In This Section:
Be Aware of Your Surroundings
Travel to tropical climates entails contact with a variety of insects capable of transmitting infectious diseases.
Consult with your local Kelsey-Seybold Travel Clinic for advice.
Health Tip: You can still develop malaria after you leave the endemic area. To be most effective, the prescribed medication must be continued for four weeks after you return home.
What can I do?
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Mosquitos may transmit yellow fever, malaria, Japanese encephalitis, and dengue fever, as well as other diseases.
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Limit outdoor activity between dusk and dawn to reduce the risk of malaria and Japanese encephalitis. (Dengue fever, however, is transmitted by day-biting mosquitoes, primarily in urban areas.)
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Reapply insect repellent after swimming or excessive sweating.
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Wear protective clothing such as long sleeves and pants whenever practical.
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Sleep in well-screened areas.
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Use bed nets permeated with a permethrin insecticide.
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Use coils and insect sprays containing pyrethrum to kill insects in living areas.
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Vaccinate for Japanese encephalitis and yellow fever if indicated.
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Consult your travel physician regarding medication to prevent malaria.
When traveling to Central or South America, Southeast Asia or Africa, you'll need proper vaccination and/or medication before leaving and special precautions while traveling.
Travel to tropical climates entails contact with a variety of insects capable of transmitting infectious diseases.
Health Tip: You can still develop malaria after you leave the endemic area. To be most effective, the prescribed medication must be continued for four weeks after you return home.
Traveling barefoot puts you at greater risk for injury, insect bites and infection by a variety of parasites capable of entering through unbroken skin.
Health Tip: To protect yourself from fleas and ticks, wear closed footwear and tuck your pants into your socks. You can soak clothing in an insecticide, such as permethrin, for extra protection.
What can I do?
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Always wear protective footwear - slip on a pair of sandals or flip-flops even on the beach.
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Update tetanus immunization every 10 years.
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Avoid direct contact with contaminated sand or soil.
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Don't walk in long grass, especially at night, to avoid bites from snakes and scorpions.
Swimming
Fresh water in many developing countries could be infested with parasitic larvae released from snails. These parasites are capable of penetrating the unbroken skin of humans causing serious illness.
Health Tip: Not all water is unsafe. You can swim to your heart's content in the ocean or in chlorinated pools.
What can I do?
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Don’t swim, wade or walk in slow moving fresh water lakes, rivers or streams where these parasites are known to occur.
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If fresh water contact is unavoidable, dry off quickly to prevent the parasite from penetrating the skin.
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If you must swim in a lake, use the deepest portion at the center and avoid the edges where snails are likely to breed.
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Infested water allowed to stand for 48 hours may be safely used for bathing.
Water
Up to 50 percent of travelers contract diarrhea while traveling. The most common cause being contaminated food and water.
Several other illnesses are transmitted through contaminated water sources, such as Typhoid Fever, Hepatitis A, Polio and Cholera. Even first class hotels aren't guaranteed to have pure water.
Health Tip: While portable water purifiers greatly improve the taste of water and assist in the purification process, they should not be used alone. It's essential to boil or chemically treat your water first.
What can I do?
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Consume only canned or commercially bottled “carbonated” drinks.
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Ensure ice cubes are made from purified water too.
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Filtration alone is not recommended.
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Brushing teeth should also be done with purified water. If it’s not available, use hot tap water.
What is the best way to purify my water?
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Bring water to a full boil.
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Chemically treat your water by adding 2 percent tincture of iodine as follows:
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Purchase a portable water purifier.
What can I do if I get diarrhea?
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Drink plenty of fluids, containing some sugar, to prevent dehydration.
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Drink clear broth or eat salted crackers to compensate for loss of salt.
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Avoid milk products.
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If you have bloody stools, seek medical attention.
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Ask your doctor to provide a stand-by treatment.
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Try an oral rehydration method:
a) Gastrolyte sachets (commercially prepared)
b) Alternately drink the contents of glasses No. 1 and No. 2
Poor sanitation, unhygienic food handling and the heat and humidity of tropical climates contribute to the growth of bacteria that contaminate food. It's wise to ensure food has been properly prepared and cooked to avoid illnesses such as Hepatitis A or infection by parasites.
Health Tip: Don't forget to wash your hands carefully before eating or preparing food.
What can I do?
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Ensure all food is well-cooked, especially meat and seafood.
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Serve food hot. Bacteria grow quickly as food cools.
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Don’t eat leftovers, food from street vendors, or unpasteurized dairy products.
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Never eat raw shellfish.
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Avoid cold cuts, salads, watermelon and puddings.
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Don’t eat canned food if the tin appears “blown” or “swollen.”
Can I eat raw fruits and vegetables?
