Leatside Surgery Travel Information Pack
This link gives you information on when to make your appointment with the Practice Nurse, useful websites and the cost of the varous vaccinations.
It would be really helpful if you could complete this form and bring it with you to your Practice Nurse appointment.
Some useful websites
For health related information and lots of advice on travel related illnesses and travel vaccinations:
www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk and www.dh.gov.uk/travellers
For advice from the Foreign Office:
www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029390572
Hints and
tips for travellers
Sunburn
Sunburn is preventable.
Limiting your exposure and covering up especially
around noon. Use sunscreens liberally and
as directed.
Alcohol
Unaccustomed consumption
of alcohol is very common on package holidays
and this can lead to illness from intoxication,
accidents and the taking of risks with health
that would not be entertained at home.
Accidents
Unfamiliar surroundings
and alcohol consumption often result in
accidents. Beware of sea currents and take
especial care crossing roads. Sharp objects
and discarded glass on beaches can injure
your feet.
Stomach upsets and diarrhoea
These are very common.
Contaminated food and water is a major cause
of illness and care is especially important
when eating out in countries where local
hygiene is poor. Drink bottled water and
avoid raw or under cooked food. Unaccustomed
spices or oil in food as well as alcohol
can also lead to stomach upsets. You should
consider taking an antidiarrhoeal preparation.
Unsafe sex
Unhygienic sex and failure
to use a condom with new partners, particularly
with professional sex workers, puts you
at risk of serious infections including
HIV.
Culture shock
This can be very real
even for short-term visitors perhaps made
worse by family problems at home, illness
or unaccustomed alcohol consumption. Problems
may include adjusting to a different climate
and language, unfamiliar social amenities,
coming to terms with poverty, begging, and
movement restrictions for safety or political
reasons. It is usually helpful to be patient
rather than critical when difficulties arise.
Vaccinations
Vaccinations take time
so consult your doctor or nurse as soon
as possible, ideally at least six weeks
before travelling. Late bookings can leave
insufficient time for vaccinations to become
fully effective.
In Britain it is advised that 10 yearly
boosters of Tetanus and Diphtheria vaccines
are not normally required in adult life
so long as the full British schedule, including
the teenage boosters, have been received.
Those likely to sustain skin injuries (e.g.
on beaches) or mixing closely with the local
population in countries where these diseases
are still common should continue to receive
boosters every 10 years. Meningococcal type
A vaccine is mainly a risk for those visiting
risk areas in sub-Saharan Africa who will
be mixing closely with the local population.
It is not normally taken by short term (up
to 2 weeks) package tourists staying in
good accomodation with other tourists. Hepatitis
A and Typhoid vaccines are important for
those who are not able to be careful about
their food and water hygiene in risk areas.
Tour operators usually carefully choose
their hotels but accidents happen and eating
out may be risky in poorer countries.
Influenza vaccine can be
considered for those who might get a more
severe illness such as those with existing
chest problems. Remember the 'flu' season
in the southern hemisphere is from April
to November.
A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is
necessary for crossing borders in many parts
of Africa and South America.
Malaria prevention
Your accommodation may
well provide good mosquito protection, if
not you must consider taking a good mosquito
net. Sensible clothing to protect the skin
from bites and careful use of mosquito repellents
is also important. If your advisor recommends
anti-malaria tablets make sure you take
then correctly.
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