Pre-Trip Health Tips

Before heading off on the trip of a life-time or even of a few weeks there are few health issues you should consider.

For any trip remember to check that you have:

• an adequate supply of any pills they take regularly plus a copy of the prescription in case they loose their supply. Pills should be original labelled containers if at all possible.

• A copy of your glasses prescription if you wear them.

• Check if you need travel insurance: your home policy may or may not cover you. Nationals of some countries get reciprocal emergency cover in other countries e.g. Australia and Britons have reciprocal cover.

Going on your RTW or to study or volunteer abroad? Then here a few other items for pre-depature health check list

• Have a dental check up. Routine dentistry is not covered by your travel insurance, and you don't want to waste vacation time on a trip to the dentist!

• If you have glasses make sure you have a copy of your prescription with you. If you are so blind you can't function without your glasses a spare pair or contacts are also a good idea. However in many parts of the world particularly Asia and India glasses and contacts are LOT cheaper than in the West so take the opportunity to have some spares made.

Your local Travel Doctor will have the current WHO list of recommended and required vaccinations for every country in the world. It is rare for a vaccination to be compulsory but yellow fever is for parts of Africa and South America. Meningitis is compulsory for travel to Saudi Arabia during the Haj.

Highly recommended vaccinations

Be up to date on your tetanus diphtheria, measles and polio shots. These diseases are still more common in the third world than in the est. A flu shot is also generally recommended.

Hepatitis A and B Is transmitted thru contaminated food and water. Within the last 10 years a reliable effective vaccine is available for Hepatitis A and B. If you have both shots within 6 months immunity is at least 10 years and probably life. Hepatitis is a nasty disease which can make you ill for up to 6 months and can permanently damage the liver and can prevent you from drinking alcholoh for at least 6 months so is well worth avoiding. This shot can be combined with the anit-viral for Hepatitis B which is transmitted via bodily fluids and blood.

Anti Malarials

Malaria is endemic in large parts of the tropical world. There are number of anti-Malarial drugs available which reduce, effectively to zero, the chance of getting the fatal form of cerebral malaria. Unfortunately they are not 100% effective on non-fatal varieties of malaria.

Malaria is spread by mosquitoes which have become increasingly resistant to the anti-malarials available. The anti-malarial drugs are not without their side-effects either which range from rashes, sensitivity to sunlight and insomina and nightmares.

The other approach to managing malarial risk is to avoid contact with mosquitoes by

• sleeping under a mosquito net
• wearing insect repellent containing at least 30% DEET
• wearing long sleeves and trousers especially in the evening around sun set
• wearing Permethrin treated clothing will kill mosquitoes and the chemical is remains effective for for approximately 6 months

L is Sowerbutts has been traveling since age 7, and has to date visited over 55 countries. She firmly believes in travel for the over-30's and that you are never too late to start traveling