Page 744 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

742  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Heat and Humidity First-Aid Kit water of well-known brands,
Northern, central and western A basic first-aid kit for travelling such as Evian or Himalayan, if
India are scorchingly hot (see in India should include all available. Most international
pp42–3) during the summer personal medi cation, aspirin brands of carbonated drinks
(Apr–Jun). The east and the or painkillers for fevers and are widely available, and fresh
south are not as hot but can minor aches and pains, tablets coconut water is also safe.
get oppressively humid for nausea, antiseptic and Although street food often looks
during the monsoon. calamine lotion for cuts and tempting, it is safer to avoid
Take things easy for a few days bites, an anti-fungal ointment, it, unless it is hot and freshly
to get acclimatized. To prevent plaster and crêpe bandages, cooked right in front of you.
dehydration, drink plenty a pair of scissors, insect A good pharmacist can
of fluids and add an repellent and tweezers. suggest standard diarrhoea
extra pinch of salt to Your first aid kit medication, though if the attack
the food. It is wise should also have is severe, it is best to consult a
to stay indoors anti-histamines doctor. Also, take a course of
during the hottest for allergies, anti- oral rehydrating salts (ORS),
part of the day during diarrhoea tablets, which are commercially available
peak summer, when water-purification under the popular Indian brand
temperatures can reach tablets, disposable syringes names of Electral or Electrobion.
upto 50⁰C, in certain parts and a thermometer. Note An effective home-made
of northern India. If you are Hand fan that most of these items remedy is half a teaspoon of
outdoors, wear a wide- are also available at Indian salt and three teaspoons
brimmed hat and sunglasses, pharmacies. These stock effective of sugar in boiled water.
and use sunscreen to protect herbal remedies as well; only
your skin. Prolonged exposure buy brands that have been
to the sun can cause heat stroke, recommended by a reliable Food and Water-
borne Diseases
a serious condition with high practitioner or pharmacist.
body temperature, severe Visitors to India must guard
headaches and disorientation. against dysentery. Bacillary
Prickly heat powder and anti- Stomach Upsets dysentery lasts about a week
and Diarrhoea
fungal ointments are available and is accompanied by severe
at most pharmacies. The best Diarrhoea, usually caused by stomach pains, vomiting and
option is to wear light, loose- a change of diet, water and fever, while amoebic dysentery
fitting cotton clothing and climate, is common among has similar symptoms but
open sandals. visitors. Spicy Indian food often takes longer to manifest. If left
In winter (Oct–Feb), cities leads to digestive disorders, in untreated, this can become
have a lot of smog, as the which case it is best to eat plain, chronic. The same is true of
pollution in the air tends to boiled food until the attack giardiasis, a type of diarrhoea
settle. This aggravates chest subsides. Most importantly, drink caused by contaminated water.
infections, and asthmatic plenty of liquids to keep well Vaccination against hepatitis A
travellers should always carry hydrated. Avoid raw salad, cut is advisable before travelling
their own medication, although fruit, cold cuts, fresh juice and to India. The symptoms of this
inhalers are readily available yoghurt. Instead of tap water, unpleasant disease include fever,
on prescription. opt for bottles of sealed mineral fatigue, severe chills and
jaundice. The only treatment is
rest and a strictly controlled diet.
Other waterborne diseases such
as cholera (prevalent in flood-hit
areas) and typhoid can also be
prevented with vaccines.
Intestinal worms, common
in most tropical areas, include
tapeworms, which are found in
under-cooked meats and green
leafy vegetables. Others, such as
hookworms, can be contracted
by walking barefoot on
contaminated soil. Ensure that
all food is well cooked and
always wear sturdy shoes in
remote or waterlogged areas.
A course of medication can
be taken for worm infestation,
Green coconut-water, good for soothing an upset stomach which normally does not recur.

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