Bhutan - Lindsay Brown [221]
Antihistamine – there are many options, eg Cetrizine for daytime and Promethazine for night
Antiseptic, eg Betadine
Antispasmodic for stomach cramps, eg Buscopa
Contraceptives
Decongestant, eg Pseudoephedrine
DEET-based insect repellent
Diarrhoea – consider an oral rehydration solution (eg Gastrolyte), diarrhoea ‘stopper’ (eg Loperamide) and antinausea medication (eg Prochlorperazine)
First-aid items such as scissors, Elastoplasts, bandages, gauze, thermometer (but not mercury), sterile needles and syringes, safety pins and tweezers
Ibuprofen or another anti-inflammatory
Indigestion medication, eg Quick-Eze or Mylanta
Iodine tablets (unless you are pregnant or have a thyroid problem) to purify water
Laxative, eg Coloxyl
Migraine sufferer – take your personal medicine
Paracetamol
Permethrin to impregnate clothing and mosquito nets
Steroid cream for allergic/itchy rashes, eg 1% to 2% hydrocortisone
Sunscreen and hat
Throat lozenges
Thrush (vaginal yeast infection) treatment, eg Clotrimazole pessaries or Diflucan tablet
Ural or equivalent if you’re prone to urine infections
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INTERNET RESOURCES
There is a wealth of travel health advice on the internet. For further information, Lonely Planet (lonelyplanet.com) is a good place to start. The World Health Organization (WHO; www.who.int/ith/) publishes a superb book called International Travel & Health, which is revised annually and is available free online. Another website of general interest is MD Travel Health (www.mdtravelhealth.com), which provides complete travel health recommendations for every country and is updated daily. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC; www.cdc.gov) website also has good general information.
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FURTHER READING
Lonely Planet’s Healthy Travel – Asia & India is a handy pocket-size book that is packed with useful information including pretrip planning, emergency first aid, immunisation and disease information and what to do if you get sick on the road. Other recommended references include Traveller’s Health by Dr Richard Dawood and Travelling Well by Dr Deborah Mills – check out the website www.travellingwell.com.au.
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IN TRANSIT
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DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS (DVT)
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs when blood clots form in the legs during plane flights, chiefly because of prolonged immobility. The longer the flight, the greater the risk. Though most blood clots are reabsorbed uneventfully, some may break off and travel through the blood vessels to the lungs, where they may cause life-threatening complications.
The chief symptom of DVT is swelling or pain of the foot, ankle or calf, usually but not always on just one side. If a blood clot travels to the lungs it may cause chest pain and difficulty in breathing. Travellers with any of these symptoms should immediately seek medical attention.
To prevent the development of DVT on long flights you should walk about the cabin, perform isometric compressions of the leg muscles (ie contract the leg muscles while sitting), drink plenty of fluids and avoid alcohol.
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JET LAG & MOTION SICKNESS
Jet lag is common when crossing more than five time zones; it results in insomnia, fatigue, malaise or nausea. To avoid jet lag try drinking plenty of fluids (nonalcoholic) and eating light meals. Upon arrival, seek exposure to natural sunlight and readjust your schedule (for meals, sleep etc) as soon as possible.
Antihistamines such as dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) and meclizine (Antivert, Bonine) are usually the first choice for treating motion sickness. Their main side effect is drowsiness. A herbal alternative is ginger, which works like a charm for some people.
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IN BHUTAN
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AVAILABILITY OF HEALTH CARE
There are no private health clinics or physicians in Bhutan, but all district headquarters towns have a hospital, and will accept travellers in need of medical