[Health advice before travel to tropical countries]

Some 8% of Swiss citizens travel in the developing countries annually. Advising these travellers is an important task for the physician, though the most frequent infections are the less serious travellers' diarrhea and common colds. To some extent the more serious tropical diseases can be avoided by appropriate measures, e.g. vaccination (against yellow fever, tetanus, polio etc). and by chemoprophylaxis (malaria). Individual fitness for travel should be checked prior to any journey abroad, and special advice must be given to travellers with special risks (e.g. pregnant women, infants, persons with chronic diseases, diabetics etc.). Most important during a stay in the tropics is a sensible way of life with enough sleep, general hygiene, especially with regard to food, and avoidance of untreated water. Further safety measures are recommended for bathing, strong sun exposure, mountaineering above 10,000 ft and in general for exposure to special health risks. Recognition of risks and their avoidance is often the best prophylaxis.