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 Insurance
A travel insurance policy that covers theft, loss and medical treatment is
highly recommended. Make sure the insurance covers the activities that you
will be undertaking during your stay in Thailand such as trekking or
river-rafting.
Immunization
Thailand does not require any particular immunization for your visit.
Tetanus & Diphtheria, Typhoid and Gamma Globulin are some of the
vaccinations that should be considered for your trip. Please consult your
physician and get a complete check-up before your departure.
Medical Kit
A simple but adequate medical kit can be most useful without taking much
space in your baggage.
 The
following is recommended as tried and true list of items.
-
Aspirin or Panadol -
for pain or fever.
-
Acetaminophen (Paracetamol).
-
Antacid tablets.
-
Antihistamine - useful
as a decongestant for colds, allergies, to ease the itch from insect bites
and stings or to help prevent motion sickness.
-
Kaolin preparation
(Pepto-Bismol), Imodium or Lomotil - for stomach upsets.
-
Rehydration mixture -
for treatment of severe diarrhea.
-
Antiseptic,
mercurochrome and antibiotic powder or similar 'dry' spray - for cuts and
grazes.
-
Sulamyd 10% eye drops.
-
Calamine lotion - to
ease irritation from bites or stings.
-
Throat lozenges (Strepsils).
-
Bandages and Band-Aids
- for minor injuries.
-
Scissors, tweezers and
a thermometer
-
Insect repellent, sun
block, suntan lotion, chapsticks and water-purification tablets.
-
Moleskin.
-
Antibodies - useful if
you are traveling well off the beaten track but they must be prescribed.
 General Knowledge
To make yourself an expert on health aspects of Thailand would not be
practical. However, one should have some knowledge on Diarrhea, Giardia,
Dysentery, Cholera, Hepatitis, Rabies, Typhoid, Tetanus, Meningitis,
Diphtheria, Malaria and HIV/AIDS. Common sense can often save lives.
Prevention the Best Medicine
 Care in what you eat and drink is the most important health rule. The number
one rule is don't consume the water including ice. Reputable brands of
bottled water or soft drinks are generally fine. Take care with fruit juice,
particularly if water may have been added.
Milk should be treated with suspicion as it is often unpasteurised. Boiled
milk is fine if it is kept hygienically, and yogurt is usually good. Tea or
coffee should also be OK since the water would have been boiled. Salads and
fruit should be washed with purified water or peeled where possible. Ice
cream is usually OK if it is a reputable brand name, but beware of ice cream
that has melted and been refrozen. Thoroughly cooked food is the safest but
not if it has been left to cool. Stomach upsets are the most likely travel
health problem but the majority of these upsets will be relatively minor.
Wash your hands frequently, as it's quite easy to contaminate your own food.
Avoid climatic extremes: keep out of the sun when it is hot, dress warmly
when it is cold. Avoid potential diseases by dressing sensibly. You can get
worm infections through bare feet. Try to avoid insect bites by covering
bare skin when insects are around, by screening windows or by using insect
repellents. |
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