• Acute Mountain Sickness
• Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever
• Dengue fever
• Diarrhoea
• Ebola Haemorrhagic Fever
• Influenza
• Lassa Fever
• Legionnaires Disease
• Leishmaniasis
• Leprosy
• Onchocerciasis (River Blindness)
• Plague
• Schistosomiasis
• Tick bourne encephalitis
• Tick Typhus
• Trypanosomiasis (African Sleeping sickness)

Diarrhoea

Travellers diarrhoea is one of the most common ailments of travellers and so it is important to know how best to prevent it and what to do should you contract it whilst you are overseas. It’s generally described as passing two or three watery stools per day, during or shortly after travelling. It is extremely common, but it is generally mild illness and can be more irritating or spoil your enjoyment of your holiday.

Risk areas:

You can contract travellers diarrhoea anywhere, however it is generally more common where sanitation and hygiene standards are poor. Higher risk areas include most of Asia, Middle East, Africa, Mexico, Central and South America.

Transmission:

Most cases are as a result of poor hygiene and transferred from faeces. However, change of diet and drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can also be a factor.

Symptoms:

Three or four loose stools a day, stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting can also occur in some cases. Generally these can start within two days of arriving at your destination and rarely lasts longer than fiver days. If it does, then you are best advised to seek medical advice. Also seek medical advice if you become particularly dehydrated, repeated vomiting or you have a high temperature.

Precautions:

• Don’t drink water from the taps, always drink bottled water
• Be weary of local cheese and ice cream
• Cook meat thoroughly and ensure it is hot
• Be weary of fish and shellfish even if it is well cooked, if in doubt avoid it
• Avoid salads and uncooked vegetables
• Only eat fruit that you can peel and peel tomatoes too
• Avoid food that has been exposed to flies
• Wash your hands before eating or handling food and after visiting the toilet

Treatment:

Should you contract travellers diarrhoea, there is little treatment for it and will generally clear up by itself within two to three days. You must ensure that you stay hydrated, and oral rehydration sachets are always useful to pack in your travel first aid kit. However, remember to take them with bottled water! Avoid drinking alcohol or caffeine whilst suffering with travellers diarrhoea. Some medicines are available to help relieve diarrhoea, however, this generally stops you from going to the toilet and traps the bacteria inside the body and can go on to cause constipation.

Vaccine:

No vaccine is available to prevent travellers diarrhoea prior to travelling.