Thousands of people are set to travel without correct medicines, this summer To avoid any unwanted health dramas, doctors across the UK have shared tips These include getting melatonin tablets to help defeat the dreaded jet-lag Holiday season is fast approaching. But, after months of disciplined saving and mounting anticipation, you don’t want to ruin that long-awaited break by getting ill while you are away. So, whether it’s tackling a tummy bug or a dental emergency, leading experts reveal the essential items they pack in their holiday first aid kit.. 1. SINUS PAIN Medisure Steam Inhaler Cup ‘I sometimes get sinus pain on plane journeys, caused by the pressure changes in the cabin, so I take a steam inhaler cup with me,’ says Dr Adam Simon, a GP from AJ Primus HealthCare. ‘It has a lid and mask, and you add hot water to the cup, put the mask over your nose and mouth and breathe in. Use for ten minutes at the first hint of pain, and the steam helps clear the airways, easing pain.’ 2. BLOCKED EARS Otrivine nasal spray When we fly, pressure in the ears has to balance equally with the pressure in the cabin, explains Luke Cascarini, a consultant maxillofacial surgeon at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London. ‘This is normally done by the Eustachian tube in the middle ear, which opens and closes automatically to regulate the pressure. ut if the tube isn’t clear — perhaps due to inflammation — then you get painful, blocked ears. ‘So I take a decongestant in my hand luggage and use a spray just before take-off to prevent this happening — it travels up the nose and into the tubes.’ 3. INSECT BITES Piriton tablets ‘Antihistamine tablets such as these are useful if you get a lot of insect bites,’ says Dr John Lear, a consultant dermatologist at Salford Royal Hospital. ‘Rather than just applying a cream to soothe the itching, it’s better to beat it at source with an antihistamine. These drugs work by blocking histamine — which is produced by the body in response to a foreign substance, causing itching.’ 4. SUNBURN Aloe Vera Gel It’s obviously a bad idea to get sunburned, but it sometimes happens even with the best intentions, says Dr Sarah Burnett, a consultant radiologist based in London. A high concentration aloe vera gel is a must for my first aid kit, as the plant has a soothing and cooling effect on skin. It also has a moisturising effect. I apply a thin layer as often as I need to. ‘People might not realise, but ibuprofen is also good for helping reduce the pain and inflammation caused by sunburn.’ 5. CUTS Savlon Antiseptic cream should be standard in any travel kit to apply to cuts and prevent infection — ‘especially as we’re more likely to cut our feet on holiday by wearing open sandals or walking on sandy beaches or rocky paths,’ says Barry Radivan, a Manchester-based podiatrist. But also use a sterile adhesive dressing to keep the cream in place. 6. BLISTERS Compeed blister plasters IF you’re planning a lot of walking Dr Jon Dearing, a trauma and sports injury surgeon at the BMI Carrick Glen Hospital, recommends blister plasters — ordinary plasters won’t cushion the skin as well as these do. 7 & 8. BURNS Emla cream Whether it’s for a BBQ or for treating too much sun, pack a topical anaesthetic cream such as Emla — ‘this can help numb the pain of a burn,’ says Dr Ilan Lieberman, a consultant in anaesthesia and pain medicine at the University Hospitals of South Manchester. ‘It should only be used on a small area, no larger than a piece of A6 paper. If it’s any larger seek medical attention immediately.’ Cling film ‘I pack a roll of cling film, too — you apply this on top of the cream to keep the area sterile until it can be dressed properly,’ adds Dr Lieberman. 9. TRAVEL SICKNESS Stugeron ‘I always pack a travel sickness drug containing cinnarizine,’ says Dr Vishal Saxena, a consultant gastroenterologist at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Greenwich, South-East London. ‘This helps with motion sickness, but also acts as an antihistamine — useful if you get bitten by insects. ‘And because antihistamines can have a sedative effect, if you do feel sick the tablets help you to sleep it off.’ 10 & 11. EYE trouble Celluvisc, ‘Artificial tears are great for preventing “pink eye” — when eyes get red and dry during a plane journey through dehydration,’ says Dr Jeff Kwartz, a consultant ophthalmologist at the Royal Bolton Hospital. ‘It’s best to buy artificial tears in single ampoules rather than a bottle — this is because individual ones are preservative-free so don’t cause irritation. And you can pack them in hand luggage.’ Optrex chloramphenicol eye drops ‘These over-the-counter antibiotic drops (which you can’t always buy abroad without a prescription) are useful for bacterial eye infections, which can be a particular problem on holiday if you get sand or dirt in your eyes,’ adds Dr Kwartz. 12 & 13. DIARRHOEA Imodium Anti-diarrhoeal medication containing loperamide is helpful in case of a tummy bug — it works by slowing down the movement of the gut, making stools less watery, explains Alastair Forbes, a gastroenterologist and a professor of medicine at Norwich Medical School. ‘Take it as soon as symptoms start. Some people think it’s better to let the diarrhoea move quickly and so flush the bugs out of the system. 'But research has shown it won’t make much difference to the length of the infection.’ Dioralyte As Imodium won’t replace the lost water and salts, which play a vital role in body functions, when you have diarrhoea, you should drink plenty of water and use rehydration sachets like this one, too, adds Dr Forbes. There’s another good reason to pack Dioralyte on holiday, says Stephen Foster, a pharmacist based in a GP practice. ‘Too much sun can cause dehydration because we sweat to keep ourselves cool. Dioralyte is an excellent way of replenishing lost fluids and salts and so helps treat that awful headache you get after overdoing it in the sun.’ 14. TUMMY BUGS Antibiotics from your GP ‘If I’m going somewhere where stomach bugs are endemic and hygiene is an issue I’ll go to my GP and get a short course of antibiotics such as Metronidazole before I travel,’ says Dr Allister Grant, a consultant hepatologist from Leicester Infirmary. ‘You have to make a case for why you will need them. But that way I have something to take should I come down with diarrhoea caused by bacteria. 'Fever is a clue that your bad stomach is due to bacterial infection, but to be sure I’d wait until I’d had symptoms for 24 hours before taking antibiotics.’ 15. SPRAINS Crepe bandage A crepe bandage is a useful addition to your first aid kit in case of a sprain, says Peter Giannoudis. a professor of trauma and orthopaedic surgery at Leeds University. ‘It offers immediate support for the affected area to reduce swelling.’ He also packs ibuprofen rather than paracetamol, ‘as it will help reduce inflammation in the event of a sprain or fall’. 16. JET LAG Melatonin tablets, from your GP ‘Before I fly long-haul I buy melatonin, a hormone produced by the brain at night as the body prepares to fall asleep — it helps to reset the body’s sleep/wake cycle, so avoiding jet lag,’ explains Dr Mark Vanderpump, a consultant endocrinologist at the Physicians Clinic in London. ‘It’s available over-the-counter in the U.S. but on prescription in the UK — usually for sleep problems rather than jet lag. You can get it from online pharmacies, but will need an online consultation first. 'It’s perfectly harmless to take for a few days. I take 2 mg half an hour before bed once I reach my destination.’ Note, in the UK melatonin is only recommended for the over 55s, and side-effects can include headaches and back pain. ‘I’d be concerned about people buying melatonin without advice about side-effects and also making sure that it’s suitable and safe,’ says a spokesman for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. 17. LOSING A FILLING DenTek Temporary Filling Material Repair Kit ‘There’s nothing worse than a filling falling out on holiday — even for a dentist — so I take an emergency dental kit,’ says maxillofacial surgeon Luke Cascarini. ‘This one contains the same filling material used by dentists and the material sets hard enough to stay in until you can see a dentist back home. I’ve used this myself.’ 18. TOOTHACHE Clove oil This contains eugenol, which acts as a natural anaesthetic and antibacterial, reducing inflammation and pain, says Mr Cascarini. ‘Dab on cotton wool, put it over the tooth and bite down.’ 19. HANGOVERS Ibuprofen 200mg This everyday painkiller and anti-inflammatory is a staple of any first aid kit but some of its uses are particularly handy on holiday. Liver specialist Dr Allister Grant, packs it for occasional over-indulgence. ‘Ibuprofen causes fluid retention so helps combat the dehydrating effects of alcohol, reducing the headache that goes with drinking too much,’ he says. 20. DEEP WOUNDS Boots Skin Closures ‘These thin strips of plaster help close the edges of cuts too deep for a plaster but not bad enough for stitches — such as cuts caused by walking on a sharp object on the beach,’ says Dr Sarah Burnett. 21 & 22. RASHES Hydrocortisone Cream 1 per cent DERmATOLOGIST Dr John Lear says he always packs this ‘in case our children get an irritating rash because of heavily chlorinated swimming pools’ (suitable for age ten plus). ‘The cream works by calming inflammation and itching caused by the skin reaction.’ Eumovate ‘For adults, however, I would recommend using the more potent anti-inflammatory steroid cream,’ adds Dr Lear. 23. BUGS & VIRUSES Wet Ones wipes cleansing travel pack, 99p, Superdrug ‘People often take antibacterial wipes on holiday, but I even use them after taking a taxi to the airport or one of the squashed airport buses,’ says John Oxford, a professor of virology, Queen Mary University, London. ‘You tend to be packed in a small space increasing the chance of viruses and bugs being passed around. I subtly run the wipes over my hands when I get out of the cab or bus. 'Wipes containing alcohol are more effective at killing bacteria and viruses.’ 24. EMERGENCIES Solotrekk Mini Sterile Kit + cannulas ‘If I’m going off the beaten track I take a first aid kit that contains needles, syringes and cannulas — you may need to be treated somewhere the hygiene of local equipment can’t be guaranteed,’ says pharmacist Stephen Foster. ‘I have taken it with me to Africa, for example.’ 25. ACHES, PAINS & INFLAMMATION Instant ice pack ‘These ice packs don’t need to be kept in the freezer,’ says pain specialist Dr Ilan Lieberman. ‘They contain a mix of the chemical urea and water, which, when shaken together, produce a cooling liquid. 'Very useful if you find yourself in the middle of nowhere. They are great for anaesthetising pain and reducing swelling when you have a sprain.’ 26. WOUNDS Mepore ‘Taking a large sterile dressing such as Mepore is useful because you can cut it down to fit the size of the wound you are treating,’ adds Dr Lieberman. ‘And they are very secure because they have a long-lasting adhesive.’ PS. AT THE HOTEL... ‘Plenty of hotel rooms just aren’t dark enough for good sleep — the darker the room, the more you produce the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin,’ says Dr Guy Meadows, clinical director of the Sleep School, London. ‘Now I always take travel black-out blinds [such as the Gro-Anywhere Blind from John Lewis, £19.94]. They fit directly on to window glass using suckers. I also take ear plugs, an eye mask and a hoodie for the flight so I can sleep better and avoid jet leg.’ A portable mosquito net is another must for rural areas, says gastroenterologist Dr Vishal Saxena. ‘Erect it over the bed, like a tent and it stops insects getting to you while you sleep.’ Source
