Travelling is certainly fun – you get to meet a lot of people, experience different cultures, taste unique dishes and see places others have not seen before. It is an experience of a lifetime.
However, getting sick while you are in a trip is not, and will never be, fun. Instead of exploring the city, you are marooned in the hospital getting treated for some illness. That would definitely take out the fun out of everything.
So it is also advisable to be prepared for anything when you go for a trip. And if you are visiting Dubai anytime soon, be sure to know these illnesses so you can avoid it and have a fulfilling trip.
- Traveller’s Diarrhea
In a study conducted by the site TravelDoctor.com.au, about 40% of tourist experience traveller’s diarrhea. This is caused by eating and drinking contaminated food and drinks. This usually happened on the first week of travel. To prevent this, always make sure that the food you eat are clean and cooked well. Also, do not forget to bring some meds in case this happens to you.
- Cholera
Cholera is an infectious bacterial disease that attacks your small intestines. This can lead to diarrhea and vomiting and if not treated early, it can lead to a more serious condition like severe dehydration. This can be contracted by taking contaminated water so be sure to drink clean water. Should you feel the initial symptoms of cholera, go to the emergency room ASAP.
- Influenza
Do you experience runny nose, high fever, muscle pains, and headache while you are on a trip? Then it is highly possible that you contracted influenza. Influenza or flu caused by influenza virus. Symptoms can go from mild to severe and can manifest two days after exposure. Travellers usually get this through close contact with the contaminants, either by air transmission (coughing or sneezing) or through touch. This can be prevented through vaccination.
- Hepatitis (A & B)
Hepatitis is one of the most common contracted illnesses due to contaminated food and drink. Severity depends from lack of symptoms to severe as there are patients who do not experience the manifestation of this disease. However, there are patients who experience the full extent of this illness like yellowing of the skin and the eye and choluria or dark urine. If not treated, this can lead to liver cancer. The good news is you can protect yourself from this disease by immunization.
- Diptheria
Diptheria or bacterial infection of the throat and skin is contracted through sneezing and coughing or direct contact. Symptoms include sore throat and fever. There is also occasional swelling of the neck due to inflamed lymph nodes that can lead to difficulty in breathing. The symptoms can manifest two to five days after exposure. If not treated, this can lead to other complication such as kidney problems and bleeding. Anti-diptheria vaccines can prevent travellers, especially children, from contracting this disease. For travellers, they are advised to get a shot before travelling as their previous childhood immunization might not have immunity anymore.
