Travel to Developing Countries - Travel Precautions

Preventing Skin Infections. People who visit the tropics or developing regions are at risk for a number of skin disorders, including fungal and other infections. Cleanliness is essential. Bathing or showering is very beneficial, but if there are no facilities, simply washing with soap and water (even if cold) is still helpful. (Note: Taking multiple daily showers can remove protective oils and is not recommended.)

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The skin should also be kept dry in order to prevent fungal infections, which thrive in damp, warm climates. Take special care to clean and keep dry certain skin areas where infections are most likely to occur. They include creases in the skin, the armpits, the groin, buttocks, and areas between the toes. Use talcum powder in these areas. Keep socks dry.

Precautions when Traveling to High Altitudes

Acute high altitude illness, or mountain sickness, can effect the brain (mountain sickness, cerebral edema) or the lungs (pulmonary edema) or both. Studies suggest that about 25% of climbers experienced symptoms at 7,000 to 9,000 feet and 42% of them have symptoms at 10,000 feet. In most cases the condition is mild. Severe lack of oxygen at high altitudes, however, can cause serious problems in some people.

Acute Mountain Sickness. This syndrome is defined as headache and at least one other relevant symptom when a person climbs to about 8,000 feet. Other symptoms include upset stomach, dizziness, weakness, fatigue, and difficulty sleeping. It typically develops between 6 to 10 hours after ascent but some people experience them as early as an hour after a climb.
High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE). HACE is a life-threatening brain swelling and the severe endpoint of acute mountain sickness. Symptoms include altered consciousness and loss of coordination. In extreme cases, it can lead to coma and death.
High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE). HAPE is fluid in the lungs that in rare cases can be severe. In one study, about 75% of mountain climbers who went to 15,000 feet had some mild form of HAPE. Worse performance and a dry cough suggest the onset of HAPE. In extreme cases it can cause severe lung deterioration. (If it is going to develop at all, HAPE usually occurs in the first 2 days and rarely after 4 days at a given altitude.)

Luckily, symptoms of the more severe complications come on slowly, are easily recognized, and resolve when returning to a lower altitude.

Risk Factors for High Altitude Sickness. The risk for high altitude sickness is determined by certain characteristics: The rate at which a person ascends; the altitude reached; altitude during sleep; and individual physiology. People who live yearlong at low altitudes are much more likely to be ill at greater heights. Being physically stronger is not protective. Certain common conditions (heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, mild emphysema, and pregnancy) play no role in a person's risk for high altitude sickness. (Upper respiratory infections, however, do increase the risk for HAPE.)