Travel Clinic

Logo Menu
Print Mail

Before the trip

If you are travelling to a (sub) tropical country then good preparation can help prevent many possible health problems. You are therefore well advised to take action before your departure.

Vaccinations

It is possible to be vaccinated against a number of diseases before you travel. Vaccinations can prevent you from getting ill, or lessen the severity of your condition should this happen. Vaccinations are not always immediately effective: sometimes they take time to work or need to be given as a series of two or three injections over a number of days or weeks. It is important therefore to make an appointment with Travel Clinic at least 6 weeks before your proposed trip. Even if this is not possible you should still contact us: last minute vaccinations or a course of malaria tablets will give you more protection during your trip than if you do nothing at all. Travel Clinic will use the information you give us about your health to determine which vaccinations are appropriate. Click here to make an appointment.

Medication

If you are on medication please remember the following:

  • Take enough medicine with you. Ask your doctor for sufficient medication for your entire trip.
  • Carry medicines in your hand luggage so that you have them with you even if your main baggage goes astray.
  • You can get a “medication passport” from your pharmacy. This document lists all your medications and will make it much easier for you to get medicine whilst abroad in the event that you lose what you have or discover that you do not have enough.
  • Do remember that not all drugs purchased abroad are reliable and some may even be unsafe. It is much better to take your own medicine with you and not to buy any whilst abroad since you cannot know for sure what it is you are getting.

Medical Travel Kit

It is wise to take a medical travel kit with you so that you are well prepared during your trip abroad. Not all first aid items and basic medicines are easily available in every country. Consider taking the following:

  • A standard first aid kit
  • Painkillers (e.g. paracetamol or aspirin)
  • An anti-diarrhoea drug for short-term use
  • ORS (oral rehydration salts) for replenishing salt and fluids after suffering from diarrhoea
  • Anti-malaria tablets (if appropriate)
  • Sunscreen
  • Disinfectant (e.g. iodine)
  • Sterile injection equipment
  • Condoms
  • Travel sickness tablets
  • Antibiotics