Travel Health

A general checklist is listed below and should help you prepare for cuts, grazes and illnesses whilst you are away. However, you will need extra preparations depending on where you're heading.

For example, areas with a high risk of malaria require you to take tablets. This should be started before you go away. Other areas of the world will need a certain number of injections.

As a general rule of thumb, developed countries will not require too many extra precautions. It is often advised to drink bottled water, and less developed countries will require further research.

Injections may be required before you travel to certain areas. It's important to note that injections should be given a certain amount of time before you travel. This is usually between 1-2 months. It is a similar scenario to malaria tablets.

Below are general guidelines for possible vaccinations you may need depending on your destination. It is important to go to your doctor for final confirmation of what injections you need.

South East Asia

Thailand - Hepatitis A, hepatitis B, influenza, typhoid.
Vietnam - Hepatitis A, hepatitis B, influenza, typhoid, Japanese encephalitis.
Cambodia - Hepatitis A, hepatitis B, influenza, typhoid, MMR vaccine, Japanese encephalitis.
Indonesia – Hepatitis A, hepatitis B, influenza, typhoid, MMR vaccine, rabies, Japanese encephalitis, and cholera.
Malaysia - Hepatitis A, hepatitis B, influenza, typhoid, rabies and Japanese encephalitis.

South Asia

India – Hepatitis A, hepatitis B, influenza, typhoid, MMR vaccine, yellow fever, rabies, Japanese encephalitis, and cholera.
Nepal – Hepatitis A, typhoid, tetanus, diphtheria and yellow fever.

Africa

North Africa – Hepatitis A, hepatitis B, tetanus, typhoid, and rabies.
Western Africa – Hepatitis A, hepatitis B, polio, rabies, yellow fever, typhoid, and meningitis.
Central Africa – Hepatitis A, hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, typhoid, yellow fever, cholera, meningococcal meningitis, rabies and yellow fever.
Eastern Africa – Cholera, diphtheria, hepatitis a, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, meningococcal meningitis, MMR, polio, rabies, tetanus, tick-borne encephalitis, tuberculosis, typhoid and yellow fever.
Southern Africa – Hepatitis A, hepatitis B, cholera, diphtheria, rabies, tetanus, typhoid and yellow fever.

Europe

Europe is generally ok when it comes to vaccinations, however, it would be worth getting an influenza injection, MMR vaccine and TDaP injection.

When travelling to Turkey, typhoid and rabies jabs are recommended. In some areas, malaria tablets might be necessary.

In Germany, the measles (MMR) vaccine is recommended. For France, hepatitis A and B are recommended as well as a rabies shot.

South America

Brazil – Typhoid, yellow fever, hepatitis a, hepatitis B, influenza, rabies, tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis.
Colombia – Yellow fever, tetanus, diphtheria, hepatitis A, typhoid, hepatitis B, and rabies.
Argentina – Typhoid, yellow fever, hepatitis a, hepatitis B, rabies, influenza, and MMR.
Peru – Yellow fever, typhoid, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, diphtheria, and tetanus.
Venezuela – Diphtheria, hepatitis A, rabies, tetanus, typhoid and yellow fever.
Chile – Diphtheria, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and tetanus.
Ecuador – Diphtheria, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, typhoid, yellow fever, and tetanus.
Paraguay – Diphtheria, hepatitis A, rabies, typhoid, yellow fever, and tetanus.
Uruguay – Hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, and tetanus.
Bolivia – Diphtheria, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, typhoid, yellow fever and tetanus.

The malaria disease is caused by the plasmodium parasite carried by mosquitoes. Once you are bitten, the parasite is transferred into your bloodstream. It attacks the red blood cells as it transports to the liver. Symptoms include a high fever and other flu-like effects.

It's an uncommon fact that only a certain mosquito transfers the virus and that is the female anopheles mosquito. The four types of female anopheles mosquito that affect humans are plasmodium falciparum, plasmodium ovale, plasmodium malariae and plasmodium vivax.

It is extremely common to experience diarrhoea whilst abroad due to changes in diet and climate. The most common cause of diarrhoea is consumption of contaminated water.

Whilst bouts of diarrhoea may not require medications, whilst abroad, severe outbreaks can cause dehydration issues so it is important to be prepared. If your illness has lasted over five days, it is advised to seek treatment. This also includes eating plain foods and making sure the water is clean.

Travelling through two or three different time zones can cause jet lag. This is seldom dangerous but an annoyance if it's the start of your trip, or when you return ready to head back to work.

Experiencing jet lag can hinder your activities so assuring your sleep pattern is prepared and potentially stocking up on jet lag medication can subdue symptoms.

Also referred to as motion sickness, travel sickness can occur with most forms of travel. This includes boat, car, train, and plane. With unusual movements, this confuses your brain and creates a feeling of nausea.

Medications are available to help ease symptoms of travel sickness if you are prone and there are some self-help techniques as well.

Altitude sickness occurs when you climb to heights your body is not used to. This is usually over 1,500 metres above sea level and happens due to thinner air.

Altitude sickness can result in some serious side effects and if you are planning a trip where you are climbing or standing at high altitude, it is important to research treatment before you head on your adventure.

When travelling abroad, you should not only prepare with the relevant medications depending on your location and activities, but you should carry a small first aid kit with you everywhere you go.

Your first aid kit should contain the following:

• Range of plasters
• Bandages and dressings
• Alcohol-free wipes
• Safety pins
• Sticky tape
• Rash cream
• Allergy tablets
• Insect bite spray/cream
• Paracetamol/Ibuprofen
• Cough medicine/sweets
• Skin rash cream