Travel Health
Health advice and medicines for travellers
Travel Health Advice & Consultations
As travel restrictions start to ease, it is incredibly important that you think about your health on all overseas and interstate travels. At Medsana Medical Clinic, our doctors are fully equipped to provide comprehensive travel medicine services and advice for any destination. A few things that should be taken into consideration when preparing for a trip include the availability of medication, clean foods, uncontaminated water, hygiene products, first aid, as well as the presence of animals and insects. This will better help you have a productive, enjoyable, and, most importantly, safe trip.
Why drive into the city, or for that matter, anywhere else when you can get all your travel needs at Medsana Medical Clinic? We offer a full range of travel vaccines, and our doctors can create personalised medical prescriptions for you in a stress-free environment with free parking.
Additionally, our team of nurses and doctors is well experienced and has first-hand experience across numerous countries in Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, and Oceania. Forming an extensive list consisting of Vietnam, India, Taiwan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Macau, Indonesia, China, United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, United States of America (including Hawaii and Alaska), Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Austria, Czech Republic, New Zealand, Fiji, Vanuatu, and other various Pacific Islands.
Travel Medications
Our doctors can help you plan and create a checklist of recommended items.
Things to consider might be:
- Malaria medications
- Antibiotics for travellers’ diarrhoea
- Travel sickness medication
- Altitude sickness medication
- Period delay tablets
- Hand sanitiser
- Antihistamines
- Pain relivers
- Copies of all your prescriptions
- Water purification solutions
Travel Vaccinations
We recommend that you consult with your doctor ideally at least 6 weeks before leaving the country to discuss what vaccines you may need for your trip. You might need several doses of a vaccine. You might also need time after immunisation for your body to develop full immunity.
At the moment, we provide the full range of travel vaccines except for Yellow Fever vaccines. Your doctor will determine which vaccines are appropriate for your travels, but some of the commonly administered vaccines are listed below.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a gastrointestinal disease that can cause mild to severe illness and is brought about by the Hepatitis A virus. Individuals who have neither been vaccinated nor been previously infected are at risk of infection. Although Hepatitis A results in an inflammation of the liver for which there is no specific treatment, almost everyone fully recovers. The symptoms of those infected with Hepatitis A vary widely but can include fevers, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, dark-coloured urine, and jaundice (yellowing of eyes and skin).
Hepatitis A virus is primarily transmitted by the faecal-oral route meaning that poor sanitation, lack of safe water, use of recreational drugs, and living in a household with an infected person are among the list risk factors.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a potentially life-threatening viral infection in the liver caused by the Hepatitis B virus. Globally, Hepatitis B is a major health problem causing both acute and chronic diseases. The vaccines offered for this are safe, effective, and provide valuable protection against developing complications like cirrhosis or liver cancer. Some acute symptoms of Hepatitis B include jaundice, extreme fatigue, vomiting, nausea, and abdominal pain. In some cases, Hepatitis B can lead to death in those who develop acute liver failure as a result of being infected with the Hepatitis B virus.
Hepatitis B virus is transmitted through exposure to infected blood and body fluids. This means that Hepatitis B can spread through contaminated needles and syringes either through injury or among persons who inject drugs. Hepatitis B can also be sexually transmitted with exposure to salvia and menstrual, vaginal, and seminal fluids.
Typhoid
The bacterium Salmonella Typhi lives only in humans and causes a life-threatening infection called typhoid fever. The bacteria causing typhoid fever, multiply and spread into the bloodstream once contaminated foods are eaten or non-potable water is drunk. As a result, typhoid is common in locales with poor sanitation of foods and a lack of safe drinking water.
Prolonged symptoms of typhoid fever include high fevers, fatigue, nausea, headaches, and gastrointestinal conditions. In some severe cases, Salmonella Typhi may lead to very serious complications or even death. Typhoid fever can be treated with antibiotics; however, individuals may still carry the bacteria when no symptoms are present.
Polio
Cholera
Cholera is caused by ingesting either food or water that is contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. This disease affects both children and adults, taking between 12 hours and 5 days after ingestion to show symptoms. While the majority of people infected with cholera do not develop any symptoms, cholera has the potential to develop acute water diarrhoea. Without treatments such as administration of oral rehydration solution (ORS) or, in severe cases, intravenous fluids cholera can cause dehydration and death.
Japanese Encephalitis
Japanese encephalitis virus is spread by mosquitoes and is the main cause of viral encephalitis across many Asian countries. Most Japanese encephalitis virus infections are without apparent symptoms or with mild fevers and headaches. In saying this, there is still a risk of severe disease which is categorised by a rapid onset of conditions such as neck stiffness, coma, seizures, and potentially death. Japanese encephalitis treatment consists of stabilising and relieving symptoms experienced by patients.
Rabies
Rabies is a widespread and vaccine-preventable viral disease. Once established and clinical symptoms appear, the fatality rate of rabies is incredibly high. Although rabies affects both domestic and wild animals, the sizeable portion of rabies virus transmissions to humans is through domestic dogs’ scratches and bites. Initial symptoms include a fever and unusual sensations at the wound site. Rabies disease takes two forms. Furious rabies leads to death through cardio-respiratory arrest, while paralytic rabies gradually leads to death as a coma develops.
