Beware Of The Travel Bug

If international travel is on your agenda over these holidays, there’s more to think about than what clothes to pack and how much film to take.

Travelling overseas can be exciting; but it can also affect your health. Make sure you find out how to avoid getting sick when you’re travelling, and how to look after yourself if you do get sick.

A fact card entitled Travel Health is available from pharmacies that have the Self Care health information. It details some simple yet effective advice on how to make sure, as much as possible, your holiday is both happy and healthy. Of course, you don’t have to be on holidays to travel – business people make up a sizeable portion of Australians travelling.

Travellers’ diarrhoea is by far the most common health problem when outside Australia. It affects up to 50% of travellers visiting developing countries. There can be many different causes, but usually travellers’ diarrhoea is caused by an unfamiliar germ affecting the bowel. Different foods or even other diseases, such as typhoid, can also cause diarrhoea.

The most appropriate treatment is to drink small amounts of fluid often – boiled water or an oral rehydration solution such as Gastrolyte is best. "Quick fix" capsules like Gastrostop, Imodium or Lomotil are useful for short term emergency therapy. It is not necessary to stop eating because of diarrhoea. Starchy foods such as rice, porridge or mashed potato may actually improve the condition. Nevertheless keep dairy products (except for live culture yoghurt) to a minimum.

We need to take special care when travelling with children. Associate Professor David Isaacs from the New Childrens Hospital, Westmead, NSW, states that fresh food should be washed in sterile water, "then peel it, cook it or throw it away", he says.

Also while travelling, parents should be particularly watchful of their children regarding the risks of road traffic accidents, sunburn and even treatment from overseas doctors, Professor Isaacs says. If anti-malarials are needed for children, he suggests contacting MASTA (Medical Advisory Services for Travellers Abroad) on 1300 655 565 for the most recent information.

Jet lag sometimes occurs after flying across several time zones, more so going west to east, rather than the reverse. Your body clock can take days or even weeks to get used to the day and night cycle of your destination.

Anxiety, poor concentration and lack of judgement are common symptoms, along with fatigue, headache and stomach upsets – not a great way to start your holidays or important business trip. A mild sedative taken during the flight and perhaps one or two nights after you arrive can successfully adjust your sleep pattern. Your Self Care pharmacist can advise you on the most appropriate product like generic Ambien and the Travel Health fact card gives some more helpful hints on how to reduce the risk of jet lag.

The importance of regularly moving your legs on long flights has been highlighted recently. If you have any tendency to blood clots you may need to speak to your doctor or pharmacist about avoiding this problem prior to leaving.

Most importantly see your doctor in plenty of time before you travel (at least 8 weeks if possible) to get your immunisation "shots" and ensure your safe and sound return.