Firstly, I am not a doctor (but I play one on TV). Therefore, I am not qualified to give . . . → Read More: General Medical Information]]>

Firstly, I am not a doctor (but I play one on TV). Therefore, I am not qualified to give any advice on health or medicine.

This section is just a list of things I found out about travel and health whilst reading about various countries around the world. It also serves as a checklist of things to do before I go travelling and the order in which I need to do them.

For all travel-related health advice consult an expert (your doctor or travel clinic, for example). You can also read books and browse websites, but remember that health advice changes all the time, epidemics come and go, new diseases appear, drugs become resistant, more effective vaccines are developed, and so on. And some of those websites may just be plain wrong.

It is a good idea to become familiar, in general terms, with what are the possible health risks in each country you intend to visit. Some of these risks should not be taken lightly but, on the other hand, you shouldn’t allow the fear of health problems to put you off travelling.

It is all a question of perspective. Whilst you hear about all kinds of horrible diseases in the news, like Ebola and Plague, travellers don’t get them. In fact, one of the deadliest viruses of all is found in the developed world and is far more widespread.

That said, in most countries in the developed world you will probably not have any health problems at all, just those you get at home, such as coughs and colds, diarrhea and constipation, and hangovers. Everywhere else in the world the worst you will probably get is a stomach upset from unfamiliar microbes.

As stated above, consult an expert, follow their advice, and take sensible precautions. Knowledge and prevention will greatly reduce the risks of falling ill anywhere in the world.

The Main Health Risks for Travellers

The main cause by far of preventable deaths and injuries among travellers is accidents. These include being run over by, or crashing in, a moving vehicle.

Thus the best advice is to do what you do back home; always wear a seat belt (or helmet on a bike), always look both ways before crossing a street, at the same time standing well back from the curb.



Studies have shown that around 50% of deaths while travelling are from heart attacks (which you probably would have had at home anyway), another 20% or so due to injuries, with the rest made up of such things as cancer, suicides and homicides.

Only around 1% of deaths are due to the infectious diseases and illnesses listed elsewhere on this website. Also, most deaths while travelling occur in Europe (where most people travel), and not in developing countries.

On Being Your Own Doctor

When you are at home and get a sniffle or cough you can either ignore it or hope it will go away. Others may try to treat it or at least ameliorate the symptoms. Doing this while travelling in the developing world, however, can have serious consequences.

You should never ignore symptoms or try to diagnose yourself (or anyone else) while travelling. Seek professional advice as soon as you can. Doctors in developing countries may not seem as well-qualified as those back home but they are usually familiar with local health problems, and the knowledge base they use to diagnose will be far more extensive than yours which will probably have been gleaned from books or the Internet.

After getting advice from a health professional, try to get to the best care available whenever you can, even if it means travelling long distances.

Upon Returning Home

If you feel ill after returning from the developing world, go and see your doctor and let them know you have just come back from there. You may be referred to a tropical disease specialist. Some people get tests to see if they might have picked up something, even if they have no symptoms.