The two most common ailments abroad when travelling are
bites from insects, ticks or animals and travellers diarrhoea from ingestion
of contaminated food or water or from close proximity of already infected
people. Below we give you a few pointers to try to reduce the risks of
contracting either.
Bites – from insects
Not all bites carry life threatening diseases. As well
as the most common disease to be contracted by a bite – Malaria,
insect bites can also be just a most annoying and uncomfortable hazard
that you encounter when venturing outside.
Below we have listed a few things that you can
do to reduce the probability of getting any insect bites.
• Try to reduce the amount of exposed skin, although
difficult when in areas of extreme heat and humidity try to wear long
sleeved shirts, trousers and socks to cover those ankles!! Clothing that
is baggy can be the most comfortable and preferably made of close woven
cotton.
• Apply a good insect repellent to any exposed skin, including hands
and face, avoiding the eyes. Insect repellents containing 20% + of DEET
are still the best repellents to buy.
• If you are travelling to a known high risk area then it is advisable
to wear clothing impregnated with permethrin which is a form of insecticide
harmless to humans.
• Wrists and ankles are prone to being favoured areas for the Mosquito
and wrist or ankle bands impregnated with a higher % of DEET give added
protection is these prone areas.
• While you are sleeping ensure you are within a mosquito net and
ideally this should be impregnated with permethrin. Watch out for any
tears that you may get on the tent and keep it tucked in at night.
• If you are lucky to have electricity use a plug in unit that releases
insecticide throughout the night.
• Just before going to sleep give the room a spray with a ‘knockdown
spray’.
• Air conditioned rooms can often prevent mosquitoes from entering
but only if you keep your windows closed!
Bites – from ticks
You can be at risk from tick bites if your travelling
consists of any trekking across low growing vegetation and scrubland.
Ticks can cause serious diseases as can be seen on our disease pages.
Below are a few things that you can do to help
protect or detect ticks.
• When trekking in areas that you think or have
been told are at risk to ticks wear trousers and tuck these into your
socks. Spray yourself especially your trousers and socks with a good insect
repellent containing at least 20% DEET.
• Ticks generally head for the groin area before they start feeding.
The longer they are on your body feeding the deeper they attach themselves
and therefore become harder to remove.
• If you have to remove a tick, take hold behind their head with
your fingers or tweezers. Rock the tick gently from side to side. Be patient
this may take some time, they should then release their grip. At this
point remove the tick being VERY CAREFUL not to leave the head or mouthparts
in the skin as this may lead to further infection. Wash hands and then
apply an antiseptic. Wash hands again afterwards. If a rash or fever develops
you must seek medical advice immediately.
Preventing Travellers Diarrhoea or worse!!
Eating & drinking abroad can be a hazardous occupation,
but if you are sensible and follow some of the advice below then the chances
of getting travellers diarrhoea or even worse a variety of worms or parasites
can be reduced.
Below are the pointers you should try to follow
when it comes to FOOD:-
• Avoid Salads and raw vegetables unless they have
been washed in water containing iodine or chlorine.
• Make sure that the food you eat has been thoroughly cooked, is
piping hot (even in the middle) that it has been prepared from fresh ingredients.
If you are cooking and you are not sure then throw it away it is not worth
it.
• Where possible avoid shellfish and also fish.
• Avoid dairy products unless they are branded or from where you
feel is a reliable source. Also avoid Ice Cream unless again branded or
from a reliable source. The main reason is that many ‘local’
dairy products available in many parts of the world are made from un pasteurised
milk.
• Don’t eat from buffets that have had their food out for
some time or eat food that has been left lying around for a while.
• Make sure that the cutlery you use is clean.
• Wash you hands before handling and eating food where possible.
• Avoid ‘Fried Rice’ since it can often be made from
leftover food.
That’s the food covered, now find below some tips
concerned with your drinking water. Wherever possible drink bottled water,
but be aware that ‘fake’ bottled water can be available and
if you are in any doubt consume carbonated/fizzy water since this is most
unlikely to be of a dubious source since it is too expensive to’fake’.
For all other water chemically treat your water or boil it for approx.
5 minutes.
For details regarding treating your water see
below:-
• One of the most reliable methods of purifying
water is to use iodine tincture or iodine tablets. You can increase the
concentration if necessary and even giardia & amoebic cysts can be
removed. Use a neutraliser after the iodine to restore the colour and
taste to the water.
• Chlorine tablets are also a very effective method of purifying
water but can’t be used for very heavily contaminated water. Unfortunately
the Chlorine taste can not be removed and only disguised, maybe using
a fruit cordial, coffee or tea.
• Filters & Purifiers – These can be purchased at home
and abroad depending on where you are going. They do provide immediate
drinking water but can be expensive to maintain over a long period of
time.
