Our experience indicates that most hikers and trekkers will experience some medical problems. The commonest problems that trekkers encounter (apart from blisters!) are diarrhoeal illness, respiratory illness, and depending on the trek, forms of altitude related illness.
Travellers’ diarrhoea can affect more than 50% of participants of some treks, and facilities for dealing with illness are very limited. It is unlikely there would be a medical clinic or pharmacy in many remote trekking areas. It is essential that trekkers have access to treatment medication, contained in their travel medical kit. Often trekkers are encouraged to treat illness as soon as possible to prevent having to leave the trek.
Respiratory illnesses are very common, from nuisance cough to influenza and pneumonia. Access to early treatment from a medical kit is also very important.
Acute mountain sickness (AMS), the commonest form of altitude-related illness, affects trekkers as they ascent above 2500m occur. Risk of acute mountain sickness is related to individual risk, absolute altitude and speed of reaching altitude. More severe forms of altitude sickness can occur. Other environmental conditions to be considered include, heat, cold, windburn, sunburn, frostbite.
If your trek is going to take you near areas where malaria is a risk it is important to seek medical advice and obtain malaria preventative medications. Malaria can occur in many areas that trekkers frequent and it can be a very severe disease. Medication needs to be continued after leaving the risk area as well. It is important to stay vigilant with insect avoidance, such has using repellants containing 30-40% DEET, sleeping under permethrin soaked mosquito nets and sleep sheets and in permethrin soaked clothing. Travel Doctor-TMVC are highly experienced in managing malaria risk.
Other notable health risks include:
- Worm infections
- Hookworm, strongyloides through the feet from walking barefoot
- Intestinal worms and parasites, such as tapeworms can be contracted through contaminated food
- Schistosomiasis through fresh water exposure
- Skin infections (bacterial and fungal)
- Insect borne diseases such as Dengue fever, Japanese Encephalitis, Zika, Chikungunya, Yellow Fever.
- Accidents and trauma from falls and other injuries are very common and a not infrequent cause of emergency evacuations.
- Sunburn is always an issue.