6 Travel Illnesses to Avoid

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We know that getting sick is an unfortunate part of our existence. What makes getting sick even worse is during a vacation, business, or personal trip. Traveling opens us up to bugs when we enter new environments, and are around more people. If our system is weakened, then we are susceptible to parasites and other germs that could sideline us. We can get the flu, diarrhea, colds, and strep throat. However, there are other enemies we tend to forget like food poisoning, motion sickness, altitude sickness, and bug bites. By being more aware of what we are exposed to, we can plan ahead for possible problems. However, sometimes, we are never prepared for an illness that may come our way. But knowledge is power, and you can reduce your risks in order to prevent being sick. Here are 6 travel illnesses you can avoid, so traveling won’t become a nightmare for you.

Bug Bites

Mosquitoes are more than a pain--they can spread the Zika virus. This happens when a person gets bit by the infected Aedes (found in tropical environments) species mosquito, which has the virus. You can have a fever that is accompanied by joint pain, fever, chills, and other flu-like symptoms. On rare occasions, encephalitis may happen when the case is severe. This is when the brain swells and it causes seizures and hallucinations. The Zika virus is also linked to the birth defect microcephaly where the baby's head is abnormally small. The Center for Disease and Control reported that it can also be transmitted by blood transfusions. Lyme disease is another thing to be cognizant of. It comes from the deer tick that carries bacteria. People will get a bulls-eye rash pattern, but it will clear up with antibiotics in 5-7 days. The person could suffer for years from symptoms like joint pain and fatigue. Wear long sleeves shirts, pants, and use a good bug repellent, especially if you will be hiking or walking in high-grass areas.

Traveler's Diarrhea

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This will gross you out, and it really can ruin any travel plans. Traveler's diarrhea is an intestinal infection and is the most common sickness. With 6 unique classes of E. coli, the CDC reported it affects an estimated 30-70 percent of people traveling. For example, when the Enteroinvasive E. coli bacteria passes into the intestinal wall, it can cause severe diarrhea, Medicinenet.com reported. Enterotoxigenic E. coli is the most common form of traveler’s diarrhea where it produces a toxic reaction in the intestines. You can get it from food handlers, and contaminated water. Make sure you drink bottled water, eat food that is already sealed, avoid milk, and refrain from eating vendor foods. Stick to fruit that you can peel, and do not eat raw fish when traveling.