Did you know that when travelling overseas, you have a 50% chance of suffering from a travel-related illness.
Here are some tips that you can take to lower your chances of becoming unwell on your next trip and how to pack your travel medicine!
Check in with your GP first
It’s a great idea to pay a visit to your GP or travel clinic before you leave. They will be able to advise you what vaccinations you may need and also prescribe you travel medicine for diarrhoea, pain relief or even fluid replacements to take on your journey.
Diarrhoea
The most common illness when travelling is diarrhoea, so it’s important to take these simple key measures around food and water:
- Drink bottled, or boiled, water
- Avoid ice in your drinks
- Avoid fresh fruit and vegetables which may have been washed in local water
- The best fruit to eat are generally ones with a thicker skin e.g. bananas
- Be wary when eating street food
Vaccinations
Know what vaccinations are necessary for your planned destination/s and make sure you get them in good time before you leave.
Malaria
Malaria is spread by the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito, and can cause fever, chills and flu-like symptoms. You can take antimalarial tablets, but reduce your risk further by avoiding getting bitten by mosquitoes in the first place:
- Stay indoors during the peak biting hours of dusk and dawn
- Use mosquito repellent
- Sleep under a mosquito net
- Wear light coloured clothing, long sleeved tops and long pants/trousers
- Avoid perfume or aftershave
Medicine sachet packs
On a four or more medicines? ZOOM Pharmacy can sort ALL your meds for you, putting them into easy to open sachet packs – so you don’t need to pack in all your medicine bottles, boxes and foils!
Each sachet pack is clearly marked with what medicines are inside, along with the day, and the time to take it. Medicine sachet packs are perfect for travelling. Just tear off the sachet packs you need and take them with you. Easy!
Call 0508 966 622 Monday to Friday 7AM-6PM to speak to a ZOOM Pharmacist and find out more.
