How to prevent getting sick/treatment?

suitcase

Hi to all!

I have read read and read advices of what medicines to eat/things to pack/food to avoid to prevent getting sick in India. Basic stuff is ok (vaccines, parasetamol, malaria etc.) and understood, but could anybody just summarise what medicines are must if you are (like I am) allways sick when travelling...

Most important information would be to know do I get good treatment there (i have an insurance to rely on) / do I get better medicines for e.g. giardia there or should I buy something from home. I have understood and my previous experience is that local medicines and pharmacists know the best. Pls, inform names of medicines so that they are easy to find

Thanks in before hand if someone has the time to easen my fear of getting really sick and having no proper medicines around...

suitcase

federica

Hi Suitcase,

India was the first country where I got sick only after 6 weeks, my usual time is 3-4 days. Doctors here are pretty good and for a westerner cheap (examination between 50 and 100 Rs), and you can get a lot of medicines, as there are medical shops on every corner. If you wash your hands before having food and be a little bit careful with what you are eating and drinking, you don't have to worry....

Have a good trip
federica

suitcase

Hi Federica and thanks for answering. It's good to know that I can rely on the treatment there, but I have been sick in all past travels eventhought i've been really careful so I suspect that i am just cursed
If you or anybody else can help in giving some names or advices, I'd still appreciate it!
But iI'll keep my fingers crossed - maybe my luck is changing
Ciao.

Nick-H

The brand names are likely to be different. A lot of drugs are locally manufactured under different names.

Do not rely on pharmacists for advice; most of them just sell stuff. Ask specifically for what you want or get a doctor's advice.

The one thing I always bring is a bottle of Kaolin & Morphine Mixture (don't worry, the amount of morphine in it is so miniscule it is freely available off the shelf in a UK chemist shop. It's great at stopping the runs, and why this cheap, old-fashioned remedy is not available here I can't imagine.

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suitcase

Thanks Nick. So if I get sick i'd have to go to the doctors to get a drug name. If someone has good experiences of different symptoms and drugs that worked, pls inform me. I've hear of this Kaolin-Morphine mixture before, I think I will buy it just in case. Ciao.

LuAnnandJawahar

If you think you have Giardia while you are traveling, you are going to need to go to a doctor. You shouldn't self medicate for these kinds of things in our opinion.
Think about joining an organization like IAMAT--they are on the web. For a small donation you can become a 'member' and they send you tons of valuable info--like malarial charts and detailed info on how to avoid it and the most current recommendations for meds country by country. Also a booklet of Drs all over the world who meet international standards according to IAMAT. There are IAMAT doctors in Delhi/Pune/Jaipur/Indore and some other cities, cant' remember exactly where.

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delhiescape

there are over a billion people in india some of them sick, to stay healthy all you have to do is eat and drink clean food and drink .stay in a clean place and try to not worry too much.you will be fine

Sharonov

I'm also prone to traveler's diarrhea and always carry a prescription for Cipro--maybe it's been a good luck charm or something, because I was in India for 4 1/2 weeks, China/Tibet/Viet Nam for a month and Egypt for 2 weeks and never got sick.

But I am more than just a little careful. No water touches my lips unless it comes from a bottle that I have carefully checked to make sure the seal is intact. That means tooth brushing and toothbrush cleaning. No ice except in the rare 5 star hotel or restaurant you may visit (I stayed in two Oberois for one night apiece, and had ice there.) In the shower I keep my mouth closed and spit now and then. No fruit unless you peel it yourself. No salads. Only chicken and it must be well cooked. No street food. And yes, I tend to eat only in tourist-type restaurants. When the little kids grab me by the hand, I let them and am friendly, but am careful not to touch any part of my body afterwards until I've had a chance to wash them well. But then, I'm sure you've read all of this in some guide book or another.

Many Indiamikers will consider this highly paranoid, but a long time ago I had dysentery (in Libya) and never want to go through that again. It was way more than a minor inconvenience.

Karma Queen

i don't think it's overly paranoid sharanov, just sensible! delhi belly can be pretty nasty

mira4bai4

Hi Suitcase, if you are 'cursed' with a sickness just go to a healer and place yourself in their hands, give in to the process and let the healing begin. Most of our sickness comes from the stress and worry of it all. Planning is an advantage, make sure that your vitality is in top order before departing, if you are run down before you go your immune system wont cope.

Enjoy the trip, wear latex gloves, face mask, eye protection, solid footwear and coveralls, you'll be sweet.

jb007uk

Hi Suitcase,

Some great advice on this thread, particularly regarding the food you eat and the water. From personal experience in Kerela back in 1982, one health problem can lead to another. One piece of dodgy chicken from a restaurant on Kovolum lead to disentry, typhoid a temp of 105.8 and nearly dying, therefore you need to be careful if you venture off the beaten track or eat in an establishment with no other customers - the reason why I was sick and the start of all my problems.

Sorry, not trying to scare you as my brothers visit Goa every year and are never sick and they only eat at wetherspoons beach hut on Baga beach - just be sensible.

Rgds - Joe
Solihull

suitcase

Hiya all! Thanks for answering - I think I will try to get Cipro before the travel and will take all of your advices with me. I will be in contact how everything went Ciao.

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edwardseco

An Indian doctor explained it to me as the germ theory being relative in India. Therefore, morale and a good attitude do wonders for maintaining resistance. Over the years I have seen many examples of this. I may draw out all the heebie jeebie homeo types but I will also add that if you do get seriously ill don't self medicate (in any fashion). The runs are common with a change of diet and locale so don't be obsessed with your bowells. In some cases the symptom is the cure (baccillary) and other causes don't yield to antibiotics (so don't worship Cipro). Use good sense and keep focussed on travelling..

Merchant

It's important to figure out whether or not you are actually sick, whatever your symptons happen to be.

If you have acid indigestion (upset stomach) from spicy food, too much coffee, and not enough water, you do not have Delhi Belly. Take Rolaids.

If you are nauseous and weak, you could very easily be dehydrated. If you notice you are not peeing very much, this is probable. Drink bottled water and fresh lime soda (seltzer, lime, salt). Rest.

If you have the runs and moderate to severe stomach pain, you could have Delhi Belly, most likely from water. You could also have food poisoning. See if you are running a fever. If so, you have an infection. Carrying a general antibiotic (like Cipro) is a good idea. Most of the time, these things are mild and don't last more than a few days.

Note that dehydration can really lay you up and convince you that you are sicker than you are. Drink more bottled water than you do at home. If you are staying in an unairconditioned room, you will lose a lot of water while sleeping, so you will start the day at a deficit. Then you have a couple of cups of coffee. It's noon before you pop the Bisleri. Do this for three days straight and you could find yourself pretty sick. This happened to my girlfriend once, and she's usually a health nut and water drinker. Don't let fear of Indian bathrooms (especially on trains) stop you from drinking water.

thistoowillpass

According to a Saskatchewan agricultural body there is no cure for Giardia. This is not what a doctor will want to say. Something 'should' work is the word.

I got giardia in Delhi in a restaurant. On return to UK I took 7 huge, maximum doses of 3 different preferred antibiotics through my London GP and Hopsital of Tropical Diseases. After getting the all clear in November, it has returned about 50% as bad as when it first started (now March). If you have wild, wooded wetlands for intestines, it's nirvana for parasites. In order to dislodge them you have to dislodge all your natural vegetation too. The antibiotics have made me ill (which I hope can be resolved). There is an armoury of antibiotics and a whole raft of herbs to sample yet, eg. Neem, but no one is saying any of it will "cure". Giardia is not a good thing if it affects you badly.

Don't get it in the first place - trouble is you have to eat - watch those restaruants and transient kitchen staff as well as the water.

Best of luck!