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.

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.