Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Having pre-travel vaccination means the post-bite treatment is greatly simplified. If you
are not pre-vaccinated, you will need to receive rabies immunoglobulin as soon as pos-
sible.
Environmental Hazards
DIVING
Divers and surfers should seek specialised advice before they travel, to ensure their med-
ical kit contains treatment for coral cuts and tropical ear infections. Divers should ensure
their insurance covers them for decompression illness - specialised dive insurance is
available through
DAN Asia-Pacific
(Divers Alert Network;
www.danasiapacific.org
)
.
Have a dive medical before you leave your home country.
HEAT
Borneo is hot and humid throughout the year. Most people take at least two weeks to ad-
apt to the climate. Swelling of the feet and ankles is common, as are muscle cramps
caused by excessive sweating. Prevent these by avoiding dehydration and too much activ-
ity in the heat. Take it easy when you first arrive. Don't eat salt tablets (they aggravate the
gut), but drinking rehydration solution or eating salty food helps. Treat cramps by stop-
ping activity, resting, rehydrating with double-strength rehydration solution and gently
stretching.
Dehydration is the main contributor to heat exhaustion. Symptoms include feeling
weak, headache, irritability, nausea or vomiting, sweaty skin, a fast, weak pulse and a
slightly increased body temperature. Treatment involves getting the sufferer out of the
heat and/or sun, fanning them and applying cool wet cloths to the skin, laying the victim
flat with their legs raised and rehydrating with water containing a quarter of a teaspoon of
salt per litre. Recovery is usually rapid, although it's common to feel weak for some days
afterwards.
Heatstroke is a serious medical emergency. Symptoms come on suddenly and include
weakness, nausea, a hot, dry body with a body temperature of over 41°C, dizziness, con-
fusion, loss of coordination, fits, and eventual collapse and loss of consciousness. Seek
medical help and commence cooling by getting the sufferer out of the heat, removing their
clothes, fanning them and applying cool, wet cloths or ice to their body, especially to the
groin and armpits.
Prickly heat is a common skin rash in the tropics, caused by sweat being trapped under
the skin. The result is an itchy rash of tiny lumps. If you develop prickly heat, treat it by
moving out of the heat and into an air-conditioned area for a few hours and by having cool
