Australia Staying Healthy

Common sense is the best prescription for good health while traveling. Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration in the bright Australian sun, and always wear sturdy, broken-in shoes with clean socks. Be aware of special safety concerns associated with the Australian environment and wildlife. Remember: in the event of a serious illness or emergency, call ☎000 from any land line or ☎112 from a cell phone for the police, an ambulance, or the fire department.

Environmental Hazards

Heat exhaustion and dehydration: Heat exhaustion can be a serious concern in Australia, particularly in the Outback. Symptoms include nausea, excessive thirst, headaches, and dizziness. Avoid it by drinking plenty of fluids, eating salty foods (e.g., crackers), staying away from dehydrating beverages (e.g., alcohol and caffeinated drinks), and always wearing sunscreen. Also remember to always carry extra water in your car and, when hiking, on your person. Continuous heat stress can eventually lead to heatstroke, characterized by rising body temperature, severe headache, delirium, and failure to sweat. Victims should be cooled off with wet towels and taken to a doctor.
Sunburn: Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world; about 8500 people are diagnosed with melanoma each year. Always wear sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) when spending time outdoors. If you are planning on spending time near water, in the desert, or on long hikes, you are at a higher risk of getting burned, even through clouds. If you get sunburned, drink more fluids than usual and apply an aloe-based lotion. Severe sunburns can lead to sun poisoning, a condition that affects the entire body, causing fever, chills, nausea, and vomiting; it should be treated by a doctor.
Hypothermia and frostbite: A rapid drop in body temperature is the clearest sign of overexposure to cold. Victims may also shiver, feel exhausted, have poor coordination or slurred speech, hallucinate, or suffer amnesia. Do not let hypothermia victims fall asleep. To avoid hypothermia, keep dry, wear layers, and stay out of the wind. When the temperature is below freezing, watch out for frostbite. If skin turns white or blue, waxy, and cold, do not rub the area. Drink warm beverages, stay dry, and slowly warm the area with dry fabric or steady body contact until a doctor can be found.
High altitude: Give your body a couple of days to adjust to less oxygen before exerting yourself. Note that alcohol is more potent and UV rays are stronger at high elevations.

Insect-Borne Diseases

Many diseases are transmitted by insects—mainly mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, and lice. Be aware of insects in wet or forested areas, especially while hiking and camping; wear long pants and long sleeves, tuck your pants into your socks, and use a mosquito net. Use insect repellent and soak or spray your gear with permethrin (licensed in the US only for use on clothing). In especially bug-heavy areas, use a repellent that includes a small percentage of DEET. Mosquitoes —responsible for dengue fever, Australian encephalitis, Ross River virus, and Barmah Forest virus—can be particularly abundant in wet, swampy, or wooded areas like those found in national parks. Ticks —which can carry Lyme and other diseases—are particularly prevalent in rural and forested regions.

Lyme disease: A bacterial infection carried by ticks and marked by a circular bull’s-eye rash of 2 in. or more. Later symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and aches and pains. Antibiotics are effective if administered early. Left untreated, Lyme can cause problems in joints, the heart, and the nervous system. If you find a tick attached to your skin, grasp the head with tweezers as close to your skin as possible and apply slow, steady traction. Removing a tick within 24hr. greatly reduces the risk of infection. Do not try to remove ticks with petroleum jelly, nail polish remover, or a hot match. Ticks usually inhabit moist, shaded environments and heavily wooded areas. If you are going to be hiking in these areas, wear long clothes and repellent with DEET.

Food- And Water-Borne Diseases

Prevention is the best cure: be sure that your food is properly cooked and the water you drink is clean. If the region’s tap water is known to be unsanitary, peel fruits and vegetables before eating them and avoid tap water (including ice cubes and anything washed in tap water, like salad). Watch out for food from markets or street vendors that may have been cooked in unhygienic conditions. Other culprits are raw shellfish, unpasteurized milk, and sauces containing raw eggs. Buy bottled water, or purify your own by bringing it to a rolling boil or treating it with iodine tablets; note, however, that some parasites have exteriors that resist iodine treatment, so boiling is more reliable. Always wash your hands before eating or use a quick-drying purifying liquid hand cleaner.

Traveler’s diarrhea: Results from drinking fecally contaminated water or eating uncooked and contaminated foods. Symptoms include nausea, bloating, and urgency. Try quick-energy, non-sugary foods with protein and carbohydrates to keep your strength up. Over-the-counter anti-diarrheals (e.g., Imodium®) may counteract the problem. The most dangerous side effect is dehydration; drink 8 oz. of water with ½ tsp. of sugar or honey and a pinch of salt, try caffeine-free soft drinks, or eat salted crackers. If you develop a fever or your symptoms don’t go away after 4-5 days, consult a doctor. Consult a doctor immediately for treatment of diarrhea in children.
Dysentery: Results from an intestinal infection caused by bacteria in contaminated food or water. Symptoms include bloody diarrhea, fever, and abdominal pain and tenderness. The most common type of dysentery generally only lasts a week, but it is highly contagious. Seek medical help immediately. Dysentery can be treated with the drugs norfloxacin or ciprofloxacin (commonly known as Cipro).
Cholera: An intestinal disease caused by bacteria in contaminated food. Symptoms include diarrhea, dehydration, vomiting, and muscle cramps. See a doctor immediately; if left untreated, cholera can be lethal within hours. Antibiotics are available, but the most important treatment is rehydration.
Hepatitis A: A viral infection of the liver acquired through contaminated water or shellfish from contaminated water. Symptoms include fatigue, fever, loss of appetite, nausea, dark urine, jaundice, vomiting, aches and pains, and light stools. The risk is highest in rural areas and the countryside, but it is also present in urban areas. Ask your doctor about the Hepatitis A vaccine or an injection of immune globulin.
Giardiasis: Transmitted through parasites and acquired by drinking untreated water from streams or lakes. Symptoms include diarrhea, cramps, bloating, fatigue, weight loss, and nausea. If untreated, it can lead to severe dehydration. Giardiasis occurs worldwide.
Typhoid fever: Caused by the salmonella bacteria; rare in Australia. While mostly transmitted through contaminated food and water, it may also be acquired by direct contact with another person. Early symptoms include high fever, headaches, fatigue, appetite loss, constipation, and a rash on the abdomen or chest. Antibiotics can treat typhoid, but a vaccination (70-90% effective) is recommended.
Leptospirosis: A bacterial disease caused by exposure to fresh water or soil contaminated by the urine of infected animals. Able to enter the human body through cut skin, mucus membranes, and ingestion, it is most common in tropical climates. Symptoms include a high fever, chills, nausea, and vomiting. If not treated it can lead to liver failure and meningitis. There is no vaccine; consult a doctor for treatment.

Other Infectious Diseases

The following diseases exist all over the world. Travelers should know how to recognize them and what to do if they suspect they have been infected.

Hepatitis B: A viral infection of the liver transmitted via blood or other bodily fluids. Symptoms, which may not surface until years after infection, include jaundice, appetite loss, fever, and joint pain. It is passed through unprotected sex and unclean needles. A 3-shot vaccination sequence is recommended for sexually-active travelers and anyone planning to seek medical treatment abroad; it must begin 6 months before traveling.
Hepatitis C: Like Hepatitis B, but transmitted differently. IV drug users, those with occupational exposure to blood, hemodialysis patients, and recipients of blood transfusions are at the highest risk, but the disease can also be spread through sexual contact or sharing items like razors and toothbrushes that may have traces of blood on them. No symptoms are usually exhibited. If untreated, Hepatitis C can lead to liver failure.
AIDS and HIV: For detailed information on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in Australia, call the US Centers for Disease Control’s 24hr. hotline at ☎+1-800-342-2437. Note that Australia screens incoming travelers for AIDS, primarily those planning extended visits for work or study, and could deny entrance to those who test HIV-positive. Contact an Australian consulate for information.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs): Gonorrhea, chlamydia, genital warts, syphilis, herpes, HPV, and other STIs are easier to catch than HIV and can be just as serious. Though condoms may protect you from some STIs, oral or even tactile contact can lead to transmission. If you think you may have contracted an STI, see a doctor immediately.

Other Health Concerns

Medical Care On The Road

Most of Australia is covered by state emergency ambulance and hospital services; emergency medical care in rural Australia is provided by the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS; www.flyingdoctor.net). If you plan on traveling in a remote area of Australia, see Wilderness Safety for general safety advice as well as specific information on remote communication devices.

If you are concerned about obtaining medical assistance while traveling, you may wish to employ special support services. The MedPass from GlobalCare, Inc. (☎+1-800-860-1111; www.globalcare.net) provides 24hr. international medical assistance, support, and medical evacuation resources. The International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers (IAMAT; US ☎+1-716-754-4883, Canada 519-836-0102; www.iamat.org) has free membership, lists English-speaking doctors worldwide, and offers detailed info on immunization requirements and sanitation. If your regular insurance policy does not cover travel abroad, you may wish to purchase additional coverage .

Those with medical conditions (such as diabetes, allergies to antibiotics, epilepsy, or heart conditions) may want to obtain a MedicAlert membership (US$40 per year), which includes among other things a stainless steel ID tag and a 24hr. collect-call number. Contact the MedicAlert Foundation International (☎+1-888-633-4298, outside US 209-668-3333; www.medicalert.org).

Women’S Health

Women traveling in unsanitary conditions are vulnerable to urinary tract (including bladder and kidney) infections. Over-the-counter medicines can sometimes alleviate symptoms, but if they persist, see a doctor. Vaginal yeast infections may occur in hot and humid climates. Wearing loosely fitting trousers or a skirt and cotton underwear will help, as will over-the-counter remedies like Monistat or Gynelotrimin. Bring supplies from home if you are prone to infection, as they may be difficult to find on the road. And, since tampons, pads, and reliable contraceptive devices can be hard to find when traveling, bring supplies with you. Abortion laws vary in different states and territories.