| 
This is probably the most difficult aspect to write about. You are advised to visit your local doctor, or where available, doctors in specialised centres for Tropical Medicine, for pre-travel advice. There are also a number of websites devoted to Travellers Health, one that I like and has been verified by the Traveller's Medical & Vaccination Centre (TMVC, Australia) is found in the Lonely Planet Website. Alternatively, you can visit their own site TMVC which provides country-by-country health guides and vaccination requirements. More information can also be sought from the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. Personally, I will often travel with a first-aid kit with me and this will usually allow me to deal quite effectively, in-the-field, some of the most common of tropical ailments, if all fails, I also have Health and Medical Insurance! Some simple precautions that I do take include: WILDBORNEO.net's Travel Help Online or Useful Travel Contacts Cuts. It's especially important to keep any wounds clean; I have seen simple cuts infected in a matter of days resulting in horrible infections. I have found the spray-on plasters very useful as plasters are not durable in the tropics or when in the jungle. I have gauze and surgical tape for more serious stuff. If you are adventurous, you could also try to obtain a special powder from Chinese medical shops that stops external bleeding. Stings. Anti-histamine is always carried with me. Whether for stings (bees or wasps), or, for controlling itchiness after too many bites (ants or mossys). Remember to get the non-drowsy ones. Fungal Infections. Look out for this, especially in the dark, often moist, parts of your body. I have had infections behind my knees and my bottom after fields trips. Redness and itchiness are some of the symptoms. WILDBORNEO.net's Travel Help Online or Useful Travel Contacts Leptospirosis. A nasty rat-borne infection; it can be picked up from water or open wounds. I would be very careful around caves (where there might be lots of rats) and rivers (never swim after a period of rain: (a) it is dangerous and (b) that's when it is most likely that rats urine will be washed into the river system. Malaria. This is a common question. I personally do not take prophylactics, partly because I live in Malaysia and nobody really knows what the prolonged use of the medicine will do to me. I do however take very careful precautions and use lots of herbal repellents, or ones with low "deet" content, have longs ready for the early evenings and do not sleep outside without a mossy-net or some form of protection. This has kept me malaria-free for a number of years, and the only time I succumbed was before I followed these simple precautions. These are basically my personal precautions of a layman (I make no illusions of having any medical qualifications). I highly recommend you do your own research and do consult any experts you know. WILDBORNEO.net's Travel Help Online or Useful Travel Contacts
Top |
