We've all heard the horror stories. Kobus in finance drank water in a foreign country and came home with cholera. Your cousin's friend had bad diarrhea after taking a culinary vacation.

Don’t let the fear of your health put your deserved holiday on the back burner.

To prevent nasty insect bites

Diseases like malaria are spread through insect bites.

Protect yourself:

• See your health-care provider at least 4-6 weeks before your trip. This allows for the anti-malarial drugs to take effect and to prevent malaria.
• Even if you have less than 4 weeks before you travel, see your doc for medicines and procedures to follow.
• You should continue taking your anti-malarial drugs (Doxycycline or Mefloquine) for four weeks after leaving your destination.
• Take the anti-malarial drug Atovaquone or Proguanil for seven days after leaving your travel destination.
• Use insect repellent. And don’t forget to re-apply.
• Opt for long-sleeved shirts, long pants and a hat outdoors.

To avoid all the nasty bugs, book now with Malaria-free deals.

Be Careful about food and water

Diseases from food and water are the leading cause of illness in travellers. For safe eating and drinking follow these guidelines:

• If you’re in SA, consider yourself lucky. We’re one of the few countries with safe drinking water. If you’re doing a bit of international travel, opt for bottled water.
• To be on the safe side, don’t purchase food from street vendors. It might be cheap but it won’t necessary agree with your constitution.
This will help fend off diarrhea and vomiting on your travels.

When home, swing by the doc!

If after all the good tips  you are not feeling well. See your doc and mention that you’ve recently travelled. If you have visited a malaria-risk area, continue taking your anti-malarial drugs for another 4 weeks.

Ensure that your next travel idea and personal health go hand-in-hand. This guide will see to it that wellness and travel fun are in-sync on your next vacation.

1. Click onto the Health24 site. Here you’ll find health warnings and info about your desired holiday destination.

2. Get all your vaccinations well in advance of departure. This way your doc can handle any allergic reactions. And you’ll have time to recover from any soreness, fever or fatigue. You’ll be in great shape for your travel adventure.

3. Make sure your prescriptions are up to date. Maybe go so far as to get an explanation note from your doc.Some countries are finicky. They question even prescription medications at the border. So you’ll want proof that your medications are medically necessary.

4. If you are going on an adrenaline-packed vacation (hiking, abseiling, etc.) make sure your body’s ready. Go to your local gym and get in shape. I’m not proposing weeks but months before leaving. Get the green light from your physician by getting a fitness checkup. This way a strenuous hike up a mountain will be a walk in the park.

5. Be upfront with your physician. Tell him/her if there’s a family history of mental illness for instance. Your doc might advise against taking certain anti-malarial medicines.

6. Don't ignore your mouth. Ensure that your crowns and fillings are secure. Dental services in some countries might not be up to scratch.

7. Kit up your first-aid kit with anti-bacterial cream and plenty of antihistamines. You don’t want to be caught off-guard when you find that you’re actually allergic to some exotic plants or insects.

8. Don't forget lots of sunscreen-wherever you travel. The risk of skin cancer never goes on vacation.
Don’t neglect your sunscreen even in the dead of winter… you’re still at risk. It should at least have a sun protection factor (SPF) of 20.

If you didn’t know, the factor of 20 refers to how many minutes you can be exposed to the sun without risk. So SPF20 for instance should be re-applied after 20 minutes.

9. To prevent fungal and parasitic infections, keep your feet clean and dry. Do not go barefoot. There might be animal feces on the beach.

10. Avoid dairy products. Unless you know for certain they’ve been pasteurized.

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