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Travel health depends on your predepature preparations, your daily health care while travelling and how you handle any medical problem that does develop. While the potential dangers can seem quite frightening in reality few travellers experience anything more than upset stomachs.
Predeparture Planning
Immunisations
Plan ahead for getting your vaccinations: some of them require more than one injection, while some vaccinations should not be given together. It is recommended you seek medical advise at least six weeks before travel. Be aware that children and pregnant women are often at greater risk from disease.
Record all vaccinations on an international Health Certificate, available from your doctor or government health department, and carry it with you.
Discuss your requirements with your doctor, but vaccinations you should consider for a trip to India include the following.
Hepatitis A
This is the most common travel-acquired illness after diarrhoea. Hepatitis A vaccine (e.g. Havrix 1440 or VAQYA) provides long-term immunity (possibly more than 10 years) after an initial injection and a booster at six to 12 months.
An injection of gamma globulin (readymade antibody collected from blood donations0 also provides protection against hepatitis A. It is effective immediately, unlike the vaccine, but because it is a blood product there are concerns about its long-term safety.
A combined hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccination, Twinrix, is also available. Three injections over a six month period are required.
Typhoid
This is an important vaccination to have where hygiene is a problem. Available either as an injection or oral capsules.
Diphteria & Tetanus
Both these diseases occur worldwide and can be fatal. Everyone should have these vaccinations which are usually combined. After an initial course of three injections, boosters are necessary every 10 years.
Meningococcal Meningitis
Vaccination is recommended for travellers to certain parts of India and Nepal. A single injection will give good protection for three years. Protection may be less effective in children under two years.
Hepatitis B
Travellers who should consider a hepatitis B vaccination include those visiting countries (including India) where there are high levels of hepatitis B infection, where blood transfusions may not be adequately screened or where sexual contact or needle sharing is a possibility. It involves three injections, the quickest course being over three weeks with a booster with a booster at 12 months.
Polio
Everyone should keep up to date with this vaccination, which is normally given in childhood. A booster every 10 years maintains immunity.
Rabies
Vaccination should be considered by those who will spend a month or longer in the country, especially if they are cycling, handling animals, caving, travelling to remote areas, and for children (who may not report a bite).
Pre-travel rabies vaccination involves having three injections over 21 to 28 days. If someone who has been vaccinated is bitten or scratched by an infected animal they will require two booster injections of vaccine; those not vaccinated require more.
Japanese B Encephalitis
Consider the vaccination if you are spending a month or longer in high risk areas in India, making repeated trips to a risk area or visiting while there's an epidemic. It involves three injections over 30 days. The vaccine is expensive and has been associated with serious allergic reactions so the decision to have it should be balanced against the risk of contracting the illness.
Tuberculosis
TB risk to travellers is usually very low, unless you will be living with or closely associated with local people in high risk areas. Vaccination BCG vaccine is recommended for children and young adults living in these areas for three months or more.
Malaria
Malaria occurs in most parts of India; malaria free areas include Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Sikkim. Antimalarial drugs do not prevent you from being infected but kill the malaria parasites during a stage in their development and significantly reduce the risk of becoming very ill or dying. Expert advice on medication should be sought, as there are many factors to consider including the area to be visited the risk of exposure to malaria-carrying mosquitoes, the side effects of medication, your medical history and whether you are a child or adult or pregnant. Travellers to isolated areas in high-risk countries may like to carry a treatment dose of medication for use if symptoms occur.
Health Insurance
Make sure that you have adequate health insurance.
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