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Apart from the normal risk as with all other travellers, pregnant women have other potential problems when travelling.

The safest time to travel is during the second trimester. Women with previous obstetric problems and higher risk pregnancy should avoid travel if possible. Air travel is discouraged after 24 weeks of gestation for women with risk factors, or after 36 weeks for normal pregnancy.

The following kits are available at Travel Vaccination Health Care for your safe travel.

Traveller’s Kit

• Skin sutures with needle
• Disposable scalpel, needles and syringes
• Winged infusion set Local anaesthetic (Xylocaine)
• Micropore tape, Steristrip wound closures, Sterile gauze dressings
• Mellolite non-sticky dressing
• Betadine/Alcohol/Chlorhexadine antiseptic swabs
• Gloves
• 1 Arm Sling

This pack is for travellers who may sustain injury in developing countries where medical sterilisation is not adequate.

Syringe and Needle Kit

• 3x 2 ml syringes
• 1x 5 ml syringes
• 2×25 gauge needle
• 2×23 gauge needle
• Sterile alcohol swabs

This pack is prepared for travellers who may need injections for emergency use where disposable needles are not commonly available.

Gastro Kit 1

• Hydralyte/Gastrolyte
• Gastrolyte sachets for fluid replacement
• Iodine 2% water sterilising solution
• Gastro Stop for diarrhoea
• Maxolon for nausea and vomiting.

Gastro Kit 2

Same as Gastro kit 1 plus Noroxin and Fasigyn (antibiotics). Detailed instructions for proper use of the packs are included in each pack.

Permethrin Kit

Contents: Permethrin Concentrate, Gloves.

Those participating in combat sports must have Hepatitis B vaccination. Bats in caves and dogs chasing bicyclists make Rabies a significant risk. This vaccine requires 3 injections spread over 1 month before departure. Adequate travel insurance covering all sporting activities is vital for sports people.

Trypanosomias (sleeping sickness) – “sleeping sickness” spread by tsetse fly, widespread in Africa, but more recently found in tourist areas of Serengeti National Park (Tanzania). Prevented by insect repellents (eg. Bushman’s Gel)

Schistosomiasis (bilharzia) – infection is through freshwater rivers and lakes commonly in southern Africa. Prevention by avoiding swimming in freshwater lakes (eg Lake Malawi) Plague, Chagas Disease, Tick-borne Encephalitis (etc) examples of very rare diseases which may be of relevance to specific travellers who live in endemic areas.

Travelling with children can be very enjoyable, but poses some problems. Their ears may cause discomfort on ascent and descent. They may dehydrate more quickly than an adult especially in tropical countries. Very newborn babies do not have well developed lungs, and air travel may pose some risk.

Malaria exists in several diving “hot-spots” in the South Pacific (eg. Vanuatu, PNG). Divers MUST NOT use mefloquin (Larium) to prevent malaria as it may reduce co-ordination and other nerve functions. Divers tend to travel more frequently to more exotic locations, hence it is very important to have all recommended vaccinations.

Most people who ascend rapidly to heights above 2500 metres (8200 ft) have a period of unpleasant acclimatisation. During this time they may have a variety of symptoms, the most prominent of which are headache, lassitude, insomnia, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting. (Children cannot express these symptoms). These symptoms are collectively referred to as acute mountain sickness (AMS). Acute mountain sickness is a preventable and potentially serious disease. Travellers to the Himalayas, Tibet, the Andes, Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya, or the Rocky Mountains should be aware of AMS.