Health
An informed yogini being worth (at least) two, you will be able to leave safely with a light heart and a joyful soul and enjoy your stay in South India, a discovery full of fragrances, colours, sounds…
No vaccine is mandatory for the Indian subcontinent (this of course, does not exempt the traveller from keeping his vaccines up to date).
If you have an on-going treatment, don’t forget your medication. You can take a basic first aid kit with you, containing bandages, plaster, analgesics, anti-diarrheal, laxatives, medicines for treating colds and soar throats, vitamin C. Be careful of the sun and the heat, that cause insolation and dehydration. There are many chemists in India where you can find what is necessary.
If you intend to travel in India, malaria being in constant evolution, get information on it’s prophylaxis depending on the regions you want to visit.
How to protect yourself from mosquito bites, vectors of chikungunya
Individual protection needs chemical and concrete means.
From 5.45 pm onwards, wear long clothes and protect your feet and ankles.
It is recommended to impregnate your clothes with a repulsive spray. Some repulses can be put directly on the skin. Be sure to put them on regularly (every 4 or 5 hours depending on the product). For new-born babies and babies under three months, find a mosquito net specially made for cradles, if possible impregnated with an anti-mosquito repulsive, it is the only method that is efficient.
On the spot, you will find anti-mosquito products in the form of sprays or creams, as well as sun creams.
The water
- Always drink bottled water and make sure the stopper is sealed
- Drink hot drinks like “tchai”
For the others illnesses
In Mahabalipuram, there are several Doctors who practice occidental medicine and, since last year, there is also an Ayurveda Doctor. There is also a small hospital “Suradeep Hospital” situated 15 Thirukumam Street, and 20 km away on the road to Chennai, there is a big ultra-modern hospital (to be preferred).
Turista (diarrheal)
It is caught usually due to the water or food containing relatively common bacteria. A little advice and some good medicine in a travel pharmacy will be very useful. Prevention remains the best method.
- The first reaction is to drink clean, lightly salted bottle water, sealed at the neck to avoid dehydration.
- Charcoal capsules
- If inefficient take “Imodium”, if it does not work then take an antibiotic such as “Fluroquinolones”
If an infection occurs when you get home
The most usual cases are:
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- Skin infections
- Fever or flu-like symptoms
In all cases, if the symptoms last or get worse, don’t forget to tell your Doctor that you were in Asia.
For this subject, you can consult the following websites :
- Tropical Medicine Institute “Prince Leopold”
- Question-Santé
- “Santé Voyage” with as bonus health information by country
- “A.S. Adventure”. Several shops in Belgium of which several in Brussels
- traveling-doctors.com
Other complementary information :
- Travel information « flight » et « transfer »
- The « Visa »
- Finding a « hotel » in Mahābalipuram
- « Indian cooking»
- « Photos » India
- Dressing advice
