First aid kit - Reiseapotheke

Medication

Disinfectant for disinfecting Skin injuries - PVP iodine solution or disinfectant spray
Bandages (including scissors and tweezers to remove spines, etc.)
remedy for Pain, fever, and inflammation – In tropical countries you should avoid taking drugs that contain acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) (e.g. aspirin), as these have serious side effects in tropical diseases. Instead, you should like medication Paracetamol or Ibuprofen use.
Drugs against Vomiting and nausea; You do not need clean drinking water to take Lingualtabletten, which melt on the tongue.
Drugs against diarrhea - In countries with inadequate hygienic conditions and water treatment, many travelers are affected by infections of the intestinal area, known regions for this are Central America or the Middle East. With sufficient fluid and salt intake and possibly a preparation to support the recovery of the gastrointestinal flora, most diarrheal diseases will be over after 2-3 days. Loperamide (Imodium ®) - although often given as the drug of first choice - should only be used in "emergency situations" (flight or long bus transfer without the possibility of going to the toilet). Certain serious bacterial infections show a more unpleasant (occurrence of abdominal cramps) and longer course. In emerging countries, travelers are often sold one or even several antibiotics with only questionable benefits.
Drugs against sniff - With the increasing use of air conditioning in hotels and restaurants, the risk of catching a cold also increases. Therefore, you should at least take a decongestant nasal spray or sea salt solution with you to prevent the mucous membranes from drying out. A decongestant nasal spray should be carried in the luggage especially before air travel with children, a pressure equalization disorder in a middle ear catarrh leads to ear pain during the flight, which toddlers express with persistent screaming.
Drugs against Sore throat
Drugs against Eye discomfort - "Artificial tears" for the treatment of dehydration symptoms, which can be caused by air conditioning and low humidity. Opened vials of eye drops last a maximum of four weeks, alternatively take single doses in plastic ampoules with you.
Sunscreen - As a sunscreen, dermatologists generally recommend the highest possible sun protection factor, but at least a factor of 30. Please note that the sun protection factor is stated differently in many countries than in German-speaking countries. You should also take a cooling agent for light sunburn with you. The best sun protection, by the way, is long clothing on arms and legs and adequate headgear.
Medicines to prevent Insect bites, so-called Repellants. It is worth taking a pack with you and inquiring about an optimally effective remedy on site. The preparations available in Central Europe are certainly harmless (use in children), but some are also significantly less effective.
possibly a antibiotic - This can be helpful when traveling to countries with a low standard of health care in rural areas, if a doctor or hospital cannot be visited within 12 hours. But first consult your family doctor and discuss the choice of preparation and use with him!
possibly a Antimalarials - The transport should be based on the current travel medicine recommendations, for each country / region there are recommendations as to whether a preparation should be taken prophylactically for the duration of the trip or only taken as a reserve in case of illness. Local health facilities in countries with malaria are mostly adept at diagnosing malaria.

The Foreign Office is also doing one Suggestion for the home and first-aid kit in countries with poor medical supplies stating the German, English and French trade names of the recommended agents.

The drugs should be stored away from heat (no suppositories in countries with high temperatures) and their expiry date should be checked (indicated on the packaging as EXP xx / 20xx; any pharmacy will take care of it free of charge).

Travelers who constantly have to take medication should have enough reserve medication and preferably a medication plan (on which the generic substance name is also listed) for the duration of the trip.

Insulin-dependent diabetics must ensure that they carry a written confirmation with them when traveling by air that they are carrying injection material in their hand luggage. Insulin belongs in hand luggage (danger of falling below the minimum temperature in the hold, danger if luggage does not arrive on time or is lost ...).

People with an increased risk of thrombosis can protect themselves from long flights with a self-administered thrombosis prophylactic injection. Written confirmation is also required for this if the dose for the return flight is carried in hand luggage.

Pay particular attention to prescription drugsthat these may not be imported into every country. This applies above all to drug substitutes (methadone) and certain psychotropic drugs (sedatives, possibly neuroleptics), etc. The relevant consulates and embassies provide information on import regulations.

Abroad, pharmacies often dispense prescription drugs in this country without a prescription. If this is not the case in other European countries, for example, the local pharmacy can fax the family doctor at home a prescription form with a therapy proposal that he only needs to countersign and fax back. Keep the receipt for the annual reimbursement from the health insurance company.

Vaccinations

The Travel and safety information from the Federal Foreign Office you can find country-specific health information, including vaccinations. Vaccinations can be given by the family doctor, a specialist tropical doctor or, for example, by a vaccination center in a clinic. The costs are comparable in all cases, but the tropical doctor or the vaccination centers have the advantage that the vaccine is in stock, you sometimes have to buy the vaccine on prescription from a pharmacy or order it one day in advance Travel vaccination costs.

Hepatitis A: Viral hepatitis is fecal-oral (i.e. via drinking water contaminated with feces) and manifests itself with abdominal discomfort and jaundice. Vaccination is generally recommended when it comes to countries and regions with inadequate sanitary facilities and drinking water treatment. Only Western Europe, USA, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand are considered safe. Hepatitis A is one of the most common travel diseases; two vaccinations every 6 to 12 months provide long-term protection.
Hepatitis B.: this highly contagious viral hepatitis is transmitted through blood contact and unprotected sex. Three vaccinations are required for the basic protection, which are administered within one year. The first two vaccinations are given within 4 weeks, the third after six months. A hepatitis B vaccination is absolutely necessary for everyone who works in the health sector (including humanitarian missions in emerging countries)!
tetanus (Tetanus) is an often fatal infectious disease, triggered by pathogens that are in the soil, thorns, etc. or that can also be transmitted through animal bites. In Western Europe, most residents are protected by vaccinations in the routine vaccination schedule from the 2nd month of life. At least three vaccinations are necessary to gain protection. After 10 years a refresher is necessary for an adult.
Yellow fever - Yellow fever (a febrile illness which can lead to jaundice) is common in central Africa and also occurs in South America. When traveling to the relevant states, a yellow fever vaccination must be carried out; some states also require the vaccination after a previous stay in an endemic area, unless it was only a matter of transit. There is still one to carry out the yellow fever vaccination Yellow fever vaccination license from the WHO necessary, which is why this vaccination can be administered by tropical medicine specialists and special vaccination centers.
rabies - Three vaccinations are necessary at an interval of 1 week or 2 weeks after the 2nd vaccination, so that you need 3 weeks for a complete vaccination. For the exact vaccination plan, however, it depends on the preparation. The cost is around 180 € for three vaccinations. Even after the vaccination, you need a re-vaccination on the day of a possible infection and three days later. If you are not vaccinated, you need right away an active vaccination on 6 different days as well as rabies immunoglobulin as a passive vaccination (i.e. you get an injection of the immune system). Vaccination is recommended for longer stays in emerging countries and humanitarian missions, as infections can be transmitted through contact with rabies - stray dogs and cats. Under no circumstances should one approach or even touch a stray animal that looks sick or behaves strangely (no false pity for the dying kitten ...).
typhus - is caused by bacteria (salmonella) in food. The vaccination protection of the oral vaccination occurs about 7 days after the vaccination and is not one hundred percent. Recommended for longer stays in emerging countries and for humanitarian missions, if the classic principle "Cook it, boil it, peel it or forget it" cannot be adhered to.
Japanese encephalitis - Tropical disease caused by viruses. Two vaccinations are required within 30 days. The vaccine used today has only been approved since April 2009.
Polio / polio - In the past, oral vaccination was used to vaccinate against polio, today the vaccine has to be injected (lower risk of the very rare side effects of the vaccination). The risk of infection is greatest in central Africa and Asia (countries around India). In the case of tetanus (tetanus) booster vaccination, which is necessary, the combination vaccine that is also effective against polio can be administered if you are planning a trip abroad to an emerging country.
Diphtheria - a severe bacterial respiratory infection that occurs after the collapse of health care in countries of the former Soviet Union as well as in India. The vaccine is almost always given with the tetanus vaccination (dT) and always exists if the vaccinations are carried out correctly according to the routine vaccination schedule. The health insurance companies bear the costs of the vaccination.
measles - The routine vaccination plan includes measles vaccination against measles infection, which can manifest itself with fever, sore throat, a rash and, unfortunately, a potentially severe meningitis. Problems have arisen in Switzerland due to increasing opposition to vaccinations; insufficient vaccination coverage among the population led to measles outbreaks, which resulted in travel warnings from non-European countries before traveling to Switzerland.
TBE- Vaccination - Especially when you are on vacation in regions where the TBE virus is transmitted by ticks (large parts of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, northeastern Switzerland, Austria) you should be vaccinated against this virus if you like to be outdoors (hikers, joggers, dog owners). A few days after a tick bite, fever, body aches, headache and signs of meningitis occur. Three vaccinations are necessary for basic protection and then booster vaccinations every ten years.
flu - Vaccination, especially recommended for older people with previous illnesses and other risk groups. The vaccination to be carried out annually according to the updated recommendations of the WHO contains active substances against the expected flu virus strains, these usually change from year to year. Active ingredients against the so-called originating from Asia Swine flu (H1N1) are included in current flu vaccines. It should be noted that the risk of infection is very high, especially when traveling by air, the infection is transmitted as a droplet infection, i.e. a sick person who coughs and snorts clouds the whole area with it.

prophylaxis

Especially in Africa and Southeast Asia is the malaria spread. In Kenya and some areas of Southeast Asia (e.g. Cambodia) there are pathogens resistant to common prophylaxis. Updated recommendations for prophylaxis or taking appropriate medication with you can be obtained from the specialized travel medicine websites of the health authorities or tropical medicine institutes or from the family doctor, who has access to the same sources of information. Information about the regions to be visited is necessary for the assessment.
The usual preventive measures against mosquito bites (long, light-colored clothing; mosquito spray, mosquito net) are important as protection. According to the recommendations of the tropical medicine centers, antimalarials can be carried for prophylaxis or as emergency medication. In Germany and Switzerland, the anti-malarial drugs require a prescription and usually have to be paid for by the traveler himself. In any case, you should consult a doctor before leaving to discuss the necessary precautions.

in countries with insufficient Drinking water quality (that is almost all outside of Europe, North America and Australia) tap water or even water from public wells and rivers should not be consumed. It is better to consume bottled water and, if necessary, to decontaminate it using filters or water treatment tablets. The principle applies to the food Cook it, boil it, peel it - or forget it Farther.

regarding the transfer of bloodborne infections and Venereal diseases the corresponding recommendations (no unprotected sexual intercourse, no tattoos with non-sterile materials) must be strictly adhered to. Infections of this kind occur much more often as a result of criminal carelessness than if someone were infected with unclean injection material through hospital treatment!

Regions

"Third World"

Syringes set can be purchased "unused" in any pharmacy in Germany and can prevent the risk of HIV transmission through unclean injection material should treatment with injections be necessary during a trip.

However, it should be remembered that injection material (except with appropriate medical confirmation, for example in the case of diabetics) may not be carried in hand luggage, may attract attention during x-ray checks and may give the border authorities the false assumption that the traveler is a drug user ...

Even in emerging countries, travelers can buy unused, flawless injection material for "a handful of dollars" (in the case of a serious infection, treatment with infusions over a longer period of time is necessary, as the individual cannula brought along is of no use ...), local doctors and pharmacies will gladly take on the bill. In the treatment of foreigners, due to the expected payment, very different resources are used than those of natives in a country with free health care for the local population.

Note

Web links

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