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One of the most common questions from trekkers is about Malaria tablets and so on.
You may already know a doctor who specialises in knowing about travel
- Pre and post travel medicine consultations
- World Health Organization approved yellow fever vaccination centre
- All travel immunisations
- Traveller's medical kits
Be travel wise…..consult The Travel Doctor before you take your trip overseas …
Contact Dr Deborah Mills, the travel doctor 6 weeks in advance before you go for all the right preparation.
Email: thetraveldoctor.com.au
Telephone: 1300 42 11 42
The Independent Travel Medicine NetworkTravel Medicine Alliance (TMA) + Certified Member
It may sound like a cliche, but 'be prepared' is the best advice for staying healthy when travelling.
Roughly 50% of international travellers will develop a medical problem while away. In some parts of the world you won't have easy access to modern medical care, so a medical kit is an invaluable part of every traveller's luggage.
Many travellers carry diarrhoea pills and nothing else, yet kits must contain more than just the legendary Imodium or Lomotil. Pre-packaged medical kits are available or you can make one up yourself, although travel medicine clinics can usually assemble a kit cheaper than you can. The best medical kits are tailored to the individual. A carefully designed kit will generally fit inside a small lunchbox: it's preferable to mark the kit with theinternational symbol for first aid: a large green cross.
There are four main medical areas your kit should cover: cuts and scratches, aches and pains coughs and colds, and the infamous stomach/bowel upsets. Sometimes you might require destination-specific medications for ailments such as altitude sickness or seasickness. In some countries it's wise for visitors to carry their own needles and syringes. And don't forget to include an ample supply of medications you take on a regular or irregular basis.
Also include items like a termometer, industrial-strengh mosquito repellent, antibacterial hand wash, and water purification tablets guaranteed to kill viruses (not just bacteria and protozoa). Murphy's Law states that the only medication you'll ever need is the one you forget to take. Ultimately, the contents of a medical kit should be discussed and checked with your travel doctor. http://www.travelmedicine.com.au or Click Here for a list of travel medicine providers.
You can carry prescription medications with confidence, however all traellers should carry a covering letter to help prevent a misunderstanding when customs open your bag and find lots of little pills.
All drugs should also be clearly labelled with the name of the drug, dosage instructions, what it's for, yourname and the date prescribed.
Travelling with a decent medical kit might save you time and suffering; you can attend to minor problems quickly and perhaps even prevent them from becoming worse. It can also save trying to explain your needs to a non-English-speaking doctor or pharmacist, which can be an unnecessary and sometimes embarrassing trial. This also avoids the worry of purchasing out-of-date or wrongly labelled drugs in countries where the pharmaceutical industry isn't as carefully controlled as Australia's; drugs sold in street markets may be dangerous or lethal. Be prepared: BYO medication.
Words by Dr Deborah Mills
The author's book, Travelling Well, contains all you need to know about healthy travelling. It's now in its 12th edition with over 100,000 copies in print.
Price: $24.95
http://www.travellingwell.com.au
or CLICK HERE:
TRAVEL SURVIVAL:
- Schedule a dental check-up before departure
- Have necessary vaccines six to eight weeks before departure
- Purchase 'Travel Insurance'; read the exclusions
- Take a travellers' Medical Kit
- Take your vaccination card and a letter of authorisation for medications.
- Take a test dose of any new medications before you go, especially 'MALARIA PILLS'.
- Avoid mosquitoes and biting insects. Take malaria pills regularly with food. Use repellents with at least 30% DEET. Sleep in screened accommodation or under nets treated with permethrin and soak your clothes in permethrin before departure. If necessary, apply sunscreen first and wait 20 minutes before applying insect repellent
- Respect local customs
- Practise safe eating; boil it, cook it, peel it or forget it.
- Avoid ice in drinks
- Think before you drink; check the seal on the water bottle.
- Wash your hands frequently with alcohol based hand wash.
- Practise safer sex; wear a condom.
- Wear shoes when outside.
- Avoid motorbikes
- Don't pat local animals or feed monkeys.
- Get a rabies vaccine if a mammal (in a risk country) bites you or licks broken skin.
- See a doctor if you get a fever.
- Get a check-up on return if you feel sick.
PLEASE NOTE: 'Take a test dose of any new medication before you go, especially malaria pills'.
Last year we had one trekker who had travelled from Perth to Cairns and was forced to turn around and head back home because he had a reaction to the Malaria Tablets he had been given.
He was so disappointed but home he went. Some months later he joined another trek and walked the Kokoda Track but all this could have been avoided had he tested it beforehand.
Please also remember that you should take the tablets for a few weeks after you return as well just to be on the safeside.
On the plus side, I have lived in PNG since 1972 and have only had Malaria once. Hence you would have to be very unlucky to get Malaria on a one only visit.
Mosquito Nets
Stop mosquitoes, bed bugs and other nasty bities. Ideal for travellers, backpackers and outback camping, these Mozzie Nets are light, compact and essential for travel in areas where mosquito borne disease is a risk.
Permethrin is a very safe and effective insecticide which the World Health Organisation recommends for the reduction of malaria and other vector borne diseases.
Option 1: Contact – Sea to Summit – CLICK HERE for further information: Single 1.2 x 2.2 x 1m, Size (W x L x H) – Weight
– 240g; Double 1.7 x 2.4 x 1.3m – 340 gOption 2: Contact Equip – CLICK HERE for further information: A treated permethrin quality double mosquito net from Equp weighing 400 grams.
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