Castlebar Health Newsletter
content supplied by John O'Donnell Pharmacist
Tel: 094 24524 Fax: 094 27884
HEALTH ON HOLIDAYS
Health
Index
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Health On Holidays:
What not to eat?
Many foreign countries do not have sewage and sanitation systems that match Western standards. Most cases of traveller's diarrhoea are acquired through contaminated food and water. Always avoid shellfish, raw vegetables, salads and the tap water. Peeling your own fruit is generally safe. Always drink bottled water and avoid ice. Use bottled water even when brushing your teeth.
Most tummy troubles are caused by a sudden change in diet.
If you do experience diarrhoea ensure that you increase your fluid intake or take rehydration fluids, which are available at your pharmacy.
Health Insurance:
Under EU regulations all permanent residents of Ireland and their dependants are entitled to form E111. It is issued to people travelling to another EEA (European Economic Area) country on holiday and is valid for a year after the issue date. "E111" forms are available from the "County Clinic", Castlebar, phone: 094 22333 or 1-800-520520.
Holders of the E111 Form are covered for medical treatments arising out of an accident or emergency situation under the same conditions as residents of the country to which they are visiting. It may not cover people for road traffic accidents or certain dangerous sports. It does not cover transport back to Ireland in an emergency situation.
For travel outside the EEA, travel health insurance is strongly recommended.
Recommended Vacanations:
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* Depends on lenght of visit, purpose of visit, regions being visited and planned activities
Diseases Explained:
Hepatitis A
A highly infectious viral disease spread through contaminated food and water. Symptoms include: fever, loss of appetite , nausea, headaches, vomiting and abdominal discomfort followed by jaundice. May take up to 6 months to recover.
Hepatitis B
A viral disease 100 times more infectious than the AIDS virus spread through exposure to body fluids of an infected person, blood transfusion, unprotected sexual contact or sharing needles. Symptoms include: tiredness, nausea, loss of appetite, tenderness in the abdomen and jaundice.
Thyphoid
A potentially lethal infection that follows ingestion of a bacterium called Salmonella typhi spread through contaminated food and water. Symptoms include: lethargy, stomach pains, weakness, cough and constipation.
Polio
A viral infection spread through contact with infected faeces. Symptoms include headache, gastro-intestinal disturbance, stiffness of the neck and back - with or without paralysis.
Yellow Fever
A viral disease spread to humans by mosquitoes. Symptoms range from non-specific symptoms, to an illness of sudden onset with fever and vomiting, which may progress to jaundice.
Malaria
A tropical disease which is spread through a bite of an infected mosquito. Symptoms include: fever, headache, shivering and sweating.