Travel advice
Before you travel abroad
- Go to your doctor/travel clinic at least six weeks before you intend to travel to find out what immunisations you need.
- If you are travelling to a malarial region you will have to start medication one week before you go. If you suffer any adverse reaction to this, seek medical advice before stopping or changing your medication.
- Go to the dentist and have any necessary treatment completed. While you are abroad care in what you eat and drink is vital.
- Avoid drinking the local water unless you know it is safe. Use bottled water and check that it is sealed; if the seal is broken or the bottle is corked, do not drink the water.
- Avoid ice cubes, lollipops and drinks that have water added.
- If bottled water is unavailable, the simplest way to purify water is to boil it vigorously for five minutes.
- Iodine purifies water effectively, but follow the instructions carefully as too much iodine can be harmful.
- Wash salads, fruits and vegetables in purified water and make sure they are freshly prepared or peeled.
- Food should be freshly and thoroughly cooked, particularly shellfish, which should be boiled vigorously for at least 10 minutes or avoided altogether.
- Generally, if you can cook, boil or peel your food eat it, but otherwise avoid it.
- Everyday health when abroad: take your medication as instructed by your doctor. Avoid climatic extremes. Keep out of the sun between 11am and 3pm in hot climates and drink plenty of fluid (not alcohol).
- Avoid insect bites by using insect repellent and wearing long-sleeved shirts and trousers after dark. At night use anti-mosquito devices (some you plug into a socket and others you burn) and a mosquito net.
- When you get back, if you are taking malaria tablets take them for the recommended one or four weeks after you return. If you have been to a tropical area for a long time arrange a check-up through your doctor.
- If you develop fever, a flu-like illness, diarrhoea or any other unusual symptoms within four weeks of your return to the UK, contact your doctor immediately.
Medication to take with you
- Anti-malarial tablets if required.
- Aspirin or Paracetamol for pain and fever.
- Antihistamines for colds and allergies, insect bites or stings, and for motion sickness.
- Calamine lotion for bites, stings and sunburn.
- Anti-diarrhoeals, such as kaolin preparations.
- Fluid replacement powders in case of diarrhoea and vomiting.
- Antiseptic ointment or antibiotic powder for cuts and grazes.
- Bandages and plasters.
- Insect-repellent cream or spray.
- Sunscreens and after-sun cream.
- Traveller's sterile medical kit (containing syringes, needles, stitches and dressings, which are available from British Airways Travel Shops) for countries with poor medical hygiene.
- If you are on medication take an adequate supply. If possible take a copy of your prescription and ask your doctor to state both the generic and brand name of your medication.
- If you wear glasses or contact lenses take a spare pair together with your prescription.
HELP YOURSELF
- See your doctor six to eight weeks before you go, stock up on medication and have any recommended vaccines or medications.
- Only drink bottled water with a sealed lid or water that you have purified.
- Avoid ice cubes, drinks with added water, and salads; peel or cook thoroughly any food you eat.
- Use bottled water when cleaning your teeth.
- Avoid unprotected sex by using condoms.
Further reading
Travellers' Health. Richard Dawood. Oxford University Press.
Travel with children. Maureen Wheeler, Lonely Planet Publications.
Health advice for travellers. Department of Health leaflet T5, August 1995.