Travel Tips
Welcome to our travel section where currently we have travel health tips.Africa - Health Tips
Your Medical Kit:
All countries: Analgesics, travel sickness pills, wound dressings, antiseptic, sunscreen, supplies of your contraceptive, syringes, insect repellent, bottled water or purifying tablets, contact lens solutions, sunglasses, hat, disposable nappies, anti-diarrhoea medication (we recommend Lomotil). If you're travelling outside urban areas: condoms and tampons.
Malaria
Malaria is an endemic in some areas. Your doctor can prescribe the correct preventative treatment. No preventative treatment is completely effective. As malaria is carried by mosquitos, travellers should avoid being bitten.
To Avoid Trouble, Don't Take:
All countries: Any item you did not pack yourself. (Drug trafficking penalties are severe in some countries).
Asia/Middle East - Health Tips
Your Medical Kit:
All countries: Analgesics, travel sickness pills, wound dressings, antiseptic, sunscreen, tampons, supplies of your contraceptive pill (with a doctor's letter), contact lens solution if you're travelling outside urban areas, mosquito repellent, condoms, anti-diarrhoea medication (Lomotil is highly effective).
To Avoid Trouble, Don't Take:
Japan: Pseudoephedrine-containing products. Found in many nasal decongestants and cold remedies.
All Asian countries: Prescription tablets (including anti-malarials) or syringes unless you have a doctor's letter.
Kuwait and Saudi Arabia: Alcoholic drinks.
India: Narcotic analgesics.
All countries: Any item you did not pack yourself. (Drug trafficking penalties are severe in some countries).
Malaria:
Malaria is an endemic in some areas. Your doctor can prescribe the correct preventative treatment. No preventative treatment is completely effective. As malaria is carried by mosquitos, travellers should avoid being bitten.
Europe - Health Tips
Your Medical Kit:
All countries: Analgesics, travel sickness pills, wound dressings, antiseptic, sunscreen, condoms, anti-diarrhoea medication (Lomotil is highly effective).
Russia: Your insulin and syringes.
Poland: Tampons.
Greece: Your contraceptive pill. High SPF sunscreen. Contact lens solution.
Yugoslavia: A certificate confirming that you're free from HIV infection. Legally required but rarely enforced.
To Avoid Trouble, Don't Take:
Greece: Codeine, found in some analgesics and cough medicines. It is a restricted substance. A certificate of vaccination is required in some countries, if the traveller has come from an area where infection is endemic.
All countries: Any item you did not pack yourself. (Drug trafficking penalties are severe in some countries).
North/South America
Your Medical Kit:
All countries: Analgesics, travel sickness pills, wound dressings, antiseptic, sunscreen, anti-diarrhoea medication (we recommend Lomotil). Tampons, condoms, ear plugs if you're travelling outside urban areas.
Outside urban areas in South America: Contact lens solution.
Mexico: Insect repellent.
Peru and Bolivia: Contact lens solution.
To Avoid Trouble, Don't Take:
Canada: Prescription medicines unless you have the prescription or pharmacist's label.
All countries: Any item you didn't pack yourself. (Drug trafficking penalties are severe in some countries.)
Malaria:
Malaria is an endemic in some areas. Your doctor can prescribe the correct preventative treatment. No preventative treatment is completely effective. As malaria is carried by mosquitos, travellers should avoid being bitten.
MY CHECKLIST
- Analgesic
- Travel Sickness Pills
- Wound dressing
- Antiseptic
- Sunscreen
- Anti-diarrhoea medication
- (Lomotil is highly effective)
- Tampons
- Contact lens solution
- Condoms
- Mosquito repellent
- Water purifying tablets
- Disposable nappies
- Syringes
- Contraceptive pills
- Malaria tablets
Doctor's Diary
Proudly presented by the Australian Medical Association (S.A. Branch)
Travel & your Health
Most of us love to travel. To make the most of our holiday trip, health issues should be considered throughout, from planning the holiday through to the return home.
Health issues and problems vary according to the style of travel, the route and distance, the destination, the planned length of stay and types of transport used to get there. Even for short holidays you need to pack sufficient regular medication and, if you wear glasses, pack a spare pair. On longer trips it is advisable to include a list of regular medications and current medical problems signed by your doctor and a recent lens prescription. Documentation of medical problems and the required medications will reduce the risk of having legitimate medication confiscated by customs officials overseas. Good travel insurance, which includes adequate health cover, is essential before embarking on an overseas trip. Health related expenses while overseas are usually not covered by private health insurance of Medicare.
It is wise to think of what problems might occur while travelling. Motion sickness can occur in cars, coaches, boats and planes. This can be minimised by limiting the amount of food or alcohol you have, spending the majority of the time in the most stable part of the vehicle and breathing fresh air. Your doctor can help in providing you with a specific treatment if required for motion sickness.
Travelling on planes enables very rapid transit around the world. Unfortunately our natural rhythms can't keep up with the speed of modern travel, resulting in jet lag. So be prepared that you may need a day or two before feeling your usual self. Plane travel can also lead to problems due to the slightly lower levels of air pressure. This can result in the worsening of some heart and lung problems. People with these problems should seek medical advice before travelling by plane. Consideration of the timing of insulin, oral contraceptive pills and other regular medications is important when moving rapidly between time zones.
Sitting for long periods of time can result in the development of clots in the deep veins of the legs. A "deep vein thrombosis" can have very serious consequences. It is most important that travellers walk around as much as possible and drink plenty of water during the trip and, when confined to a seat, regular movement of the ankles and toes is advisable. People who are at high risk of deep vein thrombosis may need medication during prolonged trips.
Various exotic diseases occur internationally. The required immunisations depend upon the destination, but it is wise for all overseas travellers to have a tetanus booster if none has been given during the previous 10 years.
Diseases spread by mosquitoes include malaria, yellow fever and dengue fever. These diseases are preventable by avoiding mosquito bites, but in malarial high-risk areas preventative medication may also be required. Your doctor can offer advice regarding the necessary immunisations and medications.
Some poorly developed places, particularly in Africa, Asia and South America, have serious diseases due to poor standards of hygiene. If you are visiting such destinations it is recommend that you avoid eating cold meat, salads and seafood and ensure that hot foods are eaten while hot. Unpasteurised dairy products should also be avoided. In these areas it is best to follow the advice "cook it, peel it or leave it". Untreated water should not be consumed before boiling or chemical purification. Tea and coffee and commercially bottled and canned drinks should be safe to drink. Scrupulous personal hygiene is always important but it is essential in these regions, and, in particular, hands must be well washed before eating and after using the toilet.
Some infectious diseases may not become evident for weeks or even months after the infection occurs. Should you develop any unusual symptoms upon your return, report them to your doctor. Specialist assessment and advice may be required for unusual diseases acquired overseas.
The effort taken in planning and maintaining your health while on a holiday will mean you can have the holiday of a lifetime.
(Ref: "The City Messenger", June 28, 2000).