Travellers should always seek qualified medical attention if any illness they are suffering from gets worse despite their own remedies. But finding and dealing with doctors in a foreign country can be a daunting task. This article will help you to locate a doctor and, with a bit of background knowledge, to get the best out of him or her once you have fallen ill. You are hopefully already aware about the prevention of disease and illness in terms of safe water, and properly cooked food. This article is for when you have become ill or are in need of medication or qualified medical attention.
Large hotels usually have access to doctors, typically a local family doctor or private clinic. In more remote areas, the nearest qualified help will be a rural dispensary or pharmacist, but seek advice from local expatriate groups, your consulate or embassy for details of local doctors. In large towns, university-affiliated hospitals should be used in preference to other hospitals. In remote areas, mission hospitals usually offer excellent care and often have English-speaking doctors. The International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers known as IAMAT, which produces directories of English-speaking doctors.
If you feel that your medical condition is deteriorating despite or because of, local medical attention, consider travelling home or to a city or country with more advanced medical expertise, and it is better to do this sooner rather than later.
Medicines sold in tropical pharmacies may be sub-standard. Always check the expiry date and check that medications that should have been refrigerated are not being sold on open shelves. There is a growing market in counterfeit drugs, and locally-prepared substitutes are often of low potency. Stick to brand names manufactured by large international companies, even if these cost more. Insist on buying bottles that have unbroken seals and, wherever possible, purchase tablets or capsules that are individually sealed in foil or plastic wrappers. It is difficult to adulterate or substitute the contents of such packaging.
It is usually wise to avoid medications that include several active pharmacological ingredients, most of which will be ineffective and will push up the cost. Medication that is not clearly labelled with the pharmacological name as well as the brand name of ingredients is to be considered suspect for example Nivaquine contains chloroquine.
It is always worthwhile visiting your doctor before going anywhere that might not have great medical presence, and asking for a twenty day prescription of a broad spectrum antibiotic. Similarly never go abroad with a child without having a paediatric antibiotic in case of mundane things like ear infections that can be absolutely agonising. A dental emergency kit is no bad thing either. I do have friends who if visiting anywhere in the African or Indian Sub Continent always carry clean needles and syringes, although it is also advisable to carry a doctor's letter on official paper stating the medical reasons you might need them, as you would not want to be suspected of drug use.
Large hotels usually have access to doctors, typically a local family doctor or private clinic. In more remote areas, the nearest qualified help will be a rural dispensary or pharmacist, but seek advice from local expatriate groups, your consulate or embassy for details of local doctors. In large towns, university-affiliated hospitals should be used in preference to other hospitals. In remote areas, mission hospitals usually offer excellent care and often have English-speaking doctors. The International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers known as IAMAT, which produces directories of English-speaking doctors.
If you feel that your medical condition is deteriorating despite or because of, local medical attention, consider travelling home or to a city or country with more advanced medical expertise, and it is better to do this sooner rather than later.
Medicines sold in tropical pharmacies may be sub-standard. Always check the expiry date and check that medications that should have been refrigerated are not being sold on open shelves. There is a growing market in counterfeit drugs, and locally-prepared substitutes are often of low potency. Stick to brand names manufactured by large international companies, even if these cost more. Insist on buying bottles that have unbroken seals and, wherever possible, purchase tablets or capsules that are individually sealed in foil or plastic wrappers. It is difficult to adulterate or substitute the contents of such packaging.
It is usually wise to avoid medications that include several active pharmacological ingredients, most of which will be ineffective and will push up the cost. Medication that is not clearly labelled with the pharmacological name as well as the brand name of ingredients is to be considered suspect for example Nivaquine contains chloroquine.
It is always worthwhile visiting your doctor before going anywhere that might not have great medical presence, and asking for a twenty day prescription of a broad spectrum antibiotic. Similarly never go abroad with a child without having a paediatric antibiotic in case of mundane things like ear infections that can be absolutely agonising. A dental emergency kit is no bad thing either. I do have friends who if visiting anywhere in the African or Indian Sub Continent always carry clean needles and syringes, although it is also advisable to carry a doctor's letter on official paper stating the medical reasons you might need them, as you would not want to be suspected of drug use.
No comments:
Post a Comment