Protecting your health should be a priority when travelling.  Jenny Ferguson has some advice to keep your vacation trouble free.The last thing you want happening on vacation is for you, your friends or your family to get sick.  Whether it’s the dreaded travellers’ diarrhea or malaria, staying healthy while away from home should be your first priority.  Here’s a list of things to do and consider before getting on your plane to a far away destination.

Travellers’ Diarrhea

Sadly, this inconvenience strikes a large percentage of travellers no matter where in the world they go.  All local water has specific non-harmful bacteria in it and your body reacts to these bacteria until it acclimatizes.  There is no way to avoid it, but some lucky travellers’ bodies don’t react badly to the new bacteria and are saved the discomfort.

For those of us who are affected, there is one way you can get better quicker:  drink water.  Your body is not absorbing as much water as it needs, and you may get dehydrated quickly.  Drink plenty of water to combat dehydration.  You can opt to drink bottled water while on vacation, but it doesn’t always keep travellers’ diarrhea at bay.

There are vaccines on the market, but they may not combat all symptoms and have side effects that can be just as bad.

Malaria

Malaria occurs in many travel destinations, including some parts of Central & South America, sub-Saharan Africa and many areas in rural Asia, the south Pacific and even in parts of Eastern Europe.  It presents with fever, chills and flu-like symptoms, so if you’re in a malaria-infected country, seek assistance immediately rather than waiting it out.

The disease is transmitted by female mosquitoes that are generally active at dawn and dusk; therefore it’s important to protect yourself from mosquito bites.  Wear light clothing with long sleeves, use mosquito spray, and sleep under a mosquito net in areas where infection can occur.

Since malaria is a serious disease that will certainly take you off your feet for the duration of your vacation and can even kill you, it’s worth considering taking anti-malaria medication.

As with all drugs, there are side effects, so you should discuss your options with your medical provider.

It’s recommended that if you decide to use anti-malaria medications, you should buy your meds in Canada as counterfeit drugs are sometimes sold in developing countries.  Also, most malaria meds require that you begin taking them before you travel (usually one week prior to leaving).

Vaccinations You Should Get

Recommended vaccinations change depending on where you want to go.  A good rule of thumb for any vacation is to ensure you’re up to date on your regular vaccines like tetanus.

Most Canadian students have received the Hepatitis B vaccines, but you should consult your physician regarding the Hepatitis A vaccine.  MDTravelHealth.com says, “after travelers' diarrhea, hepatitis A is the most common travel-related infection.”  Although Hep A is less severe than Hep B and usually does not turn into a chronic illness, it’s wise to get the vaccine.  It’ll save you from experiencing the illness and will save your vacation.

Visit a travel clinic for other necessary vaccines and recommended ones.  While your family doctor or local walk-in clinic can advise you, a visit to the pros will mean that they can study your itinerary and provide more detailed results.

Buy Travel Insurance

There are different kinds of travel insurance, starting with the basic no-fuss medical policy ($), an all-inclusive policy ($$$) and some combination of medical, plus one or two options from an all-inclusive policy ($$).

It’s always a smart idea to buy a basic policy since government health coverage will not cover all treatment while abroad, it will not pay upfront and it doesn’t cover emergency medical transportation from the country you are visiting to your home country or a country equipped to deal with your injuries.  It is highly unadvisable to travel without a basic policy, and frankly, if you haven’t budgeted for a basic policy (around $30), you should wait to travel until you can afford one.

When I travel, I almost always purchase the all-inclusive policy.  Life throws unexpected monkey wrenches at me on a regular basis, and I like to travel off the beaten path, so knowing that I’m covered if I fall and break my arm three days before the trip, if my luggage gets misplaced or if I get stung by a rare bug and need to be airlifted to Canada is worth the extra money.  Usually an all-inclusive travel insurance package will cost you around $250.

Always keep a photocopy of your travel insurance policy with you on your trip to access important contact numbers.  Keep the copy on you when in-flight in case your luggage gets misplaced, so you can begin your claim immediately.

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stay well on vacation

We take a vacation to get away from the every day, so staying healthy while away should be a given.  Take the precautions you need to ensure a great trip and a healthy, happy body!


Sources:
MDTravelHealth.com
CDC
Toronto Travel Clinic