Kitsons Pharmacy, Worcester

You can get altitude sickness if you travel to a high altitude too quickly. Breathing becomes difficult because you're not able to take in as much oxygen.

Altitude sickness, also called acute mountain sickness (AMS), can become a medical emergency if ignored.

Your age, sex or physical fitness do not affect your likelihood of getting altitude sickness.

Also, just because you may not have had it before, this does not mean you will not get it on another trip. 

Our pharmacist can provide medication to prevent and treat the condition.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Cholera is an infection that can cause severe diarrhoea.  You can catch cholera from:

• drinking unclean water
• eating food (particularly shellfish) that's been in unclean water
• eating food that's been handled by an infected person

The risk of getting it while travelling is very small.

It's mainly found in places without a clean water supply or modern sewage system, such as parts of Africa and Asia. The disease can be more serious in adults, particularly pregnant women and those who smoke.

VACCINE DOSAGE:

Two doses at 0 and 6 weeks, given to children from 1 year of age and adults. Vaccine fully effective 6 weeks after the 2nd dose.

WHEN DO I NEED TO GET VACCINATED

2 weeks before travel

HOW LONG DOES IT LAST

Life long

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Diphtheria is vaccine preventable. Travellers should ensure that they have completed the national schedule of vaccines for life in the UK. 

This means that by the mid teens, 5 doses of vaccine giving protection against diphtheria should have been received.

A vaccine is available to protect adults against diphtheria. This is a combination vaccine and also protects against tetanus and polio

VACCINE DOSAGE:

A single injection.

WHEN DO I NEED TO GET VACCINATED

2 weeks before travel

HOW LONG DOES IT LAST

10 Years

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Hepatitis A is an infection spread mainly through food and water, but also from person to person, that affects the liver. Symptoms include mild fever, gastro-intestinal upset, nausea/vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Jaundice may also occur.

The combination vaccine is designed for the convenience of travellers who require protection against both hepatitis A and B. 

Vaccination against hepatitis A is available for all MSM, regardless of whether they are travelling to or going to reside in areas of high or intermediate risk.

VACCINE DOSAGE:

Three doses at 0, 1 and 6 months.

WHEN DO I NEED TO GET VACCINATED

2 weeks before travel

HOW LONG DOES IT LAST

See individual vaccines.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Malaria can have a life-changing impact on your health and can be fatal in some instances.

For some countries where malaria is a problem, tablets to prevent malaria (antimalarials) are recommended. 

It is important to avoid being bitten as well as taking antimalarial tablets; no antimalarial tablets are 100% effective.

There are a range of different antimalarial tablets available, the particular choice depends on a number of factors including destination. how they are taken, age, weight and side effects; our travel health pharmacist can advise you on the most appropriate choice for you.

SYMPTOMS

Muscle pains, headache and vomiting., fatigue, abdominal pain, Fever,

MALARIA PREVENTION

Doxycycline, 100mg

Start 1–2 days before entering endemic area and continue for 4 weeks after leaving (see notes above), adult and child over 12 years, 100 mg once daily.

Atovaquone/proguanil

Start 1–2 days before entering endemic area and continue for 1 week after leaving, adult and child over 40 kg, 1 tablet daily

Atovaquone/proguanil for children ("Malarone Paediatric")

Start 1–2 days before entering endemic area and continue for 1 week after leaving, Dose is adjusted according to childs weight. Body-weight over 40 kg use Malarone® (‘standard’) tablets

Proguanil (100mg)

Prefereably start 1 week before entering endemic area and continue for 4 weeks after leaving (see notes above), 200 mg once daily; Children - dose is weight dependent; over 13 years body-weight over 45 kg, adult dose

Lariam/Mefloquine

Start 2½ weeks before entering endemic area and continue for 4 weeks after leaving (see notes above), adult and child body-weight over 45 kg, 250 mg once weekly; Children - dose is weight dependent.

Preventing infection

• Medication can help to protect you (NOT 100% effective so take additional precautions)
• Use insect repellents containing DEET
• Spray bedrooms where possible
• Cover-up to minimise mosquito bites - long sleeve tops, hats and sleeping nets.

Note information above is for guidance only, speak to our pharmacist for advice specific to you

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Japanese encephalitis is an infection spread through mosquito bites. It can cause headache, convulsions, encephalitis and meningitis. 

Most people will have a mild illness with no or few symptoms but for those with severe disease around 30% can develop permanent neurological problems and around 30% will die from the disease.

VACCINE DOSAGE:

Two doses at 0 and 28 days. Vaccine effective 7 days after 2nd dose.

WHEN DO I NEED TO GET VACCINATED

6 weeks before travel

HOW LONG DOES IT LAST

1 year

Jet lag is when your normal sleep pattern is disturbed after a long flight. Symptoms, which include include feeling tired, groggy, confused, and lethargic, usually improve within about 3 days as your body adjusts to the new time zone.

Simple lifestyle changes and / or prescription medication can help minimise the negative impacts of jet lag.

Melatonin a naturally occurring hormone helps control sleep. Speak to our travel health pharmacist for more advice.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

For travellers, there are  two quadrivalent vaccines available, “polysaccharide” and “conjugate”– (they protect aginst four strains, A, C, W and Y): . 

UK authorities recommend the use of the conjugate vaccine.

Our pharmacist can advise on the most suitable vaccine for you and your family

VACCINE DOSAGE:

A single dose.

WHEN DO I NEED TO GET VACCINATED

2-3 weeks before travel

HOW LONG DOES IT LAST

5 years

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Polio is spread mainly through person to person contact (faecal-oral route) that can cause fever and lead to meningitis and paralysis.

Children normally receive polio vaccinations as part of the national schedule. Travellers should ensure that they have had a primary course of vaccine and receive a booster every 10 years if they are travelling to an area where diphtheria, tetanus or polio are considered high risk.

There may be additional vaccination and sometimes certificate requirements for travellers to endemic countries or countries reporting outbreaks.

A combination vaccine called Revaxis is available to protect adults against diphtheria, tetanus and polio. 

VACCINE DOSAGE:

A single injection.

WHEN DO I NEED TO GET VACCINATED

2 weeks before travel

HOW LONG DOES IT LAST

10 Years

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Symptoms start with headache, fever, general weakness and numbness or tingling around the wound site. The disease progresses to muscle spasms, hydrophobia (fear of water) and convulsions. 

Once symptoms of rabies develop, the infection is fatal. Human cases are usually due to dog bites but many animals can be infected, and a scratch or lick may be sufficient to transmite the disease. 

The time from a rabies exposure to developing symptoms of rabies is usually between 20-60 days but may range from 5 days to 1 year. 

VACCINE DOSAGE:

Three doses at 0, 7 and 28 days.

WHEN DO I NEED TO GET VACCINATED

1 month before travel

HOW LONG DOES IT LAST

10 years

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Tetanus toxin spreads through the bloodstream and can cause serious damage to the nervous system. Early symptoms of the disease include stiffness of the jaw muscles (lockjaw), difficulties swallowing and muscle spasms. 

The disease can spread to affect more muscles in the body including the respiratory muscles. This can cause difficulties with breathing and death can occur if untreated.

Tetanus is included in the UK as part of the national schedule where 5 doses are given in childhood including a booster dose for teenagers.

Travellers should ensure that they have had a full primary course of vaccine and receive a booster every 10 years if they are travelling to an area where diphtheria, tetanus or polio are considered high risk and where access to post exposure treatment may be difficult.

A combination vaccine is available to protect adults against diphtheria, tetanus and polio.  

VACCINE DOSAGE:

A single injection.

WHEN DO I NEED TO GET VACCINATED

2 weeks before travel

HOW LONG DOES IT LAST

10 Years

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Tick-borne encephalitis is spread through tick bites and can cause a flu-like illness, fever and headache or lead to meningitis and/or brain inflammation.

Most infections cause no symptoms. When symptoms do develop fever and a flu-like illness is followed by 2 -10 days of no symptoms, before inflammation of the central nervous system occurs with fever, headache and signs of meningitis and/or brain inflammation. 

Severe disease can cause permanent neurological damage including behavioural/mood changes and reduced concentration. About 1 in 100 patients will die from TBE.

VACCINE DOSAGE:

3 doses at 0, 1 and 6 months.

WHEN DO I NEED TO GET VACCINATED

3 months before travel

HOW LONG DOES IT LAST

3 years

Travellers' diarrhoea is spread mainly through food and water, but also from person to person 

Travellers’ diarrhoea is defined as passing 3 or more loose/watery bowel motions in 24 hours. It may be accompanied by any of the following symptoms; fever, tummy cramps, urgent need to pass bowel motion, nausea or vomiting.

Mild/Moderate cases: Less than 6 loose stools per day, oral rehydration sachets (with clean water) is usually sufficient tomanage the condition.

Severe travellers diahorrea:

If characterised when more than 6 diarrhoea stools are passed in 24 hours and cause incapacitation, or there is blood or mucous in the stool, or marked vomiting, fever, tummy pain, medical attention must be sought.

Antibiotics can be prescribed to help treat severe  travellers diahorrea.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Typhoid causes systemic infection which may present as fever, headache, confusion and vague abdominal pain. Constipation is common in adults. 

Typhoid vaccines do not confer complete protection so preventative measures as above are very important even when fully vaccinated.

The protection comes in the form of a vaccine or oral window capsule. 

The vaccines offer some protection for three years, but do not protect against para-typhoid fever. Typhoid vaccines do not confer complete protection so preventative measures are very important even when fully vaccinated.

VACCINE DOSAGE:

A single dose by injection.

WHEN DO I NEED TO GET VACCINATED

2 weeks before travel

HOW LONG DOES IT LAST

3 years

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Symptoms of the disease include sudden onset of fever, backache, generalised muscle pain, nausea, vomiting and jaundice

VACCINE DOSAGE:

A single injection.

WHEN DO I NEED TO GET VACCINATED

2 weeks before travel

HOW LONG DOES IT LAST

Life long

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