Travellers with Certain Illnesses or Handicaps

In many tropical countries, medical care is not the same as it is here at home. If you suffer from any illness, first consult with your doctor. In the case of more serious chronic conditions, you should furthermore make sure that there is a means of receiving medical attention at your destination.

It may also be a good idea in advance to find a doctor at your destination whom you can visit if complications arise during your stay.

Don’t forget to take a sufficient amount of your personal medications with you, as well as a certificate from your doctor - written in English - that states what disease you have and what medicines you use. It may be good if upon request you can produce such a certificate at customs upon arrival, if you become worse in your illness, if you need to seek a doctor or if - perhaps - you quite simply lose your medication.

Please note that certain pharmaceuticals may be classified as narcotics (e.g., sleeping pills, tranquillisers or pain medications). Upon entering into countries that are part of the Schengen* conference and to most other European countries, a special certificate must be presented in certain cases. Such a certificate, issued by a pharmacy, is valid for 30 days and pertains to a use for an equal amount of time at most. In order to be able to issue the certificate, you need to take the prescription or packaging (with the pharmacy label) as well as a valid passport to the pharmacy.

Unfortunately, there are differences in narcotic classifications between member states and it is always the classification in the country you are visiting that determines whether the certificate is needed.
If you are not certain as to whether you tablets can be classified as a narcotic, contact your pharmacy!

Other countries may have completely different pharmaceutical inspections than you have in your home country. This means that one can freely purchase some pharmaceuticals that are not approved at home. Furthermore, certain tablets might be classified as narcotics here at home.

Some medicines in combination with exposure to sunlight may yield allergic reactions. Therefore, discuss with you doctor prior to your trip about any medication that can be taking in conjunction with exposure to sunlight.

Keep all your medicines in their original packages; this makes things easier in case of a customs inspection.

People suffering from illness requiring routine injections should bring along enough syringes and needles to last the entire trip.


If you have diabetes
Consult with your doctor about any adjustments to your insulin dosages and the times for these, above all if you are travelling across more than six time zones. A longer trip eastward may involve one dose fewer, and similarly, a trip westward may entail an extra dose.
Also ask your doctor to sign a dated letter certifying your need for insulin, other medication and for syringes and needles. Also have some form of medical information about your illness with you. You might need this at customs or through a security inspection.
The insulin may deteriorate if it freezes or becomes too warm. When travelling to extremely warm regions, a regular ice chest may be used.
Infections in diabetics result in a deterioration of sugar levels. Since many people suffer from traveller’s diarrhoea, a vaccination should be considered and the travel pharmacy should contain anti-diarrhoeal medication.


If you have a heart/lung disease
If you have previously had any kind of heart disease, e.g., infarction, but your medical condition is stable for the moment, there should not be any risk in travelling. Neither is a pacemaker procedure usually any problem.

People with heart and lung diseases may have trouble on the aeroplane since the air pressure in the cabin is lower than at ground level and it corresponds to the pressure at an elevation of approximately 2,000 metres. For the same reason, these people may have trouble staying at destinations that are located at high elevations. You should also pay attention at destinations with extreme conditions with regard to air contamination, humidity, heat, pollen etc.

Diarrhoea on the trip is a common occurrence and vaccination should therefore be considered, but this has a limited effect. The travel pharmacy should therefore also contain anti-diarrhoeal medication.


A Few Tips

  • If you have problems with, e.g., swelling of the legs, we recommend that you wear support socks during the flight.
  • If you previously have suffered from blood clots and you are about to head out on a long flight, talk to your doctor about some possible medication.
  • Diuretic medicines increase your risk for disorders in your fluid balance in case of diarrhoea and the travel pharmacy should contain some medicine to help remedy this.
  • People with recurring bronchitis should have antibiotics with them.
  • Also bring along enough of your personal medication, since it may be very difficult or impossible to find the same medication abroad.
  • Always have written information about your illness and all your medicines that you take for the time being with you. Such information should also contain details about your allergies or sensitivities, especially against medicines.

Always consult your doctor so that your flight and your stay abroad do not jeopardise your health.

 

If you have any sort of gastro-intestinal disease
If you have previously been operated on for ulcers or use medicines that reduce hydrochloric acid in the stomach, you may run a greater risk of intestinal infections.

Traveller’s diarrhoea can trigger a recurrence in people with inflammatory intestinal disease (ulcerous colitis or Crohn’s disease). Preventive food hygiene measures are therefore important (see more under the heading “Preventing Traveller’s Diarrhoea”).

Vaccination should be considered and the travel pharmacy should contain anti-diarrhoeal medication. Also discuss protection against cholera and typhoid with your doctor.




If you are disabled, have diminished hearing or impaired eyesight

A Few Things to Think About when You Book Your Trip

  • Does the airline have any restrictions with regard to handicap aids?
  • Are the airports on the way to and from the destination wheelchair-friendly?
  • Do you need help getting on and off the aeroplane or with your baggage upon check-in and leaving?

A Few Things to Think About when You Book Your Hotel

  • Are the hotel entrance and your room at street level? If not, is there a ramp / lift?
  • In case of an emergency - are there handicap-adapted emergency exits?
  • Are the rooms and toilets handicap-adapted?
  • Are there devices to call for help?
  • Can you easily reach areas such as the restaurant, bar, pool etc.?

Remember that the booking confirmation must indicate what is agreed and not just what is requested in connection with ordering the trip.

* Those countries that are currently part of the Schengen conference are Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Switzerland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary and Austria.