Getting sick on the road is one of the things we dread the most as travelers. It can happen in the form of food poisoning, a common flu and in some cases, something a bit more serious.
In my years of travel, I've experienced sickness in many ways and many places, yet I've managed to deal with it effectively no matter where I am. Here I'll share with you a few tips that will help you deal with sickness while on the road. But, before I move forward I want to state that I'm not a doctor. I'm simply speaking out of my experience and common knowledge so please don't take this as the ultimate in medical care advice.
If you've been bitten by an animal (spider, scorpion, snake, raccoon, etc.), contract malaria or other sickness, or simply feel like you're not improving after treating yourself with over the counter medicine; then it is time to visit a doctor. Common sense and your body will tell you when the situation is bad enough to go to a doctor or the emergency room.
Make sure you travel with proper travel insurance to cover you in these unlikely, yet plausible scenarios.
For example, when I was in Italy I got a really bad case of food poisoning, and after days of not improving I felt I needed to go to the hospital. Once I made that decision, I called my travel insurance to let them know I was going to the hospital. After visiting the hospital and getting proper care, my condition improved dramatically in just a matter of hours. Also, my travel insurance covered my hospital visit!
Should this happen to you, contact your travel insurance so they can tell you which clinics and hospitals they work with in your current location, so your visit will be covered.
Finally, let other people know what you're going through, just in case. It's not about getting them worried, but more about getting their support and help. People you care about might be far away, but that psychological support can help in ways you may not realize.
What else do you recommend doing when illness strikes while traveling?
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Norbert Figueroa is an architect who hit the pause button on his career in 2011 to do a round the world trip. He's been blogging for over three years at globotreks.com, where he shares his travel experiences, budget travel tips, and a good dose of world architecture. From hiking Mount Kilimanjaro to diving with great white sharks, he is always on the search of adrenaline and adventure. Norbert is originally from Puerto Rico and he is currently based in Milan, Italy... when not roaming around the world, that is. He has traveled to more than 80 countries in 5 continents and his goal is to travel to all 193 U.N. recognized countries. Follow Norbert on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Google Plus.
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