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India is appalling when it comes to travel while holidaying because of the innumerable health concerns. However, most travel related health hazards are mundane and often avoidable
Even before the United Nations World Tourism Organisation Report announced emergence of South Asia as a tourist destination with remarkable growth of 10% in terms of tourist�s arrivals, which is double the normal growth, there has been a furor in medical tourism and its stakeholders. Specialized treatments costing just one-sixth to one-tenth of the cost of similar procedures in developed countries and the high rate of success in sophisticated medical procedures and high class nursing add up to help in growing the medical tourism sector in India.
Yet health care and hygiene is still a distant dream for people on the run - both for pleasure and business. While Health Farms and Travel Clinics are becoming the order of the day especially in the south, yet there are more travelers who seem to be overlooking the broader picture while traveling the length and breadth of �incredible India�.
As summer approaches and hotels and travel operators give innumerable packages and discounts, for some travelers unfamiliar with the territory, they may be hit with a few surprises in the form of various illness unless they prepare in advance. And this may be the worst nightmare that can bust even the most discerning unsuspecting traveler�s high expectations of a perfect smooth holiday season planned in Udaipur, Goa or Cherrapunjee.
So whether you�ll be able to enjoy your vacation will depend on how well you are able to keep common illness at bay and whether your immunity is strong enough to fight allergies, germs, food and water.
There are many endemic diseases surfacing from time to time on seasonal grounds. You should ensure that immunizations against common infections are up to date before travelling. You should take care with water and food hygiene.
Malaria is a risk in India even today despite appropriate prevention, and therefore you should promptly seek medical care in the event of a fever or flu-like illness in country. Even in Goa, cases of Plasmodium falciparum malaria associated have been reported in European travellers. However, travel in India can still be a tedious experience given the limited availability of basic infrastructure in smaller towns and villages, it is important to chart out a well-organized travel plan that includes all principal amenities as well as the �not so often considered� accessories such as dressings and medications to combat an event of mishap. In other words, a well-equipped First Aid Box would prove to be as handy as a purse or tickets, says Dr Manish Joshi, MD Batra Hospital, New Delhi.
Dengue is another outbreak that occurs annually in many states. Several deaths have also been reported. Symptoms of dengue fever usually begin 7 to 10 days after being bitten (by mosquitoes) and include high fever with aching joints and bones and a headache. There is no vaccine to protect against dengue fever and you should therefore use mosquito repellent regularly and cover
up with suitable clothing to avoid being bitten. . �Patients with dengue fever are treated symptomatically for fever and body-aches. In the scenario where DHF is a possibility, one should avoid all non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents like ibuprofen, aspirin, nimesulide etc�, says Dr. Tarun Sahni, Sr. Consultant Physician, Apollo Hospital, New Delhi.
Dengue�s step sister Chikungunya virus has also been reported in 2006 in Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Pondicherry, and Tamil Nadu. Like dengue fever, chikungunya virus is also transmitted by mosquitoes and therefore it is important to protect yourself from mosquito bites. But in case of mild to moderate fever while you are traveling, just don�t panic! It may not be Dengue or Chikungunya. You may simply take common paracetamol tablets (Crocin etc) and in case of viral fever the body temperature will come back to normal within 48 to 72 hours.
Though no human infections or deaths have been confirmed, H5N1 avian influenza virus has been found in domestic poultry in Madhya Pradesh Maharastra and Gujarat. The risk to humans from Avian Influenza is believed to be very low. As a precaution you should avoid visiting live animal markets, poultry farms and other places where you may come into close contact with domestic, caged or wild birds; and ensure poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly cooked.
As recently as 30 years ago, little was known or written about Travel stress as a recognizable medical condition. Excessive stress has now conclusively been linked to high blood pressure, ulcers, and a host of other ailments. Travel-stress symptoms commonly include indigestion, headaches, fatigue, respiratory ailments (asthma), and anxiety, all of which can negatively affect the traveller's performance.
Common illnesses like diarrhea is usually triggered by poor sanitation conditions and acquired through the ingestion of contaminated food or water and a change in diet or climate. Typical symptoms of this infection, which usually last for three to seven days, include diarrhea, nausea, abdominal cramps, bloating, fever, and malaise. To lessen your chances of contracting diarrhea, be extremely careful about the food you eat and beverages you drink while traveling.
Besides obtaining comprehensive travel and medical insurance before traveling one should check any exclusions; a well-equipped First Aid Box would prove to be as handy as a purse or tickets.
In all likelihood, the very basics of a first aid pack should contain a set of standardized components, which include bandages, gauze pads, iodine and alcohol prep pads, butterfly bandages, medical adhesive tape, mosquito repellents, electrolytes, antacids, antibiotic ointments, antidiarrheals, antihistamines, and effective pain & fever relievers such as Crocin etc. Antidiarrheals are of immense help when contaminated food or water instigates or worsens diarrhea. Antihistamines on the other hand helps control frequent bouts of sneezing, stuffy or runny nose as well as itchy and watery eyes, symptoms that indicate allergy to pollution, trees, grass or weeds.
Heart burn or acid indigestion is also common with people who are not used to the spicy treat of an Indian palate. A safe ayurvedic antacid like Eno can be used to cure heartburn and prevent onset of gas burping and ulcers in the long run.
Another important component of a First Aid box should be an effective painkiller & fever reliever. Here the choice should be paracetamol, available for adults as Crocin 500 and Crocin DS for grown-up kids as Crocin drops & suspension for infant kids, due to its safety record.
Travel in India can still be a tedious experience given the limited availability of basic infrastructure in smaller towns and villages. Back pain, once considered the millstone for the 40+, is now a growing medical concern among wayworns. Icky Public transport ergonomics & bumpy road conditions can call for severe back pain in extreme cases although travellers may suffer from backache because of arthritis, sprain & exercise. For such cases ointment massage with Iodex double power can be the ideal panacea before spring boarding to the next destination.
Any good time is holiday time�a time of joy and good cheer. It can also be the most stressful time of the year, but yet may be the most fulfilling and perfect way to distress and be revitalized, provided we take care of our health with every minute detail.
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