Gastrointestinal infections
Traveller's diarrhoea or "turista" is caused by infectious diseases that are transmitted by dirty hands or via contaminated food and drinks.
Other types of infection
Other infections may be caused by parasites that penetrate beneath the skin.
To avoid ruining your holiday, follow a few rules:
Food-Related Hygiene
- Wash your hands before eating.
- Eat hot, properly cooked foods (meat, fish, vegetables, etc.).
- Avoid fruits and vegetables without peels. Peel the others. Do not wash them with the local water.
- Avoid shellfish and crustaceans.
- Avoid dairy and egg products.
- WATER: Only drink bottled or disinfected water (for maximum safety, use both filtration and a chemical disinfectant: ask your pharmacist for advice). Beware of ice cubes, ice cream, etc.
Bodily hygiene
- Wash daily.
- Wash your hands after using the toilet.
- Drink plenty of fluids (at least 2 L/day). In the event of diarrhoea, drink plenty of fluids and alternate between savoury and sweet, particularly for infants, young children and elderly persons.
- Do not leave your clothes to dry outdoors (flies can lay eggs in them).
- Do not go barefoot; do not lay directly on the ground or the sand (parasites can penetrate into the body through the skin).
- Avoid bathing in hot, stagnant freshwater, because of bacteria, parasites, etc.
- Do not pet animals (dogs, cats, etc.): transmission of parasites or rabies via bites.
Sun
- To protect yourself from the sun: a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, clothing that covers the body, and sunscreen.
Altitude
- Do not ascend too fast or too high.
Insects, protecting yourself from bites
- Wear ample clothing that protects the ENTIRE body (long sleeves, trousers) in pale colours (dark colours attract heat, and therefore mosquitoes).
- Protect your clothing by spraying it beforehand with special repellent products for fabrics (Moustifluid Lotion For Fabrics and Clothing Tropical Zones).
- Apply repellents to all exposed body parts or those that might become exposed through movement, upon arriving in the risk area(Moustifluid Body Lotion). Reapply regularly, especially in the event of humidity or high temperature, not to exceed three times per day.
- Avoid going outside, even for a moment, without anti-insect protection, particularly when insects are most active.
- At night, sleep under a mosquito net.
Sexual relations
- Do not have unprotected sex (Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs): AIDS, Syphilis, Herpes, etc.)