There is nothing more frightening than being ill while being away from home. Travel to exotic destinations can be exciting; but the thought of native illnesses in a foreign land can be daunting. Travel can also be challenging in special circumstances like pregnancy or disability. Read on and learn how to sail through your journey in perfect health and good spirits.
Illness can strike any time, so it is wise to take adequate precaution even during short trips. One needs to be more cautious and well prepared for long periods of foreign journey. In this issue, let me help you with some advise on safe travel and self-help tips in case you do fall ill.
1) Research your destination.
Even your doctor may not know of any recent health scares, alerts or disease outbreaks in each and every country so scour the local news channels online.
2) Carry a first aid kit.
A basic readymade first-aid kit may be available in some pharmacies. But if you can’t find one, then you can make your own kit. Here are some of the items a basic first aid kit should entail (you can add or delete some items based on the length of your trip or pre-existing illnesses and allergies)-
(a) A first aid manual. Buy one from your local chemist or family physician. Or download and print out a pdf from the net.
(b) Bandaids, medical gauze pad, roller bandage, crepe bandage and small scissor.
(c) Savlon and hand sanitizer
(d) Antiseptic ointment like Bactroban for cuts and injuries
(e) Painkiller like Tylenol
(f) Paracetamol
(g) Antihistamine like Benadryl
(h) Oral Rehydration Salts
(i) Hydrocortisone 1% ointment for bites and sunburns
(j) Anti-diarrhoea medicine like Imodium
(k) Laxative like Lactulose tablets
(l) Disposable latex gloves
(m) Thermometer
(n) Aspirin tablets
(o) Antacids
(p) Antibiotics- Ciprofloxacin and Ofloxacin combination pills are a good choice.
(3) Other miscellaneous items to pack in a travel health kit may include sunscreen, insect repellent cream containing DEET, extra pair of glasses or contact lens, ear plugs, saline eye drops, mosquito net and/or iodine based water purification tablets (to be avoided if you are a pregnant traveler).
(4) Get travel health insurance and carry it with you at all times, along with some form of identification (like a copy of your passport) and contact card (with the name and address of your hotel, and name of your contact-in-case-of-emergency person). Your regular medical insurance may not cover medical expenses incurred abroad, so travel insurance is a must.
(5) Eat & Drink safely – When in doubt, always insist on having bottled water for drinking and cooking. Stay away from raw or rare meats and under-cooked sea food (oysters, shellfish etc). Do not eat raw fruits and vegetables unless they have been washed first. Only eat food that has been cooked and served piping hot. The rule is boil it, cook it, peel it or forget it! Always wash your hands before you eat, or use hand sanitizer if clean water is unavailable. Bring water to a rolling boil for a few minutes to ensure safety. If that’s not possible then use water filtration tablets, and do not swallow water from showers, pools, ponds or the ocean. Avoid ice cubes in your drink and stay away from street food. Do not ever walk bare foot, even on a beach.
(6) Get a physical examination – This is especially important in case of foreign travel. Meet your physician at least 4-6 weeks before your departure, as certain vaccinations need at least a few weeks time to provide effective protection. Other vaccinations to consider would include the flu shot, tetanus shot, Hepatitis-A and anti-rabies vaccination.
(7) Immunizations and Prophylactic medication – It is mandatory to get certain vaccinations like the yellow fever vaccination before you enter certain countries. If you are visiting a malaria prone tropical country, then contact your physician who will put you on prophylactic medication. Contact your embassy in the destination country for more information.
(8) Beware of motor vehicle accidents – It can be nerve-wrecking to drive in a foreign country if you are unfamiliar with the right hand or left hand side steering wheel. Traffic regulations are not followed meticulously in several Asian countries which can add to the chaos. Always wear a helmet even if its not considered mandatory in your destination country. Infants must always be placed in a car seat.
Now what are the most common ailments to strike during travel and how does one cope with them?
Jet lag – Starting several days prior to travel, slowly adjust your sleep schedule to match the time zone of the location you will be travelling to. Flying eastward and resetting your body clock forward is more difficult than flying westward and adding hours to your day. Avoid caffeine for at least a week before your date of departure. Stay well hydrated and eat lightly throughout your flight. Some people have benefited from the Argonne or Dr Ehret’s anti jet lag diet. The hormone Melatonin is still considered controversial and is best avoided.
Traveler’s Diarrhoea – This can be avoided if you follow the ‘eat and drink safely’ tips mentioned above. But if you do get hit, then drink plenty of oral rehydration fluids (1/4 to 1/2 cup after each diarrhoea for kids below 2, 1/2 to 1 cup after each diarrhoea for kids between 2-12 years and as much as you need if you’re over the age of 12). Contact a doctor in case of fever, mucus in stool, jaundice or persistent vomiting.
Sun Safety & Heat Exhaustion – Dress for the weather. Do not over-expose as covered skin rarely gets burnt. Stay hydrated, plan regular breaks in the shade, do not over eat, cut back on alcohol and caffeine, and use a high SPF broad-spectrum sunscreen. Watch out for sun burns, dizziness, decreased urine output, headaches, nausea and/or extreme thirst. Drink plenty of oral rehydration fluid if you experience any of these symptoms and consult a medical professional for further attention.
Motion sickness – Wear a seat belt to stay steady, take a tablet of Avomine one hour before travel, go to sleep, avoid reading, do not look out of the window of a moving vehicle, do not over-eat and avoid spicy food during travel. Carry your own sickness bag. In a car, take the front passenger’s seat. On an air plane, ask for a seat in the front where the turbulence is less. On a train, take a seat near the window; and on a ship, request a cabin in the middle of the ship. If you become ill, munch on some salted crackers or have a soda to settle your queasy stomach. Try an accupressure wrist band.
Altitude sickness – At high altitudes, decreased oxygen in the air can lead to symptoms like headache, fatigue, nausea and breathlessness. Start slowly by beginning with an altitude below 2500 meters. Rest a day after arriving to adjust to the altitude. Slow down if you feel out of breath. Do not climb more than 3000 feet a day (or 1000 feet if you’re at 12,000 feet or above). Try to spend the night at a lower altitude to get a good night’s rest. And consider medication like Diamox to ease the symptoms.
Protection from mosquitoes and other insect bites – Stay in well screened rooms. Carry your own mosquito net, preferably one that is pre-treated with insecticide. Use insect repellent but ensure that they are approved for use in children. Do not apply on cuts or spray directly to your face. Use mosquito repellent liquid electrics. Do a quick manual search for bed bugs before you use hotel furniture. These look like little black (or rusty red) seeds. Look under the mattress especially along the seams. Stay away from stray animals.
Special precautions during air travel – Stand up and stretch periodically, flex your ankles, then press your toes against the floor. This will avoid formation of blood clots in your legs during long flight. Deep vein thrombosis can be a life-threatening condition. If you suffer from varicose veins, considering wearing compression stockings. To avoid ear pain during ascent or descent- yawn, chew gum, suck on a hard candy, take a deep breath and then exhale slowly through pursed lips.
Travelers with special needs – If you suffer from a chronic illness and need to carry medication, medical devices and/or needles and syringes, then make sure to carry your doctor’s prescription (which includes the drug generic name as well) for 90 days of medication, along with a note from your doctor explaining about your illness and the need for such device or needles. Leave medication in their original containers. Wear a medical alert bracelet if you suffer from epilepsy or allergies. If you are travelling to another country for medical care or surgery (i.e, as a medical tourist), then it is your responsibility to research the standards of the foreign health care facility and the licensing of the health care provider in your destination country. Travel is best avoided in the first 12 weeks and last 6 weeks of pregnancy. Always carry your medical records with you in case of an emergency. If you are disabled and need mobility aids (eg, a wheelchair) or a service animal, then plan ahead and make advance arrangements with your air carrier (on bypassing the metal detector for instance) to avoid last minute harassment.
Here’s wishing you a happy holiday this year and I hope you never have to open that first aid kit!
