Travel Health Treatments

Travel Health Treatments We Provide

We provide safe, effective prescription treatments for common travel health concerns. All medications are prescribed following a confidential online consultation with our UK-registered doctors.

Understanding Travel Health

Travel health encompasses the prevention and treatment of health problems that may occur during international travel. Proper preparation can prevent many travel-related illnesses and ensure you stay healthy during your trip.

Why Travel Health Matters

International travel exposes you to different environments, foods, and potential diseases not commonly found in the UK. Travel health preparation is essential for preventing serious illnesses like malaria, managing altitude sickness, and treating common travel ailments like diarrhoea.

Common Travel Health Risks

• Mosquito-borne diseases: Malaria, dengue fever, Zika virus
• Food and water-borne illnesses: Travellers' diarrhoea, typhoid, hepatitis A
• Altitude-related problems: Acute mountain sickness, high-altitude pulmonary edema
• Travel fatigue: Jet lag, travel exhaustion
• Environmental hazards: Sunburn, heat exhaustion, motion sickness

Our online service provides convenient access to travel health medications and expert advice from UK-registered doctors, helping you prepare properly for your travels.

Conditions We Treat

At Chemist Doctor, we specialize in providing treatment and prevention for the most common travel health concerns. Our approach combines medical expertise with practical travel health knowledge to ensure you're properly prepared for your destination.

Malaria Prevention

Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease caused by parasites transmitted through the bites of infected mosquitoes. It's prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, and Central/South America.

Malaria Risk Areas

Malaria risk varies by region, season, and type of travel:

Malaria Prevention Options

Several effective antimalarial medications are available, each with different characteristics:

Prescription Antimalarials

Additional Prevention Measures

Medication should be combined with these preventive measures:

• Mosquito avoidance: Use insect repellent containing DEET
• Protective clothing: Wear long sleeves and trousers in evenings
• Mosquito nets: Sleep under insecticide-treated bed nets
• Room protection: Use air conditioning and window screens
• Awareness of symptoms: Know malaria symptoms for early treatment

Altitude Sickness

Altitude sickness (acute mountain sickness) occurs when you travel to a high altitude too quickly. It's caused by reduced air pressure and lower oxygen levels at high elevations, typically above 2,500 meters (8,200 feet).

Symptoms of Altitude Sickness

Symptoms usually develop 6-24 hours after reaching high altitude:

Altitude Sickness Treatment Options

Several approaches can prevent and treat altitude sickness:

Prescription Medication

• Acetazolamide (Diamox): Prevents and reduces symptoms of altitude sickness

Prevention Strategies

• Gradual ascent: Ascend no more than 300-500m per day above 2,500m
• Acclimatization days: Rest every 3-4 days during ascent
• Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water (3-4 litres daily)
• Avoid alcohol: Alcohol worsens symptoms and dehydration
• Eat carbohydrates: Helps with energy at high altitude

Using Acetazolamide Effectively

• Start taking 1-2 days before ascending to high altitude
• Continue during ascent and for 2 days after reaching maximum altitude
• Typical dose: 125mg twice daily or 250mg once daily
• Common side effects: Tingling in fingers/toes, increased urination
• Not suitable for people with sulfa allergies

Travellers Diarrhoea

Travellers' diarrhoea is the most common illness affecting travellers, with 30-70% of travellers experiencing it depending on destination. It's usually caused by consuming food or water contaminated with bacteria, viruses, or parasites.

Risk by Destination

The risk of travellers' diarrhoea varies significantly by region:

Travellers Diarrhoea Treatment Options

Several treatments are available for travellers' diarrhoea:

Prescription Antibiotics

• Azithromycin: Broad-spectrum antibiotic effective against most bacterial causes
• Ciprofloxacin: Alternative antibiotic (increasing resistance in some areas)
• Rifaximin: Non-absorbable antibiotic for non-invasive diarrhoea

Prevention Strategies

Follow these food and water safety guidelines:

• Water safety: Drink bottled or purified water only
• Food precautions: Eat well-cooked, hot foods
• Avoid risky foods: Raw vegetables, unpeeled fruits, street food
• Hand hygiene: Wash hands frequently or use hand sanitizer
• Ice caution: Avoid ice in drinks unless made from purified water

Self-Care Measures

• Stay hydrated with oral rehydration solutions
• Rest and allow your body to recover
• Eat bland foods (BRAT diet: bananas, rice, applesauce, toast)
• Avoid dairy, fatty foods, and caffeine initially
• Consider over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medications for symptom relief

Jet Lag

Jet lag is a temporary sleep disorder that occurs when you travel across multiple time zones, disrupting your body's internal clock (circadian rhythm). Symptoms typically improve as your body adjusts to the new time zone.

Factors Affecting Jet Lag Severity

Several factors influence how severely you experience jet lag:

Jet Lag Treatment Options

Several approaches can help manage jet lag:

Prescription Treatment

• Melatonin (Circadin): Helps reset your body clock and improve sleep

Pre-Travel Planning Strategies

• Gradual adjustment: Shift sleep schedule 1-2 hours daily before travel
• Flight timing: Choose flights that allow evening arrival
• Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water during flight
• Avoid alcohol/caffeine: Both worsen dehydration and sleep disruption
• Light exposure: Seek sunlight at destination to help reset clock

Using Melatonin for Jet Lag

• Take 2mg at bedtime for 3-5 days after arrival
• For eastward travel: Take for first few nights after arrival
• For westward travel: May be less effective but can still help
• Best for crossing 5+ time zones
• Not suitable for everyone - consult with doctor

How Our Travel Health Service Works

Getting travel health medications through Chemist Doctor is simple and convenient. Our process ensures you receive appropriate medications for your destination with expert medical advice.

What to Expect During Consultation

Our travel health consultation typically includes questions about:

• Your travel destination(s) and itinerary
• Travel dates and duration of stay
• Planned activities (trekking, rural travel, etc.)
• Medical history including allergies and current medications
• Previous travel health preparations and vaccinations
• Any specific health concerns related to travel

Honest, complete answers ensure our doctors can recommend the most appropriate travel health regimen for your specific trip.

When to Order Travel Health Medications

• Malaria prevention: Order 2-4 weeks before travel (some medications need to be started weeks in advance)
• Altitude sickness: Order at least 1 week before travel
• Travellers diarrhoea treatment: Order 1-2 weeks before travel
• Jet lag treatment: Order 1 week before travel