Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
an insecticide, you can buy nets that are already treated from specialist shops and
travel clinics.
For some places, dual-voltage mosquito killer plugs are a good idea. Holiday
Which? tested hand-held electric buzzers that claim to frighten off mosquitoes and
found that they did not work on the anopheles mosquito.
Another good idea is to spray clothes with permethrin - which usually lasts up to
two weeks, although Healthguard has a product, called AM-1, which works for
three months or 30 washes. Visit www.healthguardtm.com to find out more or
call them on +44 (0)20 8275 1100.
The pills can be expensive, and some people, particularly on long trips, stop taking their
pills, especially if they're not getting bitten much. Don't. Malaria can be fatal.
No one drug acts on all stages of the disease, and different species of parasites show differ-
ent responses. Your GP, practice nurse or local travel clinic should know which one of the
varied anti-malarials is best for you, depending on your medical history ( eg for epileptics
or asthmatics, for whom some types of anti-malarials cannot be prescribed) and the coun-
tries you are visiting. Visit your GP or travel clinic at least eight weeks before you go to
discuss the options.
It's also worth doing a little research of your own before going to your GP or practice nurse.
A useful website is www.malariahotspots.co.uk All the anti-malarial tablets have various
pros and cons, and some of them have significant side effects. If you're going to an area
where you have to use the weekly mefloquine tablets, MASTA recommends that you start
taking the course two-and-a-half to three weeks before departure. Most people who exper-
ience unpleasant side effects with this drug, will notice them by the third dose. If you do
have problems, this trial will allow you time to swap to an alternative regime before you
go.
If you are in a malaria-risk area, or have recently been in one, and start suffering from 'flu-
like' symptoms, eg fever, muscle pain, nausea, headache, fatigue, chills, and/or sweats, you
should consider the diagnosis of malaria and seek medical attention immediately.
A traveller with these symptoms within several months after returning from an endemic
area should also seek medical care and tell their doctor their travel history. The correct
treatment involves the proper identification of the type of malaria parasite, where the trav-
eller has been and their medical history.
Sunburn
Wherever your gap-year takes you, the advice from Cancer Research UK's SunSmart cam-
paign is to enjoy your time in the sun safely. This means not getting caught out by sunburn
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