Continued from last week.
During Trip: Maintain a regular routine where possible thus ensuring a sense of control over a new environment and compliance with any medication.
Ensure adequate rest, hydration and calorie intake, especially if a busy schedule is expected.
Travellers should ensure adequate exercise and non-work related activities are maintained.
Pre-arrange contact via telephone, Skype, email with close friends and family at home, especially when travelling alone. Avoid excess alcohol and illicit drug.
The risk of travellers’ diarrhoea: can be reduced, although not eliminated, by practising good food, water and hand hygiene. Fundamental points to highlight to travellers.
Personal hygiene when eating and drinking is very important. Where possible, hands should be washed thoroughly using soap and clean water, prior to handling food, eating and always after using the toilet. Hand washing facilities may be poor or not available when travelling, therefore it is advisable to carry sanitising gel or hand wipes at all times. Clean dishes, cups and utensils should be used; alcohol wipes can be used to clean them if necessary.
Food Hygiene: Food should be freshly cooked to a high temperature and served immediately while still hot. Harmful micro-organisms are killed over 700C, it is important that this temperature is reached throughout the food. Meat should be thoroughly cooked and eaten hot. Leftovers and reheated meat should be avoided.
Fish and shellfish can be hazardous even if well cooked. Local advice about seafood should be sought, but when in doubt it is best avoided. Only consume pasteurised milk/milk products. Unpasteurised milk should be boiled. Cheeses and ice cream may be made from unpasteurised milk. These should only be consumed where quality can be assured. Only eat thoroughly cooked vegetables. Salads and fresh herbs (including in drinks) should be avoided. Peel fruit, including tomatoes. Berries, in particular raspberries, maybe sources of Cyclospora They are difficult to wash and best avoided.
Water Hygiene: Water can contain not only particulate matter and pathogenic micro-organisms, but also chemical pollutants. Water should only be drunk if its purity is known. This also applies to water used for making ice cubes and cleaning teeth. It should not be drunk unless it is bottled with an intact seal, boiled, chemically disinfected or passed through a reliable filter. Hot tea and coffee are usually safe as are beer and wine.
Water Purification: Boiling: This is the most reliable method, It is generally accepted that bringing to a rolling boil achieves adequate purification. Water should be boiled for 3 minutes at altitudes above 2000m (6562ft) where water boils at a lower temperature. This may be the most acceptable method for travellers going to visit friends and relatives where access to equipment is possible.
Water purified in this way should be cooled and covered to avoid contamination after boiling. If water is not boiled, a combination of techniques to disinfect water should be used, and can include the use of filters (ceramic, carbon, and membrane), halogens, chemical disinfectants and/or UV radiation.
Some sun exposure: below the level of sunburn can be beneficial through helping our bodies create vitamin D and promoting feelings of general well-being. However, excessive sun exposure is associated with: sunburn, skin cancer, photosensitive rashes, aggravation of existing conditions such as rosaceous and eczema, premature skin aging. The risk of sunburn is increased when, in addition to direct exposure from the sun, Ultra Violet (UV) radiation is also reflected. For example, the sun is reflected from water when swimming, and from white sand or snow. The risk is also greater at higher altitudes when there is less protection from the earth’s atmosphere. Sunscreens may be needed SPF 15 to 25 and UVA rating of 3 may be adequate for most Nigerians.
Sun Safety: The safest way to enjoy the sun and protect skin from sunburn is to use a combination of shade, clothing and sunscreen: seek shelter and avoid sun exposure between 11am and 3pm when the sun is typically stronger or expose for short periods 10-20mins to get your Vitamin D, cover up using clothing such as wide brimmed hat and long sleeved tops, closed weaved fabrics may offer better sun protection, use sunscreen properly , wear sunglasses with wraparound lenses or wide arms with the CE Mark and European Standard EN 1836:2005. Babies under 6 months of age should be kept out of direct strong sunlight, infants and children should be well protected at all times, extra care is required for those with fair skin.
First Aid Kits: It is wise to carry along a properly stocked first aid kit for small emergencies.
Small tips:-Pack light, always carry a mobile phone with your ICE (In case of emergency) numbers on it. Sanitizers, tissue paper, google maps may be useful. Always have a functional fully roaming and topped up mobile phone that can roam at the destination country. Remember the worldwide emergency number even if your phone has no credit is 112. It is free of charge and it works. Have a pleasant and safe trip and a pleasant family Easter Holiday. Don’t spoil a great holiday. Boil it, cook it, peel it or forget it.
Dr Ade Alakija
Q-life Family Clinic
