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TRAVEL HEALTH
Too Sick
to Fly?
WHAT YOU CAN DO WHEN YOU BECOME ILL WHILE YOU’RE AWAY ON VACATION.
BASEd on An ARTICLE By HAnnAH WALLACE, Too SICk To FLy (U.S. EndLESS VACATIon MAgAzInE)
We all know not to fly when we’re sick - an airplane is a petri dish for germs. But what if you’re already at your destination when you catch something? We interviewed Devyani Lal, M.D.,
a rhinologist at the Mayo Clinic’s Arizona campus, for advice including how to alleviate your symptoms and avoid infecting other travelers.
Postpone your flight
“If you are really sick, you should just
stay at your destination,” Dr Lal says.
Most airlines let you rebook, but you’ll be charged a cancellation fee (anywhere from $120 to $180, depending on the type of ticket you purchased) and any difference
in airfare. Travel Insurance may cover the cost of rescheduling your flight, though you will probably need a doctor’s certificate. Smartraveller.com.au states travel insurance is as essential as your passport, regardless of your travel destination. If you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel!
If you incur medical expenses while overseas and you don’t have travel insurance, you are personally liable for covering these costs. The Government cannot pay for medical expenses overseas. Nor will your domestic private health insurance. Some travel insurance offer a trip-interruption benefit that includes illness. So if you’re too sick
to board the plane and you get a doctors certificate you may be covered.
If you must travel, wear a mask
It will undoubtedly call attention to you, and that’s probably a good thing. If you’re
sick “you’re creating a virus factory,” Dr Lal says, and you don’t want to subject others to your germs. (As Lal points out, 90 percent of colds are caused by viruses, which are highly contagious. Bacterial infections are less common and don’t spread as easily.) Some pharmacies and airport vendors sell masks.
Congestion relief
The Neti pot is an Indian device used to clean out the sinuses: You pour warm, salty water from the pot into one nostril and let it drain out the other. “The Neti pot has very low side effects and is well tolerated by most patients, Dr. Lal says. “I’d say that 99 percent of my patients like it.” As another option, try squirting salty water (either previously boiled or distilled) into your nostrils with a plastic squeeze bottle. Both Neti pots and nasal squeeze bottles are sold at pharmacies. (Be sure to clean the Neti pot or squeeze bottle as directed between uses.*)
Help for a sinus infection
Start treatment with a nasal decongestant (such as Vicks Sinex), since there are fewer side effects, Dr. Lal says. If that doesn’t help, try an oral decongestant such as Sudafed.
(Don’t take Sudafed if you have severe high blood pressure, or severe coronary artery disease.) To keep your ears from hurting during the flight, use a nasal spray 25 minutes before takeoff and 25 minutes before landing. “The lining of the nose is connected to the eustachian tube, which equalizes pressure from the ear to prevent pain,” Dr. Lal explains.
Antibiotics - the last resort
As viruses cause most sinus infections and colds, antibiotics are useless against them (and a cold will go away in a week anyway). But should your cold not go away after a week, or has gotten worse, you may have
a bacterial infection. See a doctor, who
may prescribe antibiotics. If you’re prone
to infection and are traveling to a country where finding antibiotics may be difficult, consider asking your doctor to give you a short course of antibiotics to carry with you just in case.
*Consult your doctor before taking any medication or starting any treatment. Use all medication and products as directed.
ENDLESS VACATION 5