ADVICE FOR BACKPACKERS

Backpacking refers to self-organised trips, which usually involve travelling on foot or public transport and staying in simple cheap accommodation. This can expose travellers to additional health risks.

Vaccinations take time

Consult the doctor or nurse as soon as possible ideally at least six weeks before travelling.

Risk factors

Beware of the risk of accidents when trekking or travelling on poor roads in badly maintained vehicles. Motorcycling can be extremely hazardous. Consider arranging for screened blood products.

Travellers are also likely to be exposed to infections and should be aware of measures to prevent illness from food and water, insects and animals and close personal contact with locals.

Contamination of food and water is a major cause of illness in travellers. Unless certain of the purity of the local water supply, stick to boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks. Alternatively, water can be sterilised with iodine drops/tablets or with a quality filter. Dishes and cutlery should also be washed with sterilised water. Hot tea, coffee, beer and wine are usually safe.
Ensure that milk has been pasteurised and that cheese, cream and ice cream are made from milk that has been pasteurised. Peel all fruit, eat only cooked vegetables and avoid salads. Ensure that seafood, fish and meat are thoroughly cooked and eaten hot whenever possible. Avoid leftovers. Wash hands before eating or handling food and always after using the toilet.

Mosquito and other insect bites can be minimised through wearing suitable clothing, using repellents and a mosquito net.

Unsafe sex, particularly with commercial sex workers, will put travellers at risk of serious infections including HIV.

A comprehensive first aid kit is important and is likely to include something for simple diarrhoea, sufficient anti-malarial tablets, possibly an antibiotic, and emergency malarial treatment if going to areas remote from medical facilities.

Culture shock can be very real.
Family or social difficulties at home and psychological problems, including alcoholism, make adapting difficult. Time differences between continents might increase isolation when it is difficult to maintain contact with friends and relatives.
A situation that is exciting and welcome to one person can be daunting to another . Possible problems include adjusting to a different climate, unusual food, religious and cultural differences, separation from family, changes in living standards, different social amenities, language differences, coming to terms with poverty, begging, and compulsory movement restrictions for safety or political reasons.
Being open to new and different cultures and being patient, rather than critical, will help the traveller adapt to new and challenging adventures.