No one’s dream vacation hardly involves getting sick or seeing a doctor. Anu Kantele, Chief Physician of Alava Tourist Clinic, gives health tips to those planning a holiday trip.
Vaccines fit before the trips.
It is a good idea for the traveler to ensure that the simple vaccinations, the tetanus vaccine, and the MPR combination vaccine, are valid. For those travelling to polio risk areas, the polio vaccine is also promising. The tourist’s vaccinations should be check according to the destination, time, and duration of the trip.
“A tourist should check their vaccination protection preferably a couple of months before the trip to keep the vaccines up to date before departure. Of course, you can vaccinate later, but it is advisable to vaccinate well in advance to get the best effect from the vaccine. An expert specializing in the health of the tourist checks the validity of the basic vaccinations as well as other vaccinations and medicines needed at the destination, such as anti-malarial medication,” says Anu Kantele.
Influenza is the most common tourist-preventable disease in tourists
The most commonly recommended vaccine in the tropics is hepatitis A, which can be given alone or in combination with hepatitis B. Other vaccines for tourists include typhoid, Japanese encephalitis, and yellow fever. Seasonal flu vaccination is also suitable for all tourists. In Asia, for example, influenza occurs throughout the year. Learn about landscape drawing for mind fresh
“Influenza is the most common tourist-preventable disease in tourists. It is not usually perceived as a tourist vaccine as it is also one of the domestically recommended vaccinations. The flu sprouts only 2-3 days, so the tourist has time to get sick already during the trip,” recalls Kantele.
Check out the latest malaria prevention recommendations.
Malaria spreads from person to person through mosquito bites, so protection from mosquitoes is always part of malaria prevention. The risk of malaria is highest in Africa. The disease also occurs in South and Southeast Asia and Central and South America. Even within an individual country, the risk can vary significantly by region or year. It is good to go through the latest drug recommendations at the destination with an expert before travelling.
Remember good hand hygiene and leave the mayonnaise on a plate
Travel diarrhea is an embarrassing but not a dangerous affliction. It usually heals with rest and fluid therapy. Of the countries favored by tourists, diarrhea is most common in India,” says Kantele.
Getting sick with diarrhea does not look at the time or place. Most often, the bacteria that cause diarrhea are taking with food or water. You can avoid the disease by making the right food and drink choices and taking care of hand hygiene. It is a good idea to prefer bottled, preferably carbonated drinks and choose only food that is well cooked, preferably served to steam hot. Dining from a standing table is not always safe.
“Generally, you should avoid cold cuts, mayonnaise-based salads, sauces, cold or raw meat, eggs, fish and seafood, cold desserts and non-packaged dairy products, and drinks with added ice cubes,” advises Kantele.
There is no actual diarrhea vaccine against travel diarrhea. So, the oral cholera vaccine has to provide so-called cross-protection. New vaccines are developing.
Health instructions for travelers
- Get to know the local customs and culture in advance. The travel destination’s security situation can be check on the Ministry for Foreign Affairs website. You can also make a travel declaration on the website of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
- Get travel insurance and find out what it covers. Travel insurance usually covers the treatment of an infection acquired during the trip (for example, travel sickness) in the home country after the trip.
- Save the phone number of your multilingual contact on your mobile phone as ICE (= in case of emergency).
- Take your vaccination card with you on the trip. Border authorities can ask for a vaccination card when moving from one country to another. Leave a copy of your passport and vaccination card at home.
- Pack a thermometer and flashlight with your travel pharmacy, cleaning and dressing supplies for minor wounds and abrasions, and an ointment for insect stings and sunburn.
- In tropical countries, paracetamol is the safest antipyretic. Also, book enough of your regular medications. Carry medicines in hand luggage in their original packaging.
- It will help if you protect yourself from the sun with sunscreen, clothing, and headgear.
- In warm conditions, the risk of inflammation is high, so carefully clean and protect even small skin lesions.
- All major international cities have good medical services. The involvement of a travel pharmacy means treating diseases on your own.
Before the trip, visit the Aava Tourist Surgery.
At the reception, we will make a personal plan for the vaccinations and possible medication you need, whether it is a holiday or business trip, an exchange student year, or a move to a new country.
- Tour desk
- Tourist doctor’s office