| Health Guide |
INSURANCE : Travel insurance policies that
cover theft, loss, flight cancellation, emergency evacuation and medical treatment are
highly recommended. Make
sure the insurance also covers the activities that you will be
undertaking during your stay in Nepal such as trekking,
river rafting, wildlife safaris, climbing and such other
activities.
IMMUNIZATION : Nepal does not
require any particular Immunization for the travelers. Vaccinations
for Cholera, Meningitis, Tetanus & Diphtheria, Typhoid and Gamma
Globulin should be considered necessary 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 of 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 traveling 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 diarrhea
-
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 thermometers
- Insect
repellent
- Water -
purification tables
- Throat lozenges (Strepsils)
- Moleskin
- Eye,
nose and ear drops
- Acetaminophen (Paracetamol)
- Antacid
tablets.
PREVENTION, THE BEST MEDICINE : Caring
oneself in eating and drinking
is the most important health rule. The number one rule is not to consume the water
with ice. Reputable brands of bottled
water or soft drinks are generally fine. Beware of fruit
juice, particularly if water may have been added.
Milk should be treated with care, as it is often un-pasteurized.
Boiled milk is fine if it is kept hygienically and yoghurt (Milk
curd) is usually good. Tea or coffee should also be Ok since the
water would have been boiled. Salads and fruits 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 most likely happen while traveling. 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. |
