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