No travel or vacation without a 'travel pharmacy'

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Every trip carries the risk of potential health problems due to changes in climate, altitude, time zone, or type of water and food.

To overcome the situation more easily, it is advisable to carry medicines and preparations that will alleviate any potential worsening of your condition, according to the Institute for Health and Food Safety Zenica (INZ).

Travel Preparations

Do not travel without a travel pharmacy, which should be an indispensable part of every traveler's luggage. Its size and content depend on the number of travelers, their age, their needs, as well as the type of trip itself. It is important to note that when going on any trip, check your health insurance, and if it is a trip abroad, it is recommended to purchase travel health insurance.

- For patients suffering from serious illnesses, it is recommended to carry medical documentation, and then to inform themselves about the legal regulations - which medicines and in what quantity can be carried, if it is a trip abroad, says Lejla Baručija, M.Sc. Pharm., expert associate for phytopharmacy at INZ.

Before packing your travel pharmacy, it is necessary to check if you have enough stock of your regular medications? For chronic patients, bring enough therapy in consultation with your doctor.

Frequent Colds, Even in Summer

What constitutes the content of every travel pharmacy are analgesics, medicines used to relieve pain and elevated body temperature, and in case of a mild cold. Most often, it is paracetamol or ibuprofen in a dose and strength adapted for children and adults. A thermometer is an indispensable item in the travel pharmacy for checking body temperature. Due to frequent colds that occur even in the summer, nasal drops that reduce mucosal swelling, as well as throat lozenges that relieve sore throats, are an essential part of the travel pharmacy, experts say.

- For people who are prone to motion sickness, it is advisable to have pills for motion sickness. They can also be used by children, but in a dose appropriate for children. It is recommended to use them in the adjusted dose half an hour before starting the journey, says Baručija.

In addition to the aforementioned medicines, probiotics should always be included in the travel pharmacy. Intestinal infections are common during travel, so it is advisable to take a probiotic that will help restore intestinal flora. Activated charcoal and a rehydration solution with electrolytes are also recommended due to frequent diarrhea and vomiting.

Insects and Injuries

It is recommended to use probiotics even before the trip itself to prevent travel diarrhea, and it is especially recommended for travelers going to exotic countries. Hand hygiene must be taken care of. Use bottled water, preferably in glass bottles. Experts recommend that insect repellent products be an indispensable part of the travel pharmacy. For people prone to allergies, it is recommended to bring tablets and creams with antihistamines. In case of insect bites, skin allergic reactions occur, with symptoms of severe itching and swelling. It is advisable to have gels in the travel pharmacy that relieve redness and swelling.

Changes in environment can cause skin infections, so it is good to have antibiotic ointment as well.

In case of minor injuries, it is advised to use products for skin injuries, materials for wound care and disinfection (antiseptic for wound cleaning, sterile gauze and compresses, bandages and plasters, as well as scissors and tweezers), as well as powder for rapid wound healing.

Sun Protection

Whether you are traveling to the sea, mountains, or just walking outdoors, think about sun protection. The general rule is not to expose yourself to sunlight between 11 AM and 5 PM, especially for young children, because the amount of UV rays is very high then, with increased UV radiation, so direct sun exposure should be avoided during this period.

INZ advises using sun protection products with a high sun protection factor adapted to skin type and age. The use of sun protection factors allows the skin to be exposed to the sun for longer. Daily and repeated use of creams with SPF from 30 to 50 is recommended, preferably with the highest possible protection factor. Sunscreen creams should be applied at least half an hour before sun exposure.

Attention should be paid to skin care after sunbathing. In the evening, the skin becomes red and dry, so creams containing vitamins that help the skin regenerate should be used, and they will also reduce skin dryness. In case of sunburn while sunbathing, a skin regeneration ointment should be applied. Always keep the travel pharmacy out of reach of children.