Travel Related Diseases in general

It's that time of year when many amongst us are planning to take off for a week or two's summer holiday. The flights are booked, the cases packed, and if your really efficient, you might have even packed a first aid kit. *Travel Insurance* It goes without saying that travel insurance is a must have. Don't be put off by the recent exposure of high street travel agents charging way too much, shop around and get the deal that suits you. We go for yearly cover, it appears to be good value for money. Also read the small print and make sure you are covered for proper care and flights home with medical cover. No-one likes to think that they will ...  Read the complete review

While on my travels around various parts of the world, myself and my husband were in New Zealand about to carry on to South East Asia. We had had the injection for hepatitis and collected the malaria tablets. However, we were presented with an alternative to the typhoid injection in the form of 3 capsules to be taken over 3 days. So we took these with no ill effects at all although they were rather large to swallow. It was certainly a lot more bearable than yet another painful injection. ...  Read the complete review

As a frequent and avid traveller I know the importance of health care. There is so much advice arounhd and it keeps changing so I take the following course. For long lasting ones like polio or tetanus I keep them up to date and have boosters as a nd when they are due even if I do not need them for the current holiday. This has two advantages - you can usually have one booster rather than say a course of two or three injections if starting from stratch. Secondly it is one less thing to do before a holiday. I always check the latest official advice/requirements at my doctors - I do not rely on travel agents or brochures. The doctor, or more usually practice ...  Read the complete review

When going to Majorca a few years a go me, and all of my family had to have a typhoid injection in our arms. This was by far one of the worst vaccinations I have ever had to suffer the pain of. For about a day you feel Ok but after that you start to feel as if you are alittle under the weather, your arm, on which you had the injection, will swell up to the size of a prize marrow... which is not good. The arm is really painfull and cannot be toutched. This pain will last about a week and is bloody awful Cheers, But if you have to get it get it, better than having typhoid ...  Read the complete review

When I booked a holiday just over a week before the departure date, I was concerned to sort out my vaccinations as quickly as possible. I therefore went to the British Airways travel clinic in Regent Street, London on a Saturday morning. I was seen quickly and was impressed by the professionalism of the nurse. She took full account of both my departure date and my personal circumstances (vegetarian, staying in a city, etc) to advise me honestly on the vaccinations I should or could have. I was able to make an informed decision rather than feeling that I'd just been told to have what the guide said. (In fact, I only had two of four vaccinations recommended ...  Read the complete review