Make sure you are healthy for the holiday
There are more than nine million Australians who travel abroad each year, with the vast majority of travel being undertaken by people who are aged between 25 and 55. The top 10 most sought-after locations for Australians include New Zealand, Indonesia, the USA, UK, Thailand, China, Singapore, Japan, Fiji and India.
A variety of health issues can arise while traveling, as existing health issues are often aggravated. Being healthy means being prepared, informed and intelligent.
The principal reasons of infections-related illnesses while traveling are diarrhoea of travelers, respiratory infections and diseases transmitted by mosquitoes.
Reduce the chance of suffering the same by following a straightforward ABCDE.
A: Give yourself time for preparation
During peak holiday seasons, it is important to give ample time to make an appointment with the travel clinic or a local medical facility that provides travel vaccinations.
Certain vaccines contain three or more doses. They could require up to at least four weeks for the course to complete. For instance, vaccines for Japanese Encephalitis and the rabies virus..
If traveling as a family, multiple visits might be necessary for preparing children to travel to certain locations.
Indonesia is a very popular vacation spot for Australians. rueful/flickr, CC BY
Be aware that your physician for travel might require detailed information on your specific itinerary, prior vaccinations as a child, your medical history, and any medications. If you have this information at hand to you, you’ll benefit from your consultation with a travel physician.
If you’re suffering from already been diagnosed with a medical condition, be sure to get it checked out to confirm that the condition is being taken care of as you would expect. For instance, blood pressure medications might require adjustment in the event that the blood pressure of your excessively high or low.
Immunizations against yellow fever and other live vaccines, including ones with active components, are not recommended if you are taking medication that decreases the effectiveness of your immune system, for example, steroids such as prednisolone. It is possible that you will need to alter your immune suppressive medications a few weeks before departure or a formal letter disqualifying you from a vaccination that is required to enter to specific states (as happens with the yellow vaccination against yellow fever).
B: Behavioural behaviour Consider it
Many holidaymakers want to break out of their comfortable zones. It’s best to stay clear of the temptation of letting your hair down. Behaviors that are not acceptable in your home environment should be kept out of a foreign environment also. You might also have to change some of your habits of daily living.
Diarrhoea in travelers can be prevented by drinking bottles of water in all settings where you drink water. This includes drinking enough by flossing, cleaning fruits and salads, as well as making ice blocks and other beverages.
Food outlets appear to be following the highest standards for hygiene in food preparation; however, this can be difficult to determine. Avoid hawker or street food, where food items have been stored for a long time at temperatures that allow bacteria to increase. If you’re unsure about hygiene standards, opting for foods that are packaged is the best option.
Respiratory infections are common among travelers. If you are in a situation in which a person is unwell and coughing, set up some distance to decrease the possibility of getting sick. Hand gels containing alcohol are beneficial for maintaining hand hygiene and can help protect you from infections caused by common colds as well as other viruses that remain on surfaces.
A well-planned packing strategy is essential. You must bring sunscreen and clothing that shields your skin from sun exposure and repellents that have active ingredients to ward off insects in the event of traveling in areas where mosquitoes are known to transmit diseases like Dengue, Zika, and malaria.