First aid suplies and general antibiotics?

spwrangler

I am leaving for india in 2 Weeks (WOW). I was wondering what are the esentials needed for a first aid kit?
Also My freaking out parrents keep wanting me to get a general antibiotic to take with me incase of an infection or something. I don't know if that will mess with the daily milaria drugs I'm taking, and I don't know if many travelers take a general antibiotic with them. I am going with no travel insurence, but I'm taking vitamins, and herbal emmune boosters with me to help me stay healthy. They've worked for me in the past and I haven't been sick in over a year. Any info or advice would be much appreciated!

Avnish

I went with a general first aid kit that contained the usual things such as band aids, paracetamol, rennies etc. all of which can easily be purchased almost anywhere in India.

Regarding the general antibiotic, I managed to catch the cold due to travelling between the extremely hot places to the colder places like Mt. Abu (in the evening) and decided to proceed with a course... all while taking malaria tablets as well (weekly).

I recall feeling a bit odd but nothing too serious, and it lasted maybe a couple of hours to a day (at the most).

Hope this helps, and enjoy!

ps. Don't worry about your folks stressing, it's what they do

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seventies'hippy

You can buy anything which you're ever likely to need medically in India, there are pharmacies everywhere,. Explain to your parents that theres stores & english speaking people in villages, towns and cities and that generally everything is quite civilised.

Happy Travelling

Shaktipalooza

If you go to a travel clinic the general recommendations would be some immodium when you get the squirts and cipro if it gets serious. NEVER take antibiotics unless you really really need them, a cold doesn't count.

mindi

I am very susceptible to giardia, and just having returned after spending the majority of my stay in MP, was VERY glad to have the relevant antibiotics with me. Another person I met also picked this one up a few days before me. This infection has nearly ruined a couple of previous holidays, but I think only some people tend to be susceptible. However, you can't prepare for everything. Talk to your doctor.

TracyB

Travelling with out insurance is not a very wise idea. I am not sure why you would not purchase some sort of insurance, it really is not that expensive. If for some reason you become very ill or get seriously hurt in an accident, who would pay?

Taking an antibiotic along, could not hurt..You could always check with a physician as to whether or not it will interfere with your malarial medication..

reddragon

I can't believe that parents that freak out about you not taking antibiotics would not freak out about travelling without insurance. What happens if you are in a car accident and have a broken leg and need 4 seats on the plane, could you affort to buy them? If you bag is stolen, how are you going to replace it? I had my pack go missing on my last trip, while inconvienent, I mangaged to get everything repalced in 4 days with my insurance! Travel insurance is not just for sickness, there are forces out there beyond your control!!!

spwrangler

I will take a look at travel insurance (any recomendations are apreciated). I figured that good Karma and good energy would prevail, but there are forces out there beyon my controll. I will ex-nay on the antibiotic, I never ever take pills for anything realy (western medician does more harm than good), I guess I was just curious and I am just checking to make sure I haven't overlooked anything major. Thanks for the info.

vistet

I´ve never heard of any interaction between antibiotics and antimalarials mentioned before , and a quick peek in the pharmaceutical handbook gives nothing on cipro and antimalarials. Obviously this should be dicussed with the doc who prescribed your specific medications.

I think it`s good to be restrictive with medications (immodium for example I reserve for preserving my dignity on long bus/train rides) but we all have a breaking point , and when reaching it , it`s better to have made a decision beforehand what to do.

My personal choices are that I bring with me cipro for bad enteritis that lasts more than two days, flagyl (metronidazol) for bloody stools or rotten eggs-breath .. and I talk this over with my doc when updating my shots.

I remember my parents ... reacting before I went on my first Asian trip. In the end dad and I sat down in a neutral territory ( a deserted pub past lunchtime) , I presented my plan, he was quiet for a while and then said he was too old for that stuff and asked what they could do to help.
The age-old subtext here is telling parents & others that you are free to speak - up to a point - but you don`t really have a say. Saying this requires patience and sticktoitiveness.

LuAnnandJawahar

Travel insurance is a must. Travel insurance is a must. In our opintion, Cipro is a must. It isn't that you can't get it in India, it is that when you need it most, an apothecary may not be handy. It can help you get a jump on some pretty serious stuff until you get a chance to get to a proper doctor. Any travel clinic worth it's salt will suggest it and tell you when and how to use it and write you a script for it.

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mikeIndia

Cipro is a must. It isn't that you can't get it in India, it is that when you need it most, an apothecary may not be handy. It can help you get a jump on some pretty serious stuff until you get a chance to get to a proper doctor. Any travel clinic worth it's salt will suggest it and tell you when and how to use it and write you a script for it.


Thanks for this... I was a bit confused about some prior comment
about Larium and antibiotics...

Much appreciate the insights

spwrangler

Whats Cipro, and can anyone recomend any travel insurance angencies. I found some that were just under $100 USD and they covered health and stolen stuff. Thats realy all I need and what just looking for some advice.

goangoangone

Ciprofloxacin or something like that. I got a private prescription from my Doc in the UK and bought it in Boots the chemist. It's for bad stomach virus attacks.It's also given as a jab in bad cases.

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Frooty

I am going to buy all the medication I need when I get to India... its cheaper and I get a contact in a pharmacy/travel clinic in India that way just in case I need advice.

I think it is wise to carry antibiotics with you and to knowwhen to use them and when not to use them.

An example of when not to use them....

COLDS/FLUs are a viral infection and are self limiting... antibiotics will do nowt except kill all those good protective bugs in your stomach and leave you even more susceptible to serious diarrohoea... not all bugs are bad!

monkgonemad

hi all -

ive been away for a bit and looks like india is on the burner again in june.

anyway - 2 key meds for gut problems cipro and metrodiazole [flagyl] (sp). they are very different and most important TREAT DIFFERENT ailments.

i cant stress enough. if you have giardia and you take cipro -which is a VERY strong ab and one you DO NOT want to build immunity to (!!) - it wont do jack. conversely, if you take flagyl for another gut problem - it wont work. not only that but you have gram +/- bacteria as well. whats the moral be careful!!!

thru years ive done some hard assed backapcking - im learned the following which is only a GUIDELINE (for me).

i wait the problem out for five full days before meds.
if problem is general loose bowl (no fever) i go for norofloxin (2x a day, 3 day)
if problem does not go away, move to cipro as regimented.
if blood/pus dysentary i THINK cipro is your med (??) pls check, but if you have bl/puss in stool go to a doctor!
if you have smelly gas, metal taste in mouth, uncontrolled squits - giardia (although this can take many combos/forms) -no fever.
if you have gut pains, loose bowl and fever - most likely go for cipro.
if onset is rapid and harsh maybe fever - indicates imo food
if slow, loose bowl - water (+ fever canstill be water).

you cant be too careful with water. as poster above has mentioned giardia.

for whatever reason i can seemingly eat anything which is generally where most problems lie, but give me a drop of water with giardia - im screwed.

as for insurance - good medicine, health awareness are my only insurance. my experience is insurance will usually find some way not to pay. in the end - just get to A GOOD hospital and pay out of pocket -very affordable in india and thailand.

i carry a good kit - while you rarely need it, you are really, really glad to have gauze, tape, meds, etc...when travelling alone and are sick or injured!!

be safe!