Egypt Health Tips
When traveling to any new destination internationally, visiting a personal physician or health clinic at least four weeks before departure is always recommended. This can allow you to understand the common ailments at your destination and get vaccinations and immunizations to ensure you do not catch any infections or illnesses that commonly prevail in the country or place you are traveling to.
Traveling to a new destination can be very relaxing and enjoyable if we follow some common-sense steps and bring our medical kit along, which contains all the necessary things. Medical travel insurance can also be of great use, mainly if it covers you in your home country. This insurance can be beneficial if the need arises for continuing medication or treatment after returning home. Travelers to Egypt must get a yellow fever vaccination, which is recommended for all those older than one year. Generally, no other vaccinations are needed. Hepatitis C is at the highest incidence in Egypt. Still, the infection can spread only when sharing contaminated needles, so make sure you stay away from such activities to ensure safety.
Another essential factor that you should look for is preparation for heat protection, which means carrying lots of sunblocks and drinking a lot of water that can keep you hydrated all the time. Only bottled water must be used, as water in Egyptian cities is said to be highly chlorinated. Also, there should be ample care taken when eating out to prevent the occurrence of travelers’ diarrhea, a common health concern that most people face when traveling to a new country. The water of the Nile River should never be consumed. Medical treatment can be expensive sometimes, so travel insurance must always be included in your budget. Also, good medical facilities are accessible only in some major cities of Egypt.
Your Travel Health in Egypt!
Many tourists have health concerns when traveling to other countries revolving around the water's cleanliness, the food's safety, potential illnesses, and the standard of hospital care. Keep reading, and we will give you some facts and good information we've learned from our long experience leading tours.
Don't drink tap water when visiting Egypt - it's highly chlorinated. However, you could grow accustomed to the water with enough time in Egypt. This doesn't mean that the tap water is polluted; it simply means that you are not used to it, and you might get stomach problems. This happened to me while I was visiting the UK and attempted to drink tap water - I got stomach cramps. I was not used to water there. It's a similar situation in Egypt. It is advisable to drink bottled water during your entire holiday. That is why I strongly advise you to drink tap water and use it only for washing and brushing your teeth.
Tourists are often advised to eat only a few fresh fruits or vegetables, which means missing out on some of the best taste sensations you will ever have! In Egypt, it is safe to eat fruit and vegetables as long as the food has been washed correctly! You will find that any good hotel or cruise boat will wash them before cooking, so don't worry! Avoid eating in cheap places or local outlets. If you wish to eat local food, stick with Falafel, or what Egyptians call Tammie, preferably from a known location such as the restaurants on the streets of Downtown. Tammia is very cheap, very safe, and very tasty food.
When you embark upon a Nile cruise, you may get diarrhea. Many contributing factors, such as the class of boat you are staying in, the quality of food, and your cleanliness habits, can cause this.
We always spend the time to fully brief the guests on the tips and tricks of a prosperous Egyptian holiday, including any health tips before the cruise.
Then ...How come? At this point, most people would assume that the food causes this problem; others would say it was the water! But I was always convinced that it was neither! Since we all ate the same food, we only drank bottled water, and a few of us still caught this "bug," I decided
to start to monitor the eating habits of the groups more closely! Eventually, I was able to find the real reasons for these illnesses, and they were:
1. Most of the time, the meals are an open buffet. I noticed that some passengers ate each meal as if it were their last! They were utterly changing their eating habits, causing a total stomach overload. Not to mention that at least 5 to 7 items on the buffet were entirely new for them. I advised them to remember that the boat's food is never-ending, and they should be aware not to change their eating habits and take it easy.
2. Whenever we returned to the boat after a visit, some passengers would rush to their fully air-conditioned cabins and "crash" on their beds to rest. They forgot that the air conditioning was on full power and were wet from walking. Here comes the danger! They quickly caught a cold, got back pain, and their natural immune system became vulnerable, hence the sickness, diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration.
So the solution was simple! I stressed to them that they should take their time with their cabins after each tour but try to acclimate first by sitting for a while in the lobby. Once in their cabin, they should turn the air conditioning off immediately, turning it back on whenever it becomes warm.
The results were terrific! In the following weeks, most of the time, none of my group members had any illnesses.
So, dear traveler, please remember the following if you go on a cruise boat:
1. Exposure to extreme heat and cold harm damages your immune system! Please take the time to acclimatize your body before going to your cabin.
2. You know what your stomach is like! Just because you are on holiday, don't treat it differently; if you have a sensitive stomach and tend to stay on a specific diet, try to do the same when you are in Egypt. Err on the side of caution; you do not want to ruin a great holiday because you have eaten something you would never have tried at home. Some people are lucky; they seem able to consume anything and everything, and others become ill by simply looking at a different food. You may feel brave trying something different, but sometimes you are better by being a coward and enjoying your stay. Also, many need to remember to wash their hands before eating. This contributes a lot to the cause of the sickness.
To cure many types of diarrhea, an excellent antibiotic called Anitnall or Entoseed (the local drug equivalent of Immodium) works quickly to remove the worst symptoms and get you back on your feet. You can buy them at any pharmacy without a prescription!
MALARIA TABLETS:
THERE IS NO MALARIA IN EGYPT!
Egypt hasn't had a malaria case in 50 years. Some travelers may take these tablets during their stay and don't realize that diarrhea is one of the many side effects!
So, my advice is not to don't take malaria tablets; you don't need them. I have often seen people ruin their trip because they were advised to take these tablets. They get diarrhea daily and end up staying in bed while the rest of their party are out enjoying themselves! Some tourists come to Egypt to take these tablets because their doctor advised them to do so! Unfortunately, too many doctors promptly give such advice once they know that Egypt is in Africa. So, they immediately advise their patients to take these tablets two weeks before commencing their trip.
Your Medical Care:
You should bring a supply of medicines you take regularly and get the prescription. Feel safe knowing that in the unlikely event of serious trouble, your hotel or cruise boat staff will instantly find and provide a doctor for you.
And remember to bring mosquito repellent for open-air night events. It helps to minimize the "mosquito annoyance factor"!