| HEALTH
GUIDE
Insurance
A travel insurance policy that covers theft, loss and medical treatment
is recommended. Make sure the insurance also covers the activities
that you will be undertaking during your stay in Nepal such as trekking
or river rafting.
Immunisation
Nepal does not require any particular immunisation for your visit.
Vaccinations for Cholera, Meningitis, Tetanus & Diphtheria,
Typhoid and Gamma Globulin should be considered for your trip. Please
consult your physician and get a complete check -up before your
departure.
Medical
Kit
A simple but adequate medical kit can be most useful without taking
much space in your baggage. The following is recommended as tried
and true list of items.
*
Aspirin or Panadol - for pain or fever.
* Antihistamine - useful as a decongestant for colds, allergies,
to ease the itch from insect bites and stings or to help prevent
motion sickness.
* Antibiotics - useful if you are travelling well off the beaten
track but they must be prescribed.
* Kaolin preparation (Pepto-Bismol), Imodium or Lomotil - for stomach
upsets.
* Rehydration mixture - for treatment of severe diarrhoea.
* Antiseptic, mercurochrome and antibiotic powder or similar 'dry'
spray - for cuts and grazes.
* Calamine lotion - to ease irritation from bites or stings.
* Bandages and Band-Aids - for minor injuries.
* Scissors, tweezers and a thermometer
* Insect repellent, sun block, suntan lotion, chopsticks and water-purification
tablets.
* Throat lozenges (Strepsils).
* Moleskin.
* Sulamyd 10% eye drops.
* Acetaminophen (Paracetamol).
* Antacid tablets.
General
Knowledge
To make yourself an expert on health aspects of Nepal would not
only be difficult but also troublesome. However, one should have
some knowledge on Altitude Sickness (AMS), Diarrhoea, Giardia, Dysentery,
Cholera, Hepatitis Rabies, Typhoid, Tetanus, Meningitis Diphtheria,
Malaria and HIV/AIDS Common sense can often save lives.
Prevention,
the Best Medicine
Care in what you eat and drink is the most important health rule.
The number one rule is don't consume the water including ice. Reputable
brands of bottled Water or soft drinks are generally fine. Take
care with fruit juice, particularly if water may have been added.
Milk
should be treated with care, as it is often un-pasteurised. Boiled
milk is fine if it is kept hygienically and yoghurt is usually good.
Tea or coffee should also be OK since the water would have been
boiled. Salads and fruit should be washed with purified water or
peeled where possible. Ice cream is usually OK if it is a reputable
brand name. But beware of ice cream that has melted and been refrozen.
Thoroughly cooked food is the safest but not if it has been left
to cool. Stomach upsets are the most likely travel health problem
but the majority of these upsets will be relatively minor. Wash
your hands frequently, as it's quite easy to contaminate your own
food. You should clean your teeth with purified water rather than
straight from the tap. Avoid climatic extremes keep out of the sun
when it is hot, dress warmly when it is cold. Avoid potential diseases
by dressing sensibly. You can get worm infections through bare feet.
Try to avoid insect bites by covering bare skin when insects are
around, by screening windows or by using, insect repellents,
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