In the UK, we tend to take healthcare for granted because of the NHS. It is easy to forget that medical care is not so straightforward in other countries. With so many countries accessible because of relatively cheap and easy transport, it can also be easy to forget that in other countries, diseases we never see in the UK are common.
Even in nearby countries, healthcare may not be free or reimbursable if you do not have the right documents. You should never assume that, because you are healthy, you will not have an accident or fall ill when you are travelling abroad.
For this reason, you should always make provision before you leave the UK to make sure you are covered for illness. You should also make sure that you get the right vaccinations well in advance of your trip, and follow simple health measures to reduce the risk of infectious diseases.
Get your vaccinations up to date
Make an appointment with your GP, practice nurse or practice travel clinic well in advance. Remember that some of the vaccinations you will need cannot be given at the same time, so you may have to make more than one appointment. Remember, too, that you may need a course of vaccinations, which again will require more than one appointment some weeks apart.
Take precautions to avoid malaria
Malaria is common in many foreign travel destinations. You will need to start taking antimalarials up to three weeks before you go, so check with your GP, practice nurse or practice travel clinic well in advance. Remember that you will have to pay for antimalarial tablets.
While antimalarials offer good protection against malaria in most cases, you may still be at some risk. Always take precautions to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes.
Remember to determine tolerance and to establish habit. Prophylaxis is usually started two to three weeks before travel to an endemic area (a minimum of one to two days) and it should be continued for at least four weeks after leaving the area.
Take care in the sun
Too much sun doesn't just mean sunburn - it can mean skin cancer. Always take sensible precautions. For details, see the section on Skin Cancer.
Reduce your risk of HIV and AIDS
The risk of contracting HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is much greater in some parts of the world than others.
Take care with food and drink
Food and drink in foreign countries can carry bugs that cause a variety of infections. You can reduce your risks by using simple health measures:
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Wash your hands before you eat or handle food, as well as after you use the toilet |
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Stick to freshly cooked food. Make sure it is thoroughly cooked through |
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Avoid food which has been reheated or kept warm |
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Be careful about eating shellfish, which is much more likely to give you food poisoning than other cooked meat or fish. Uncooked shellfish (like oysters) can be particularly risky |
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Remember that salads and fruits may have been washed in contaminated water. Only eat fruits you peel yourself |
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Stick to hot or bottled drinks |
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Use bottled or boiled water, even for brushing your teeth. Make sure that any bottled water comes from a sealed container. Alternatively, sterilise drinking water with sterilising tablets, which are available from chemists in the UK |
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Remember that ice can be made from contaminated water. Avoid it and stick to bottled drinks already chilled in a refrigerator |
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Beware of ice cream that does not come pre-packaged. |
Reduce your risks of other infectious diseases
Even swimming in contaminated water can pass on diseases. In some parts of the world, sewage is discharged raw into the sea close to where people are bathing. Try to avoid swallowing water while you are swimming, and be careful where you swim.
In some countries, there is a risk of contracting HIV or other infectious diseases from un-sterilised needles or other medical equipment. Consider taking a first-aid kit, including needles and syringes, if you are going to high-risk areas.
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