We say that all trips are different. To a degree this is correct because individuals all differ in their past and present health status, past travel experience and what they intend to do while away.
However, there are definite traveller groupings: those travelling for a holiday, for work, to volunteer in a humanitarian capacity, to visit family or friends or to relocate overseas. It is much easier to target health issues if you are part of a group. The health risks for a business traveller to a low-income country are very different to those visiting friends and relatives in the same location.
Backpackers can be a bit of everything as there isn’t always a reason for them heading off and they rarely have a set itinerary or time frame. We know they prefer cheap accommodation, spend very little on meals, have an emphasis on individual travel and enjoy meeting up with other similar travellers. Sometimes they are looking into a future vocation (writing, painting, environmental, import/ export, social media influencer). Their trips also tend to be longer, and they get closer to the local people.
This diversity makes their health preparation much more difficult, yet they are much more likely to be exposed to exotic disease.
Backpackers experience high rates of illness and injury.
- The importance of travel insurance and the need to check on exclusions (e.g. motor bikes and the need for a license, ballooning, bungee jumping etc).
- Routine and recommended vaccinations (increasing risk by duration of stay and season of travel).
- Advice on eating and drinking safely overseas (bearing in mind a limited budget)
- Standard of accommodation (no air conditioning, use of insecticide treated nets, if necessary, knock down sprays, bed bugs).
- Insect avoidance measures in areas of risk – what diseases might be present and how they are transmitted (mosquitoes, ticks, flies etc) and times of risk (day, night).
- Sun protection
- Skin issues
- Fresh water exposure (schistosomiasis in Africa)
- STI’s and how to minimise risk.
- Security issues, particularly where travel restrictions apply.
- Possible exotic disease exposure (malaria, tuberculosis, leptospirosis, tick-borne encephalitis etc)
- Advice on a targeted medical kit and how to use specific medications. To be aware of bogus medications.
- Information on the risks of locally brewed alcohol.
Despite the higher risk of health issues, there is much to be gained from a backpacker experience. Many can be avoided by simple measures and self-treatment is often an option.
Seek medical advice at least 6-8 weeks before travel.
