Insect repellent, sun block, suntan lotion, chap stick |
| Africa and Brazil. It is given as a single injection and | | | | - check that it is suitable for children's skin. |
| gives immunity for up to three years duration. | | | | - Water purification tablets. |
| - Tuberculosis: TB is widespread throughout the | | | | - Diaper rash cream, teething gel - for predictable |
| developing world. Most Westerners will have been | | | | ailments. |
| vaccinated at some time during their school years. | | | | - Worm treatment, lice shampoo, anti-fungal powder |
| For children vaccination is not deemed necessary | | | | - for treatment of minor but irritating health problems. |
| unless they will be spending prolonged periods (say | | | | - A couple of syringes - in case you need injections in |
| up to a year) in an area of risk. Basic Rules | | | | a country with medical hygiene problems. Ask your |
| Care in what you eat and drink is the most important | | | | doctor for a note explaining why you are carrying |
| health rule. Stomach upsets are the most likely travel | | | | them. |
| health problem (between 30% and 50% of travelers | | | | |