|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
Do
you know which medicines you should take with
you on your travels?
By accessing the interactive
part of this web site you can obtain a list of
all the medicines necessary for your trip.
Whether you are going on a holiday to a beach
resort or a full blown expedition to some remote
location.
However
long you will be away or however many people will
be in your group, wherever you are going and whatever
you are doing, you can obtain your own customised
list.
To access this special service:-
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
Tips
for Healthy Travelling
|
| |
Travelling
abroad,
whether on business or for pleasure,
should be an exciting and
enjoyable experience.
However, it can carry potential
health risks for you and your
family. By taking a few simple
precautions you can relax, enjoy
your trip and make sure you travel
healthy.
This page contains a summary of
helpful tips and advice for travellers
and an overview of the main travel
related diseases which can be
found elsewhere on this web site.
If
you require further advice and
information, your local pharmacist,
practice nurse or other qualified
medical staff will be happy
to help.
If an appointment is necessary,
make sure that you book one
in good time before you travel.
|
| |
Tips
for Healthy Travelling
Here
are a few simple precautions you
can take to ensure you stay well
and enjoy your trip to the full.
Vaccinations
You can be vaccinated against
most travel related diseases,
so remember to contact your doctor's
surgery as soon as you know you
are travelling. They will advise
you of the vaccinations you need
according to your travel plans.
You can also obtain advice about
the required vaccinations from
this web site by clicking HERE.
Note: some
countries will not let you enter
unless you are fully vaccinated
against certain diseases.
Medication
for existing conditions
If you are on prescription medication,
including oral contraception,
check you have enough to last
for the duration of your trip,
and take extra supplies to allow
for possible delays.
Always keep medications in your
hand luggage when flying.
Malaria
Tablets
If you are planning to travel
to countries where malaria occurs,
it is vital you receive information
about taking anti-malarial tablets.
Anti-malaria tablets will help
lower the possibility of contracting
the disease. You should normally
take anti-malaria tablets a week
before you travel, during your
holiday and for about a month
after returning, so you will need
to plan well in advance.
This website
contains tables of the malaria
prophylaxis required when travelling
to different countries.
Further
travel medications
Besides any existing medications,
you will probably require further
medicines to treat any travel
related illnesses that you are
likely to encounter e.g. travelers
diarrhoea.
The type and quantity of medicines
required will depend on a number
of factors including; destination,
medical facilities available,
length of stay, number of persons
travelling and activities planned
during your trip.
This website is able to draw up
a customised list of medicines
for your trip based on information
that you input about your trip.
For more information about this
service CLICK
HERE.
First
aid kits
You may want to take a well stocked
first aid kit with you including
plasters, dressings, bandages,
antiseptic cream, etc. For more
advice about the contents of a
travel first kit CLICK
HERE.
Steri
kits
If
you are travelling in some underdeveloped
countries, you should consider
taking with you a set of sterile
needles and syringes. In some
regions of the world, particulrly
parts of Africa, this type of
equipment is not always sterile
so there could be an increased
risk catching HIV or Hepatitis
B. CLICK
HERE for more information
Other
useful Items
Other useful items to take with
you on your trip would include,
sun screens, insect repllents,
mosquito nets, water purification
tablets, filters, etc. CLICK
HERE for more information.
Travel
Insurance
It is highly advisable that you
take out adequate medical insurance
before departing on your travels.
If you are travelling to another
European Union country you can
obtain form E111 from your local
post office which entitles you
to free emergency medical treatment
in all EU countries.
You may want to check that your
insurance policy covers the cost
of being flown home in an air
ambulance.
Dont forget
to take copies of your insurance
documents and any emergency telephone
numbers when you travel. |
|
|
|
Travel
Related Diseases
Depending on where and how you
travel, you could be at an increased
risk of contracting an infectious
disease. Many of these diseases
can be prevented by vaccination
and by following the appropriate
travel health advice.
Examples of some travel related
diseses are; Travellers Diarrhoea,
Malaria, Yellow Fever, Dengue,
Hepatitis A & B, Typhoid,
Meningitis, Rabies, etc.
For a full description of these
diseases and many others you
can visit the relevant pages
on this web site.
Eating
and Drinking
In some countries, even those
close to home, diseases such
as hepatitis A and Typhoid can
be caught from contaminated
food and water. So its a good
idea to drink, wash and clean
your teeth with bottled water
or water that has been boiled
or sterilised. you should also
avoid taking ice in your drinks.
Where
possible, eat fresh food that
has been thoroughly cooked and
avoid raw shellfish, salads
and fruits that you have not
peeled yourself.
Also,
remember to wash your hands
before meals and after using
the toilet.
Sun
Sense
Most people instantly feel more
cheerful when the sun shines
and travel to foreign countries
in search of the sun. However,
it is advisable to avoid too
much exposure, particularly
between 11.00am and 3.00pm when
the sun is at its strongest.
Use an appropriate strength
sun block (at least SPF15) and
remember to re-apply every two
hours.
Wearing a hat and sunglasses
will help to protect you in
bright sunlight.
If you have fair skin and/or
red hair or know that you are
susceptible to sunburn or sunstroke,
you should take extra care.
You may suffer from dehydration
in hot climates, so it's worth
increasing your fluid intake
but bear in mind that alcohol
can also cause dehydration.
Insect
Bites
Insect bites can be uncomfortable
and even painful and several
diseases can be passed on by
insect bites e.g. malaria, yellow
fever etc., so protect yourself
by covering up as much as possible
and applying insect repellent
to exposed skin especially at
dusk and dawn when many biting
insects are active.
To keep insects out of your
room, use an insecticide (fly)
spray, a mosquito coil or an
electric repellent just before
dusk. You should also keep windows
closed and consider sleeping
under a mosquito net.
Protection
against mosquito bites is especially
important in areas where there
is a malaria risk.
Animals
Local animals can carry rabies
so try to avoid close contact
with them. If you are bitten,
wash the wound thoroughly and
seek medical advice urgently,
even if you have been previously
vaccinated against rabies.
Flying
Drinking plenty of water and
other fluids can help to minimise
dehydration caused by air travel.
Alcohol, coffee and fizzy drinks
can make the problem worse,
so try to keep these to a minimum
or avoid them altogether.
You can help to combat the effects
of jet lag by adapting your
regimen to the time zone of
your destination immediately
after take-off.
Deep
Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
Most airlines now provide information
about the prevention of DVT
on board their aircraft, including
guidance on gentle stretching
exercises you can perform while
seated.
Standing up and walking around
the cabin as often as possible
will also minimise the risks.
Safe
Sex
Hepatitis B, HIV, gonorrhoea,
chlamydia and other infections
are risks in all parts of the
world in varying degrees and
can be transmitted sexually.
Therefore, casual sex is always
risky.
Using
condoms will provide good but
not 100% protection.
When
you return home
If you feel ill on your return,
remember to tell your doctor
you have been abroad, as early
symptoms of some tropical diseases
can mimic common illnesses e.g.
malaria causes flu like symptoms
in the early stages.
You may need to continue taking
anti-malarial tablets for a
period after you return home.
Always check the duration of
your prescription with your
pharmacist.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
This
page is based on information provided
in a leaflet entitled "Travel
Healthy" produced by Glaosmithkline
which can be obtained free of
charge in many doctors surgeries. |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|