Going on a trip is usually exciting for most people. Whether the trip is made for adventure, fun or leisure, most people enjoy travelling to different towns and cities. Unfortunately, some of these travelers will end up cutting their trips short and returning home after contracting an illness. That is one of the downsides of traveling.
Whilst the Centre for Disease Control gives a lengthy list on its website that details every contractible disease possible in individual countries, there are really only a few that travelers have to worry about. The chance of contracting some diseases varies, of course, with the environment that tourists encounter or the activities they choose to conduct. Those who go backpacking and camping out in the jungles of Asia or South America, for example, are at a higher risk of contracting dengue fever or malaria than tourists who are sunbathing on the pristine beaches of the islands of the Caribbean.
Even those who feel they are relatively safe, however, can still come down with an illness during their trip. Some of the most common travel illnesses are explored below:
- HINI (Swine Flu). This notorious virus is believed to have originated in Mexico before spreading to the rest of the world. It is highly contagious and its symptoms mimic those of a bad cold or flu. In order to prevent contacting this illness, travelers should pay attention to WHO travel warnings about countries to avoid.
- Traveler’s diarrhea. Almost all travelers will suffer from this at some point. Although doctors are not sure what exactly causes the diarrhea, tourists are advised to thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables before consumption. Bottled water should also be favored over tap water.
- Dengue fever. The virus responsible for this ailment is spread by mosquito bites. Travelers visiting countries in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and the South Pacific are at risk of contracting the illness. The fever presents with flu-like symptoms and victims usually suffer considerable pain. The best way to prevent it is through the liberal use of insect repellent and sleeping under mosquito nets at night.
- Malaria. Also spread through mosquito bites, this disease is potentially fatal. It is common in Caribbean, African, Asian and Latin American countries. Those who are about to embark on journeys to these areas need to take anti-malarial medications before their trip.
- Sunstroke. Overexposure to the sun can make some people sick. The symptoms include itchiness, blisters and red skin accompanied by overwhelming nausea. To prevent this, travelers are advised to apply sunscreen throughout the day and to wear large sunhats, long-sleeved clothes and pants when out in the sun.
Other common ailments known to afflict travelers include hepatitis A, respiratory ailments and motion sickness. Those who are prone to motion sickness can buy Meclizine to ward off the symptoms before they start.
Preparation for a safe trip
Some of the common diseases listed above can be avoided as long as people take adequate preparation measures before their trips. Preventing these ailments can be as easy as:
- Paying attention to food and water. One of the simplest ways for travelers to ward off ailments on the road is through watching what goes into their mouths. Thoroughly cleaning fruits and vegetables before eating them, and restricting themselves to drinking only bottled water can go a long way towards maintaining their health.
- Staying active throughout the trip. An uncomplicated fitness routine can help the body to fight off illness in a shorter amount of time. Individuals can do simple exercises such as walking or swimming without breaking their budget.
- Packing a first aid kit. Another key thing for tourists to pack among their luggage is a first aid kit. While this can consist of nothing more than band-aids, painkillers, some antiseptic and bandages, it could come in handy at one time or another.
- Receiving the appropriate vaccinations. Additionally, those who are about to travel to some disease-prone areas should ensure they receive the proper jabs beforehand. Vaccinations can help to build the body’s immune system to prevent an ailment. The majority of doctors are knowledgeable about the vaccinations required before traveling to different countries worldwide.
- Having travel insurance. Purchasing travel insurance should be top of the list for those who are about to travel to some far-flung areas of the globe. There are many options available in the market and people should shop around for one that suits their needs. Travel insurance can help to pay for medical or hospital bills and could end up saving someone’s life.
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