Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Treatment
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Drink plenty of fluids
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Take an oral rehydration solution containing salt and sugar
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If you start having more than four or five loose stools a day, take an antibiotic (usually containing quinolone) and an
antidiarrhoeal agent (such as loperamide)
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Seek medical attention if the diarrhoea is bloody, persists for more than 72 hours, or is accompanied by fever, shaking,
chills or severe abdominal pain.
Heat Illness
Heat exhaustion occurs following heavy sweating and excessive fluid loss. In the summer months, temperatures can
reach 50°C and in such conditions even a round of golf can be dangerous.
Symptoms include headache, dizziness and tiredness. Aim to drink sufficient water so that you produce pale, diluted
urine. To treat heat exhaustion, drink lots of water, cool down in an air-conditioned room and add a little more table salt
to foods than usual.
Heatstroke is a much more serious condition, and occurs when the body's heat-regulating mechanism breaks down.
An excessive rise in body temperature leads to the cessation of sweating, irrational and hyperactive behaviour, and even-
tually loss of consciousness and death. Rapid cooling of the body by spraying with water or fanning is an effective treat-
ment. Emergency fluid and electrolyte replacement (by intravenous drip) is also usually required.
Insect Bites & Stings
Using DEET-based insect repellents will help prevent mosquito bites.
Bed bugs and sometimes scabies are occasionally found in hostels and cheap hotels. They cause very itchy lumpy
bites - spray the mattress or find new lodgings!
Scorpions are common in the desert. Although their bite can be painful, it's rarely life threatening.
Avoid walking on sand dunes in bare feet, and don't prod holes in wadis, to avoid snake encounters.
TAP WATER
Tap water is safe to drink in Gulf cities and in Oman (but not in Yemen or Saudi, nor in rural areas where water is
delivered by tanker), but it doesn't agree with everyone. It's easier to stick to bottled water (found everywhere),
boil water for 10 minutes, or use water-purification tablets or a filter. Never drink water from wadis (valleys or ri-
verbeds) or streams as animals are usually watered in them.
Travelling With Children
Travelling with children in the Arabian Peninsula poses no specific health problems for children between the months of
November and March. For the rest of the year, however, the extreme temperatures, often combined with high humidity,
pose high threats of dehydration and heat exhaustion making a summer visit best avoided. Extra care should be taken to
avoid prolonged exposure to the sun at all times of the year. For more information,
Click here
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