“Visiting a travel clinic and meeting with a travel medicine expert should be part of your vacation planning process. Travellers should plan to visit a travel clinic at least four to six weeks prior to their scheduled travel date to receive appropriate vaccinations. This is especially important for individuals with pre-existing health conditions, in particular, chronic diseases,” said Dr Mohamed Abu Khattab, consultant, Communicable Diseases and Travel Medicine at HMC.
He added that recommended vaccines and drugs can vary from one country to another, depending on the type of prevalent diseases. He also highlighted the importance of obtaining health insurance to cover any medical treatment expenses that could be incurred abroad and advised travellers to research the road conditions and traffic laws in the country they are visiting. He also recommended that travellers limit their exposure to theft by not carrying valuable belongings or walking in remote areas.
“It is important to drink plenty of water and other liquids, especially during hot weather. To avoid diarrhoea and infections such as hepatitis A and typhoid, travellers should take care when making food and beverage choices. Carbonated water is considered a better replacement for juices because it contains anti-bacterial gases and bottled water is generally considered safer than tap water,” said Dr Abu Khattab.
Travellers are also advised to take the necessary clothing to avoid communicable diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever, and the zika virus being transmitted through mosquito stings. Experts recommend wearing colourful long-sleeved clothing, applying anti-insect creams (containing a 30-50% DEET concentration), and using anti-mosquito nets during sleep. Exposure to influenza and meningitis can be limited by avoiding overcrowded areas.
Travellers who experience abnormal symptoms within one month of returning from their trip are advised to visit the Travel Clinic. Symptoms or signs of certain diseases can develop weeks after travel and some travel diseases may have an incubation period of one month.
To book an appointment for a travel assessment, the Travel Clinic can be contacted on 40254003.
Dr Mohamed Abu Khattab
"Patients with chronic diseases will need to discuss potential modifications or changes to medication routines and will also need to ensure they have enough medication for the duration of their vacation; this is particularly important for diabetics using insulin," he continued.He added that recommended vaccines and drugs can vary from one country to another, depending on the type of prevalent diseases. He also highlighted the importance of obtaining health insurance to cover any medical treatment expenses that could be incurred abroad and advised travellers to research the road conditions and traffic laws in the country they are visiting. He also recommended that travellers limit their exposure to theft by not carrying valuable belongings or walking in remote areas.
“It is important to drink plenty of water and other liquids, especially during hot weather. To avoid diarrhoea and infections such as hepatitis A and typhoid, travellers should take care when making food and beverage choices. Carbonated water is considered a better replacement for juices because it contains anti-bacterial gases and bottled water is generally considered safer than tap water,” said Dr Abu Khattab.
Travellers are also advised to take the necessary clothing to avoid communicable diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever, and the zika virus being transmitted through mosquito stings. Experts recommend wearing colourful long-sleeved clothing, applying anti-insect creams (containing a 30-50% DEET concentration), and using anti-mosquito nets during sleep. Exposure to influenza and meningitis can be limited by avoiding overcrowded areas.
Travellers who experience abnormal symptoms within one month of returning from their trip are advised to visit the Travel Clinic. Symptoms or signs of certain diseases can develop weeks after travel and some travel diseases may have an incubation period of one month.
To book an appointment for a travel assessment, the Travel Clinic can be contacted on 40254003.
