Your holiday first aid kit

By Dr Chris Brown

If you're off on a foreign holiday, you may want to consider buying some over-the-counter medicines in the UK, in the event of the commonly encountered holiday problems. At its simplest, the travel first aid kit can consist of a few first-aid supplies, such as plasters and some antiseptic to clean the skin, but here are a few suggestions for a more comprehensive, but manageable travel kit.

1. Sunscreen:

The importance of sunburn as a causative factor in skin cancers is now well recognised, and with the incidence of the most serious form of skin cancer, malignant melanoma, increasing rapidly over recent years, no one should be contemplating a holiday in the sun without a reliable sunscreen. SPF15 is recommended for most white-skinned people. An after-sun preparation is also worth considering.

SPF savvy? See our handy sun safety guide here.

2. Travel sickness:

Ask the pharmacist about hyoscine or cinnarizine.

3. Painkillers:

Paracetamol is always handy to have on hand. For activity holidays where muscle or joint pain is likely to be a problem, ibuprofen may be more helpful.

4. Insect repellent:

If travelling to areas where insect-borne diseases such as malaria are a potential risk, insect repellent is essential. For other areas, it is optional, but can prevent the misery of insect bites.

5. Antihistamines:

These are useful in areas where a high pollen count can lead to hayfever. Antihistamines are also useful for relieving the itch and inflammation from insect bites and stings. Piriton (chlorpheniramine) is the most rapidly effective preparation, but may cause drowsiness. It can, however, be helpful for bedtime use, to aid a peaceful and itch-free night's sleep. Antihistamine creams are an alternative for those who prefer not to take tablets, but they are not as effective. In hayfever hell? See our hayfever survival guide.

6. Hydrocortisone cream (1%):

This is useful in reducing the local inflammatory reaction to bites and stings. This is a steroid cream, and prolonged use is not recommended, nor is use on the face. However, for short-term use, it can safely be used, and is even suitable for occasional facial application. As a bonus effect, hydrocortisone cream can be used for a couple of days to relieve the pain of severe sunburn.

7. Anti-fungal cream:

This is worth considering for those travelling to hot, humid places. It will treat fungal conditions such as athlete's foot and rashes in the groin and under the breasts. It can also be used to relieve vaginal thrush symptoms, but is not curative. Women who are prone to thrush should consider packing a thrush treatment such as pessaries or an oral anti-fungal preparation.

8. Cystitis:

It wouldn't be on everyone's packing list, but it's worth considering taking a couple of tablets or sachets if you're prone to cystitis. They work by making the urine less acidic.

9. Indigestion remedies:

If you don't get indigestion on holiday, then you're probably not taking advantage of all the local fare. Antacid tablets should be in there somewhere. There is a huge choice. Pick your favourite. If heartburn is likely to rear its head on holiday, pack some Gaviscon. More severe indigestion symptoms might benefit from an acid-suppressant tablet such as Zantac.

10. Traveller's diarrhoea:

Probably top of the list of everyone's holiday dreads. It can happen in the Med, as well as in more traditional tropical locations, so best to be prepared. Loperamide capsules are the most useful preparation to buy, and are suitable for all diarrhoeal illnesses except bacillary dysentery. The advice is not to use it in illnesses where there is blood in the stools or a fever.