Frequently Asked Questions

You should arrange to see a travel nurse at least six to eight weeks before you are planning to leave the UK, as some vaccinations require more than one injection, over the course of several weeks. Your travel nurse can advise you on which vaccines you need. Most travel vaccines are suitable for small children but there are some age restrictions to consider. If you are planning a trip with your baby or toddler, make sure you consult a doctor or travel nurse well in advance of your departure.

Every year, the NHS estimates that almost one in four British holidaymakers will travel without getting vaccinated properly, meaning that they’re potentially exposed to life-threatening infectious diseases. Travelling without immunisation will also put others at risk, too, as you could bring an infection back to the UK with you.

However late in the game it is, make sure you do all that you can to avoid getting sick abroad by going to speak to your GP or travel consultant about your vaccine options.

If you are visiting a country which is in the tropical and subtropical regions of South America and Africa, don’t take it lightly. Yellow fever is a disease caused by a virus that is spread through mosquito bites, hence easily caught. Symptoms take 3–6 days to develop and include fever, chills, headache, backache, and muscle aches. About 15% of people who get yellow fever develop serious illness that can lead to bleeding, shock, organ failure, and sometimes death. These symptoms can be worse if you have pre-existing medical conditions or are a senior.

Complications during the toxic phase of a yellow fever infection include kidney and liver failure, jaundice, delirium, and coma. People who survive the infection recover gradually over a period of several weeks to months, usually without significant organ damage.22 Sept 2020

Malaria is not caused by a virus or bacteria but is contracted when bitten by an infected mosquito and one bite is sufficient to catch Malaria.

Sometimes referred to as Malaria ‘attacks’, the patient experiences shivering and chills, high temperature and sweating before returning to normal body temperature. Usually the signs of Malaria don’t surface until a few weeks of being bitten by an infected mosquito.

There are several precautions you can take to protect yourself from mosquitos:

• Apply mosquito repellent with DEET (diethyltoluamide) to exposed skin.
• Try to sleep in areas draped by mosquito nets.
• Ensure the hotel/Airbnb you select has aqeduate screens on doors and windows.
• Treat clothing, mosquito nets, tents, sleeping bags and other fabrics with an insect repellent called permethrin.
• Cover your skin with long sleeves and long pants to reduce areas exposed to possible bites.
• Get the Malaria vaccine before you travel to high risk areas.

Children and infants are at a higher risk of contracting severe or fatal malaria and are therefore advised to avoid taking children into high risk regions. If travel is unavoidable, precaution must be taken as well as antimalaria medication.

It is important to discuss chemoprophylaxis (antimalaria) medication with our clinician.

• The medication and dosage is determined by the destination, age, weight and health condition.
• Parents must supervise child’s dosage and intake to prevent overdose which can be toxic.
• Children may not be able to take the medication easily so these can be blended with honey, jam, etc to make it easier to take.

*Duration may vary based on individuals, please discuss further with our clinician during your visit.