Travellers, who do not have immunity to Hepatitis A, are at significant risk of infection in countries with poor quality drinking water and sanitation.

The virus is mainly spread through contaminated food or water, especially untreated water supplies.

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is most prevalent in developing countries, and it’s important to know that resort level accommodation does not always exclude the risk of infection.

The disease, which is more likely to be fatal in the older traveller, often causes a major disruption for all travellers – cutting short holiday and business travel and/or requiring time (up to months) off work.

Full immunisation requires two doses of the Hepatitis A vaccine.

According to the WHO, over 125 million international travellers visit countries endemic with malaria every year.

Malaria is one of the world’s most common and life-threatening diseases. Proper medical intervention in the early stages of infection usually leads to a full recovery.

However, sometimes health care overseas, particularly in developing countries, is not always reliable.

Malaria

Malaria can occur in pockets of many tropical and subtropical countries, it can be resistant to some anti-malarial medications and it is more prevalent at certain times of the year.

Travellers in moderate to high risk areas generally take insect avoidance measures and preventative medications where necessary.

Travel Clinics Australia recommends travellers visit a Travel Clinic if they are visiting a malaria zone, are unsure if they require anti-malarial medication and/or to discuss anti-malarial options and insect avoidance measures.

TCA clinics stock a range of antimalarials medications and insect avoidance products.

Signs and symptoms of malaria may vary and include: fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and weakness, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, hallucinations and convulsions.

Travel medicine is never static. There is no one ‘recipe’ to cover travel health needs for every traveller.

Travel health information and advice on the internet is not necessarily accurate or to Australian standards. This can lead to confusion and anxiety for the traveller.

Global health conditions and legal requirements frequently change. Only a few information sources are able to keep abreast of new disease outbreaks and treatment. Without up to date, specific information, travellers put their health at risk, possibly spoiling their holiday or worse.

Sometimes the internet focus is on ‘exotic’ diseases, ignoring more routine illnesses such as measles, chicken pox, mumps and influenza which often break out overseas and can be debilitating in themselves.

Travel blogs and travel health sites can miss hand washing, yet personal hygiene is one of the most important factors in preventing traveller’s diarrhoea. Gastro accounts for up to an estimated 80% of illness overseas.

While it is useful to have a general idea of travel health requirements, the best advice is to seek individual advice with a doctor well versed in travel medicine 6 - 8 weeks before leaving Australia.

Experienced Travel Clinic doctors consider many factors when advising travellers of the best way to look after their health overseas.

A client’s general health, age, vaccination history, destination, length of stay, areas visited, time of year, mode of transportation, accommodation and current disease outbreaks and treatment are all carefully taken into consideration.

Advice for a 21 year old backpacking through Vietnam will be vastly different to an asthmatic 55 year old cruising the Pacific Islands.

Guidelines are just that – guidelines. The best travel health advice comes from seeing a doctor who can match the latest travel health information with your specific needs.