HEALTH Avoiding illness on holiday

NO FUN?Becoming ill can ruin a holiday abroad. 

Avoiding illness on holiday


Health
Karen Jordan

Holidays are the perfect chance to enjoy time with the family, good food and great weather. A little bit of forward planning can help ensure you don’t fall ill abroad, and help you cope if you do.
If you are planning a trip to an exotic destination, you should see your GP a couple of months before your departure to organise vaccinations. The Tropical Medical Bureau (www.tmb.ie) provides great advice on vaccination schedules and malaria prevention, depending on your destination. All Irish residents are entitled to an EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) to receive healthcare through the public system in the EU, EEA or Switzerland should you require it. There is no charge for this card so it is definitely worth having. Application forms can be got from your local health office or downloaded from www.hse.ie.  
For those who suffer travel sickness, just getting to the destination can be a major difficulty. Traditional advice like sitting at the front of the car or bus, or in the middle aisle of a plane or boat, avoiding reading or writing on a journey, sucking ginger or peppermint lozenges, and avoiding fizzy or alcoholic drinks can all be helpful. Treatments available at the pharmacy include anti-motion sickness tablets taken before travelling to relieve bowel spasms and/or prevent sickness. Your pharmacist can advise you on the most suitable product for you.  
Long-distance travel that involves sitting for long periods, such as a long-haul plane trip, can increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), or so-called ‘economy class’ illness.  DVTs are blood clots that form in the veins, most often in the lower leg, that can travel to the lung, where they could be fatal. People over 40 years of age, smokers, pregnant women and those taking hormonal therapies are all at a greater risk.
Flight socks offer light compression to encourage blood flow in the lower leg and can be worn on any long journey not limited to flying. Your pharmacist can advise you on whether they are appropriate for you. Drinking plenty of water, wriggling the toes and rotating the ankles while seated or going on short walks during the journey can minimise the risk of a DVT.  
Once at your destination, think about sun protection. (See ‘Protect your skin this summer’, available on www.mayonews.ie.) In a nutshell, apply a sunscreen with at least SPF30, reapply every two hours and after swimming. Seek shade between 11am and 3pm and cover up with hats and light clothing, especially children.
Insects can be a real pest while on holiday. A good insect repellent containing DEET (diethyltoluamide) can protect against bites and stings. Some are not suitable for small children, and your pharmacist can recommend suitable alternatives. Precautionary measures include covering up with light clothing in pale colours, especially at dawn and dusk (when insects feed!), not wearing strong fragrances and investing in a mosquito net for sleeping under or for push chairs.
If you do get bitten, an antiseptic cream will minimise the risk of infection. To ease pain or itching, an antihistamine tablet or cream may be used. Keep an eye on the bite(s) for signs of infection such as redness that is spreading, a sensation of throbbing, the presence of pus, or general feeling of illness, as this may warrant a doctor visit.
The inevitable change in diet can cause an upset stomach and diarrhoea. Avoid salads and unpeeled fruit and vegetables in exotic locations. Drink bottled water (and use it to brush your teeth) and avoid ice cubes. If you are struck down, oral rehydration sachets are vital to replace the fluids and salts lost through diarrhoea. Indigestion remedies will ease excess wind and upset stomachs and anti-diarrhoeal tablets will relieve cramps and associated symptoms. Speak to your pharmacist about the many options available.
While these precautions are important, enjoy your holiday – just be prepared!