Comments on: 11 Simple Tips to Help You Avoid Getting Sick When You Travel

By: BARRY HODGSON

BARRY HODGSON — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 00:35:38 +0000

Here’s an unusual tip to lessen the risk of food poisoning.
I lived and worked with the Bedouin in the Middle East in the 80’s. Most Fridays (their sabbath) there was a grand communal meal at which I was expected to attend. Ex-pats called it a ‘goat grab’, but that’s another story.
Anyway, in temperatures often around 40 degrees, we would squat around a large dish on the floor, eating heavily salted rice, veg and poorly cooked goat (the goat having been slaughtered a few hours earlier, thus the meat was still full of blood and the result was an unappealing and salty grey meat).
After the main meal, a ‘desert’ such as salted porridge was served. Maybe half hour afterwards a half orange would be handed out, providing the first bit of moisture for several hours.
Eventually a small glass of sweet tea would be poured, to my great relief.
At the time I put this down to local customs, but one day I commented on it, explaining that in the West we often have water with a meal, even wine.
The village elder gently explained that our stomach acids (he called them juices) can handle most mild toxins, providing we don’t dilute them with drinks!
It makes sense, and I’ve applied that advice ever since, it seems to work!

By: Carol Henshaw

Carol Henshaw — Sat, 18 Jul 2020 20:11:08 +0000

In reply to Britt. In addition to filtering you can also sterilise water with chlorine dioxide tablets. I get them on Ebay and carry them with me. I have had no problems with water in the back country or all sorts of places where hygiene and water are dodgy.

By: beth

beth — Tue, 13 Nov 2018 16:39:21 +0000

I would add to pace yourself as another way to stay healthy. I have limited vacation and want to do everything but find myself fighting jetlag, unknown food, lots of walking etc. and have to remind myself that taking a day to read a book in a cafe does not make me less of a traveler.
Also, especially for women, carrier a “bathroom kit.” Kleenex, wet wipes and hand sanitizer. I can’t tell you the amount I have given out in bathrooms in Southeast Asia because people assumed that it would be available. Sometimes, washing your hands isn’t a possibility.
See a travel doctor before leaving. I’ve been lucky enough to have found a great one who takes her time discussing things and makes sure I have what I need for travel.
She always makes sure I have antibiotics and rash cream(as I am prone to them).
I also need to echo never to eat rice from a buffet. This was never something I thought of as an issue and then I got horrible food poison and learned that rice needs to be eaten immediately and then stored in a fridge. Several food poisoning outbreaks come from rice salad(a midwestern U.S. thing) in summer as it is left out at picnics.

By: Phillip Sego

Phillip Sego — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 13:26:21 +0000

In reply to Laura Falk.

I’ve read that most diseases are transmitter via one’s hands. My personal advice is to wash your hands compulsively, use generous quantities of hand sanitizer compulsively, keep your fingernails short, travel with antibacterial soap, and never put your fingers in your mouth, rub your eyes, or in any body opening. Ask your doctor about a prophylactic antibiotic, being certain that your doctor understands that you’re female (antibiotics can lead to yeast infections).

I’m prone to fungal infections, and have become paranoid about things like cheese (especially in France). Understanding the cause of one’s infections is critical.

But to those who read this who are not prone to getting sick, these practices can lead to an increased risk of illness/infections, and using antibacterial soap is bad for the environment.

By: Phillip Sego

Phillip Sego — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 13:15:16 +0000

This is good advice – I follow all these guidelines plus two more. I travel extensively in developing nations and second world countries with dubious water quality (eg India).
a. If you don’t carry a water filter, use Potable Aqua iodine tablets for disinfecting water for toothbrushing, etc. But don’t use it for drinking water too often.
b. Carry with you at all times ciproflaxin 500mg (or other as your doctor prescribes). If you get that telltale gurgle that signifies a food choice mistake, follow your doctor’s aggressive advice. Mine was for 1 tablet immediately, 1 more an hour later, and then one every 6 hours for a day afterwards. But don’t follow my regimen, your doctor needs to advise you what YOU should take. This regimen has saved me half-dozen times, but I’m pretty daring about where I eat.
c. Don’t even *think* about taking Lariam (mefloquine). Honestly, getting malaria would be better. It’s a highly psychoactive drug that has been linked to psychosis and suicides.

By: Almaré Smith

Almaré Smith — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 15:14:46 +0000

Great advice, thanks.
I always take a small bottle of concentrated disinfectant with and pour a cupfull in my bathwater. After my bath, I soak my sandals in the water for a couple of minutes.
Also remember to brush your teeth with bottled water

By: Paula Barnard-Amaro

Paula Barnard-Amaro — Sun, 14 May 2017 12:08:20 +0000

My 15 yr old is traveling to Kenya at the end of the month with school volunteering in Nukuru, and I want to pack him off with his vitamins but don’t know what is best for him to take out there, would probiotics be recommended ?

By: Lachlan

Lachlan — Fri, 10 Mar 2017 15:50:39 +0000

Don’t eat risky foods in places with marginal hygiene! Also, I always carry charcoal capsules with me. These are magic when you suspect food poisoning. Don’t leave home without them. For Asian countries, it’s easy to bring disposable chopsticks with you, then you eliminate one area of risk when eating street food.

By: Deedee Lewis

Deedee Lewis — Wed, 15 Feb 2017 20:36:46 +0000

I agree with your tip about staying active to help better fight off illnesses and infections. Personally, when I am the most active, I notice that I get sick less than when I am not as active. I will definitely keep these tips in mind as I get ready to do more traveling this summer.

By: Xavier Salas

Xavier Salas — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 03:08:56 +0000

Thank you so much for the tips about staying healthy. I was unaware that the sun could be so potentially dangerous. I enjoyed your story about the lady in Egypt and I think it is incredibly important to stay hydrated. I have heard that the minute you feel dehydrated, your body is really dehydrated. Thanks again for the advice!