How to deal with illness whilst travelling

If you are travelling for a long period of time then it is inevitable that at some point you will become poorly.

Jacob and I have both been badly ill once each whilst we’ve been travelling. Both were some sort of stomach infection/gastroenteritis. We’ve had colds and other minor things at other times too.

You can do things to prevent illness whilst travelling (check out my top tips here), but here is some advice on how to cope when illness does strike.

Stay in a private room

This has never applied to us because we have always stayed in private hotel rooms. However, if you stay in shared hostel dorms then you will need to get a private room if you become ill. No one else in the hostel wants your germs, and you need somewhere quiet to rest and recover.

Use your first aid kit supplies

If you have symptoms like a headache or muscles aches then do the obvious and take paracetamol. The same applies to treating other obvious symptoms with the correct medication you might have in your first aid kit. Remember to always follow the instructions that come with the medication.

Drink plenty of fluids

Make sure you stay hydrated by drinking lots of water. Also consider taking some electrolytes if you’re struggling to drink enough water or are losing too many fluids (particularly if you have food poisoning, stomach infection etc).

Eat bland food

If you have some sort of upset stomach then make sure you stick to bland foods such as bread, plain rice, and bananas. You don’t want anything spicy or rich that will aggravate your stomach.

Visit a local pharmacy

If you aren’t getting better or need different medication then visit a local pharmacy. Check out the reviews first to see which one looks the best (e.g. good level of English, good stock of medication). Both times when Jacob and I have had stomach issues in South East Asia we have been able to get antibiotics from a pharmacy which have worked very quickly.

Use food delivery services

If you aren’t feeling up to going out and are somewhere where there are food delivery services (e.g. Foodpanda) then take advantage of these. Not only can you order from restaurants but you can often order from supermarkets which can be useful for stocking up on water.

Rest

Resting when you’re ill is one of the most important things you can do. Your body needs time to recover so time in bed is what you need. Don’t feel bad about missing out on being out and about, there will be plenty of time to do that when you’re fully better!

Extend your stay

If you aren’t well enough to travel then make sure you change your travel plans. Either see if you can extend your stay at your current accommodation, or book into a hotel nearby so you don’t have to move far.

Make sure you have travel insurance

This should be something you sort before you travel as you never know when you’ll need it. Hopefully you never need to visit a hospital and receive medical care, but you never know. Make sure you have the correct travel insurance and have you travel insurance details handy. We have been using Safety Wing whilst travelling South East Asia.