Winter is arriving soon and this is the time of the year when most of us would pack up their bags and leave for some exotic location. Before embarking on any journey, however, careful planning is required in terms of modes of travel and accommodation. To ensure that your visit overseas is a happy and enjoyable one, staying healthy while travelling should be your number one priority.
The health risks of travel mainly arise from inadequate hygiene and sanitation, poor quality accommodation and lack of clean water. In addition, exposure to microbial organisms and sudden changes in altitude, temperature and humidity can also result in ill health.
An educated traveller, they say, is the ideal traveller. To minimise any risk to your health, it is important that you are well-informed about the potential hazards of the countries you are travelling to.
By far, the most common problem encountered is travellers diarrhoea. It can be caused by consumption of contaminated food and water. Common symptoms include abnormally frequent, loose watery stools, urgency, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting and fever.
Young children are a high risk for diarrhoea because of lack of pre-existing immunity and frequent hand-to-mouth contact habits. They also become dehydrated much more quickly than adults in the event of a diarrhoeal episode.
Prevention is quite simple. Use purified water for all water needs including brushing your teeth, washing fresh fruits and vegetables and preparing infant formula and foods. Use pasteurised dairy products only and avoid street vendors for those in-between-meals snacks. Meats and fish should be well-cooked and eaten fresh. Proper and regular hand washing is the easiest and perhaps most effective remedy.
After travellers diarrhoea, hepatitis A, viral infection of the liver, is the most common travel-related infection. The disease is found throughout the world and may be acquired by consuming water or ice, foods contaminated by infected handlers, by direct contact with infected people and even shellfish harvested in sewage contaminated water.
Symptoms include jaundice, malaise, fever, nausea and vomiting. The Hepatitis A vaccine is generally recommended for all travellers.
Malaria is another serious disease that is easily preventable. It is currently endemic in over a hundred countries. Common symptoms include fever, chills, sweatiness, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting and fatigue. Adults travelling with children in high malaria-risk areas need to be extra cautious as the disease takes a rapidly serious course in children if left undiagnosed.
Common prophylactic anti-malarial drugs which include malarone, doxycycline and mefloquine, should generally be started before entering in a high malaria-risk zone and should be continued till four weeks after returning.
General preventive measures include wearing full-sleeved clothes, using mosquito repellant lotions and aerosol sprays that are effective against both mosquitoes and flying insects and bed nets when sleeping outdoors.
The risk of contracting typhoid fever is highest for travellers to the Indian subcontinent, South-east Asia, parts of Latin America and Africa. Eating or drinking contaminated food or water, inadequate sanitation, poor personal hygiene and contact with those infected with the disease causes it. Symptoms include low-grade fever, chills, body aches, anorexia and nausea. Vaccination is recommended.
Dengue fever is widespread in South and South-east Asia, western Africa and in the tropical and subtropical regions of Central and South America, making it a significant risk for travellers to these regions. Dengue occurs by the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito, which typically bites during the day. There are three main clinical forms: the biphasic break-bone fever, dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome. Timely medical intervention is of the utmost importance in dengue-positive cases. There is no vaccine available for the disease; therefore, travellers should take precautions to avoid being bitten by a mosquito.
The Yellow Fever is a potentially serious viral illness caused by mosquito bites in Africa, Central and South America. The risk is greatest for those who enter forests. Fortunately, a vaccine is available for the disease that needs to be administered at least 10 days before travel to the risk area.
Symptoms of the disease include fever, body aches, chills, anorexia, nausea, vomiting and may even progress to hemorrhagic states in about 15 per cent of the patients.
Since this disease can spread by an infected traveller to a risk-free zone, you may be required to show proof of vaccination at almost any destination if youve been to a yellow fever zone in the recent past.
Hepatitis E, a viral infection of the liver, transmitted from person to person via the fecal-oral route, is endemic in regions of the world where sanitation and water supply show poor standards, particularly South Asia, Mexico, Central America and Africa. Food-borne transmission also occurs.
Most infections are self-limiting with symptoms such as fatigue, anorexia, nausea and abdominal pain. Children and pregnant women are at a higher risk though.
There is no vaccine available for the disease, which can only be prevented by following a strict diet, drinking bottled water and practicing personal hygiene.
Along with these diseases, a traveller may have to contend with a condition commonly called jet lag. Travelling to different time zones disturbs your bodys natural rhythms and cycle, which may take several days to readjust. Adjusting sleep schedules two-three days prior to departure may help combat the lag. After arrival at the chosen destination, try to stay active in sunlight to promote adjustment.
During air travel, ear pain can be quite troublesome for those who suffer from it, especially infants and children, during the descent of the aircraft. It can be remedied by swallowing or chewing. Infants should be nursed or allowed to suck on a bottle and older children can try chewing gum.
Motion sickness can occur in the form of pallor, cold sweats, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. If you or your children are prone to it, then a suitable drug prescribed by a qualified medical practitioner may be required prior to departure.
As a general rule, get a basic check-up done along with the necessary vaccinations, at least four-six weeks before going on your vacation.
