Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Dust and wind can be a real problem, so refreshing eye drops to soothe itchy eyes and wash
out grit can be really useful. If you wear contact lenses, your optician should be able to
offer you a range of comfort drops which will be compatible with your lenses.
Also most supermarket pharmacies, plus travel and camping shops, sell plastic bottles of
mildly medicated hand cleanser that dries instantly. They're small and light to carry and
you only use a small amount each time so it's worth packing a couple. They're really useful
for cleaning hands before putting in contact lenses if the local water supply is suspect. It's
also worth making sure you have glasses as a back-up, as it's not always possible to replace
lost or torn contacts.
If you wear glasses consider taking a spare pair - they don't have to be expensive and you
can choose frames that are flexible and durable. Keep them in a hard glasses case in a wa-
terproof (and sandproof) pouch.
Malaria
This disease is caught from the bite of an anopheles mosquito and mosquitoes are vicious
and vindictive. Highest risk areas are tropical regions like sub-Saharan Africa, the Solomon
Islands and Vanuatu (Pacific), the Amazon basin in South America and parts of Asia.
There's no jab, but your GP will give you a course of pills to take.
The most dangerous form of malaria is falciparum, which is particularly common in sub-
Saharan Africa (places like Ghana, Gambia, DR Congo). It can cause liver, kidney, stom-
ach and neurological problems and if left untreated, can be fatal.
One bite from a mosquito is enough. The parasite gets to your liver within 30 minutes
and will reproduce there rapidly, infecting the blood stream. Once the parasites are in your
blood stream you start to notice symptoms. Some versions can remain dormant in the liver,
leading to repeat episodes of the illness.
The best protection is to try (as much as possible) to avoid being bitten. Here are tips for
how:
•
Use insect repellent, preferably containing either at least 30% DEET (diethyltolu-
amide), or extract of lemon eucalyptus oil.
•
Keep your arms and legs covered between dusk and dawn and use a 'knockdown'
spray to kill any mosquitoes immediately.
•
Mosquito nets are useful, but they can be hard to put up correctly. It is often worth
carrying a little extra string and small bits of wire so that the net can be hung up in
rooms that don't have hanging hooks. Ideally the net should be impregnated with
