Easter holiday health tips from Family Medicine

原创 sarai
Advice from Dr. Sarai Nietvelt, a Family Medicine Physician at Shanghai United Family Hospital & Clinics.
Easter break is approaching and as with many expats living in China, it’s the perfect time to start planning your next trip! But beaware, traveling to Southeast Asia or other exotic/tropical destinations can quickly turn into a nightmare, especially if you haven’t prepared for your health needs: up-to-date vaccinations, first aid kit, and other essentials. So, how can you plan for everything?

Precautions to be taken in order to be well prepared and fully enjoy your trip!

The first-aid kit:
Before going on vacation, don’t forget to prepare your travel first-aid kit. It should be prepared based on your health condition and your destination.

In addition to usual medication, don’t forget to bring wound care materials.

Here is a (non-exhaustive) list of medicines you may need:

Antimalarials
Antiemetic, antidiarrheal
Pain relievers: paracetamol – ibuprofen
Antiallergic
Antibiotic effective against intestinal infections, ear infections, and conjunctivitis.
Motion sickness medication
Chronic medication
Probiotics
Anti-inflammatory ointment
Anti-itching cream for bites
Small scissors, splinter forceps, safety pins
Hand sanitizer
Thermometer
Sterile gauze pads
Gauze bandages
Plasters, disinfectant and antiseptic agent
Sunscreen and protective repair cream (for example: Cicalfate available on Taobao)

Your digestive system:
When traveling to a tropical zone, the food will rarely be the same as in China, and your digestive system may not be prepared for such a sudden change, especially for those with a sensitive digestive system.

An effective solution: Probiotics help balance your intestinal flora and prepare you for changes in temperature and dietary habits.

Your health insurance:
In addition to these precautions, make sure that your insurance covers any repatriation and all medical expenses on site.

What vaccines do you recommend getting or checking before going on a trip?

If you are planning to travel to a tropical country, here is a list of the main vaccines to check:

Yellow fever: in tropical countries in Africa and South America. An international vaccination certificate will be issued for the trip. One vaccine provides 10-year protection.
Japanese encephalitis:  vaccination is necessary for those staying in certain countries in Asia or Oceania. [currently not available in China]
Typhoid fever: highly recommended vaccine for Asian countries. You need a booster shot every three years.

Vaccines:
Hepatitis A: for countries where hygiene is still precarious. Two vaccines provide lifelong protection.

Hepatitis B: children are usually vaccinated in childhood. Adults are not automatically vaccinated. Hepatitis B is endemic in Asia (including China).

Rabies: A disease often considered as disappeared in industrialized countries, rabies is still the subject of vaccination in certain situations, especially if you know you will be out of reach of a rabies treatment center for more than 48 hours, as rabies is a rare but deadly disease. A vaccine should be administered as soon as possible after a bite by bats, raccoons, skunks, dogs, etc. The preventive vaccination process involves three injections, the first and second given one week apart, and the third given two weeks later.

Important: It is also necessary to have up-to-date mandatory vaccines, including Diphtheria-Tetanus-Polio, meningitis, and measles-mumps-rubella vaccines. These diseases are not endemic in tropical areas, but being protected against them is important when traveling to areas where health care is sometimes more difficult to obtain. Many adults are not up-to-date with the mandatory Diphtheria-Tetanus vaccine, which is required every 10 years.