Tips to Stay Healthy When Traveling to Pakistan

Staying healthy during your trip to Pakistan is dependent on adequate preparation and prevention. Here are some steps you can take before leaving for your trip and while traveling in order to decrease health safety risks.

1. Get Your Vaccinations Up to Date

Before traveling to Pakistan, visit your doctor and check to see whether your vaccinations are up to date. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends being vaccinated for Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, typhoid, polio, Japanese encelphalitis and rabies in addition to the routine combination vaccinations for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), and diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus (DTP). While some of these diseases are no longer common in the United States, such as measles and typhoid, they much more common in Pakistan and precaution is necessary.

2. Purchase Adequate Insurance Coverage

Check with your current insurance policy to see if worldwide coverage and emergency evacuation are included. If not, purchase travel insurance that includes these features. Prescription drugs, routine doctor's visits, and basic emergency room visits tend to be inexpensive and can usually be paid for in cash, yet if you need more expensive treatment or emergency evacuation you will want an insurance policy that covers the cost.

3. Prepare a First Aid Kit

While pharmacy shops in cities tend to have basic medical supplies and a full array of over-the-counter and prescription drugs (for which you rarely need a prescription), they are not usually open 24 hours a day and may have limited supplies. Keep a supply of bandages, sterile gauze, pain medication, anti-diarrhea medication, any prescription drugs you take, and at least one full course of antibiotics to treat traveler's diarrhea. You can restock at local pharmacies if necessary; Cipro and Levaquin are readily available without a prescription. If traveling to rural areas, consider packing a more complete medical kit.

4. Be Careful with What You Eat and Drink

Once you arrive in Pakistan, do your best to prevent sickness and disease. Drink tap water only if it has been boiled, filtered or chemically treated. You can buy bottled water (called mineral water in Pakistan) in most major cities and towns; it is available at pharmacies, grocery stores and restaurants.

Avoid fruit and vegetables that have not been peeled or cooked. When buying from street vendors, choose food that has been freshly cooked or is steaming hot, as oftentimes the fare may have been sitting out in the sun for hours or even days. Carry a small pocketknife with you to peel fresh fruit.

5. Protect Yourself from Insect Bites

Malaria is a major health concern for travelers to Pakistan unless you plan to spend your entire trip in areas above 2500 meters (8,202 feet) in elevation. Since malaria is contracted via mosquito bite, be vigilant with insect bite prevention. Wear long-sleeve shirts and long pants, avoid areas of standing water, use insect repellent and sleep under a mosquito net if in open areas.

You can also take antimalarial drugs; those recommended by the CDC include Atovaquone/proguanil, mefloquine, or doxycycline. Before your trip, consult with your doctor about your options for malaria prevention.

6. Seek Treatment if Necessary

Symptoms of malaria include headaches, fatigue, achiness, nausea, vomiting, fever, chill and sweating. If you experience these symptoms, stay well hydrated and visited a health care facility.

Traveler's diarrhea (TD) is common and can generally be treated with bed rest and staying well hydrated. Pharmacies sell small packets of oral rehydration salts (locally referred to as ORS) that taste awful but are useful during bouts of TD or food poisoning. If you become severely dehydrated or fatigued, visit the nearest emergency room or clinic where your health can be monitored and you can be rehydrated via intravenous (IV) therapy. Always check to be sure the needles being used to treat you have been unwrapped from a sterile package.

Sources and Additional Information:

Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Pakistan
World Health Organization: Pakistan Statistics
MD Travel Health: Pakistan