Common Health and Medical Concerns for Budding Travelers

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Whether you’re planning on a solo travel trip or a large group outing this year, you might already have some concerns about the medical implications of travelling to certain countries. For instance, if you’re travelling to a country such as South Africa, then you might be worried about contracting a condition such as malaria. It is a serious and potentially fatal disease that cannot be vaccinated against, and this can put a lot of people off ever travelling to South Africa.

Thankfully, there are many ways to ease these types of concerns, and we’re going to do our best to convince you that you shouldn’t let these concerns stop you from travelling the world.

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Speak to your doctor

It’s often a good idea to speak with a medical professional such as Denton Combs Center For Excellence or your local doctor to determine how healthy you are and how feasible it is for you to visit a certain country. You should discuss the types of allergies or other conditions you can expect to encounter, and you may be prescribed some medication or even a vaccination to help you stay healthy while you’re abroad. This information and assistance are both vital to help give you the peace of mind you need to stay safe while you travel.

Food and drink concerns

When travelling to underdeveloped countries, you might be worried about food and water precautions that relate to hygiene. First, it’s good to understand that the food you eat at home isn’t necessarily cleaner than the food you eat abroad. Your stomach adapts to the foods you eat which means that, even though the locals can eat the foods on offer, you might still get some kind of stomach issues if the food is clean. It’s a good idea to carry some stomach medicine no matter where you go and to use common sense when eating out abroad.

Taking medication with you

There are some rules on what medication you can and can’t take to certain countries. For example, India, Pakistan and Turkey have lists of medication that won’t be allowed in their countries. The way you carry your medicine and also the quantity might also affect how you take it abroad with you, so be sure to check the rules of the country that you plan to visit. In most cases, you’ll be fine taking the medication you require as long as you’re open about it and take a copy of some information such as the details of the medication you take and the name of the condition you suffer from.

Insect bites

Some insect bites can be a nuisance, but others can cause massive skin reactions that will look unsightly and require immediate medical attention. If the country you’re visiting is known to have insects that frequently bite tourists, then you’ll want to speak with a medical professional to get some medication or learn how you can deal with the reaction after being bitten. You may also want to take countermeasures, such as nets to cover your bed when you sleep.