How to Stay Healthy While Traveling in the Tropics

How to Stay Healthy While Traveling in the Tropics

edits by:muriel glasgow, Dave Crosby, Sondra C, Lucca Lanaro

globalization comes anxieties and fears.  Are you fearful of visiting your friend in the Comoros working with an international agency or multinational company? Or the Serengeti Plains in Tanzania where your brother is studying the Masai culture? Or just traveling to tropical climes to connect with and understanding other cultures? This article will help you take precautions and play it safe.

[[Category:Travel Health]]

Before the trip

#Gather as much information as you can on the culture and peoples of the countries you will be visiting. Learn a few words and greetings in the local language. United Nations missions and embassies are a good resource for over 140 countries.

#Research whether there are any vaccinations you should get before visiting the region to which you are heading.

#Make "trail mix" packages of almonds, walnuts, goji berries , pumpkin seeds, apricot seeds, or whatever country trail mix you like. Stock up with enough to last throughout the trip.

#Pack an assortment of sizes of ziploc bags, drinking straws, and a pair of rubber slippers or thongs.

#Buy mosquito repellent, a good sunscreen, a wide brimmed panama hat (folded) to help to reduce the glare effects of the sun. A baseball hat or visor might get the job done, too, depending on where you're going and how strong the sun is.

#Ensure that you wear your "invisible" glove (Clear Shield provides great "cover" to hands). The clearshield lotion provides helps in reducing hand-to-hand transfer of potential diseases, since the lotion wraps the hands like an invisible glove. Repeated application reinforces its efficacy and protects the hands themselves. Even when hands are washed, the protective lotion does not wash off easily.

#Take your medication (carry an additional prescription just in case, but not in the same bag), vitamin supplements, and your extra pair of glasses.

== During the trip ==

#Make friends with the locals. Be kind without inviting the shadier folks to take advantage of you. Ultimately, a local who likes and respects you will watch out for you better than any guidebook ever could.

Eat only fruits that can be peeled (and there are many fruits in the tropics to enjoy). Eat your trail mix whenever you get hungry or need a snack.

#Always splash the mosquito repellent on your skin, particularly exposed legs, arms and face, during both the day and night.

#Drink beer ''moderately'' if you're very thirsty (and if you can) especially if the source of the water is doubtful. Or, drink local bottled water. Imported bottled water is preferable and is usually available. Just remember, no crushed ice in liquids.

#Use the straws to drink directly out of the bottle if you feel averse to using glasses or cups; you can share your extra straws with your new friends.

#Always wear sunscreen and a wide brimmed, foldable panama hat or a cap with visor for protection from the loving, though relentless sun.

#Keep your shoes on. Never walk indoors or outdoors barefooted.  The rubber thongs protect the bottom of the feet from those little parasites called hookworms which might be looking for an opportunity to burrow into the soles of the feet.

== Tips ==

*Drinking a lot of water (a must) means going to the bathroom regularly.  Regarding field trips or safaris, trips outside of the capital city might take you to places where there usually is not the convenience of sanitary latrine facilities.

*Women should would never, ever wear pants, trousers or a jumpsuit on field visits. Wear a very wide skirt and take a lot of tissue paper in your handbag. There is a saying that there are four categories of latrine users – sitters, squatters, washers, and wipers.  In the field and outdoors, squatting is the preferred method for women, hence the wide skirt.

*During your trip, have vitamin B1 300mg supplement and take two capsules daily. Mosquitoes hate the smell of it and will be a smaller issue. Citronella based lotions are also good to keep mosquitoes away.

*Share your nutmix, extra straws, and clearshield so as not to imply that you disdain the new friends with whom you will be interacting.

*When sleeping under the bednet, stay as far away as possible from the sides of the bed so that no part of your skin touches the net, which is still a good interface for the mosquito-human connection.

== Warnings ==

*There is always risk of illness, injury, and crime, no matter where you go. Staying healthy abroad means being conscious of what you expose and put into your body, which is a good habit even at home.

== Things You'll Need ==

*trail mix

*hand lotion