We’ve all been there. Maybe it’s a small but suspicious tickle in the back of your throat, a slightly runny nose, or a creeping fatigue that grabs hold just before the end of a long day. You’re falling ill, and it’s only a matter of time before worse symptoms kick you to the ground. And it all couldn’t come at a worse time: you’re on vacation. But there’s no way you’re letting a pesky virus ruin the trip you’ve been planning for months. You plead with your immune system to fight like it’s never fought before. Unfortunately, those microscopic invaders don’t care if it’s your honeymoon or your grandma’s 90th birthday—they’re just doing what they do best, which usually involves epically ruining your plans. So you had best be prepared for any kind of nasty fever-inducing bug that might come your way while on holiday.
As someone living with a chronic condition—Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and a handful of its not-so-friendly comorbid companions—I’ve faced everything from minor surgery while living abroad to vacations disrupted by illness. I’ve learned the hard way how important it is to take health seriously while traveling, and I hope my experience can help others prepare for the unexpected.
Step 1: Prevention is Key
The best way to deal with illness while traveling is to avoid it in the first place, especially if you have a compromised immune system.
- Stay up to date on vaccines: Get your Covid19 and flu shots at least two weeks before departure. If you’re heading somewhere with endemic diseases, consult your doctor about appropriate vaccines or preventative medications. For example, the Yellow Fever vaccine is essential if you’re visiting parts of the Amazon, and anti-malarial medications like Malarone are recommended in many areas of Central Africa.
- Be cautious with food and water: Avoid raw produce you cannot peel, undercooked meat, and tap water in places where it’s unsafe to drink. That includes ice! While staying at an eco-lodge in the Amazon, my family and I forgot that freezing water does not kill pathogens. That ice-cold drink might feel refreshing in the moment, but you may not like the end result. We certainly didn’t!
Step 2: Pay Attention to Early Symptoms
Recognizing symptoms early and acting fast can make the difference between a manageable situation and a ruined trip.
Take, for instance, my experience with tonsillar cellulitis (also known as tonsillitis) the day before the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse in Texas. Perfect timing, right? I had suffered from it a few months earlier and instantly recognized the unmistakable telltale signs—severe pain on one tonsil. The first time, I ignored it because it was Christmas time and I thought it was just irritation from something I had eaten, since it was just one side of my throat that hurt instead of both. Big mistake! I ended up spending Christmas Eve and Day in agony, feeling like I was swallowing glass over and over again. By the time I got to Urgent Care on Boxing Day, the doctor informed me I was lucky not to have developed an abscess on my tonsil, which would have required a hospital visit.
In Texas, I went to an Urgent Care clinic right away, got treatment, and narrowly avoided a repeat of that miserable experience. We still missed the eclipse—thank you, clouds—but I avoided a potential hospital stay. Moral of the story? Listen to your body. Don’t wait!
Step 3: Always Travel Prepared
Here’s a packing list of health essentials I recommend for any trip, especially if you’re heading off-grid or traveling solo. Always keep medications in their original containers to avoid issues at Customs and Immigration, as it is their right to throw away any medication they cannot identify.
- Purchase Travel Insurance – This is especially important if you are a foreigner visiting the United States. As a US-born and raised traveler who’s experienced the diversity of medical care in several countries, I can confirm that our healthcare system is mind-numbingly expensive, even with medical insurance. Thus, be sure to purchase a Travel Insurance plan that includes robust medical coverage! You will thank me when you see the invoice after a hospital visit in the USA.
Furthermore, if you are traveling in areas where things can quickly become deadly (for instance, vast swathes of central and southern Africa or Australia that have venomous snakes), you must have a Travel Insurance plan that includes emergency evacuation, even if it’s expensive. If you are bitten by a venomous snake, do not try to kill it because you will only be risking another bite, and a professional snake wrangler may want to capture it to produce antivenom. Instead, get away and, if safe, take a picture of it from afar if possible. If this is not possible, take note of its markings, colors, size, and even its behavior. All of this information helps doctors administer the correct antivenom to save your life.
- Google Translate app – Download the language of your destination in advance so you can use it offline. This app can be extremely helpful when visiting a doctor or a pharmacy where communication is a challenge.
- Hand sanitizer – Crucial in transit and when soap and water are not available.
- Ibuprofen (liquid gels if possible, as they are absorbed faster than tablets) – A reliable fever and pain reliever.
- Antibiotic ointment (e.g., Mupirocin) – Not Neosporin; Mupirocin is an example of an excellent prescription-strength antibiotic ointment that I have used to treat anything from cat bites to abscesses (I’ve also got the lovely skin condition Hidradenitis Suppurativa). If you are planning on going hiking or off-grid for any extended period of time, be sure to visit your general practitioner and ask for a prescription as a preventative measure. Sepsis or blood poisoning can settle in even the smallest of scrapes, particularly if you are not in a position to keep such an injury clean. Sepsis will require treatment by a doctor or maybe even a visit to a hospital.
- Band-aids – Especially useful if you’re hiking or exploring remote areas, even if it’s just a day trip.
- Sunscreen with zinc oxide – Yes, a severe sunburn can make you physically sick and derail your plans.
- Liquid I.V. or electrolyte powder – Great for dehydration caused by fever, heat, or food poisoning.
- Imodium (anti-diarrheal) – Especially important in areas where pharmacies may not be nearby.
- Dulcolax or stool softeners – Constipation is an underrated travel disruptor.
- Foot powder – Helps prevent blisters, especially in humid climates. If you do get a blister, don’t pop it, as open wounds increase the risk of infection!
- Allergy medication (Zyrtec, Allegra, or generics) – Even if you don’t normally suffer from allergies, travel can trigger unexpected reactions. While studying abroad in London during the summer of 2009, I developed an awful reaction to some type of pollen, and I was glad I had thought to pack some allergy medication despite not normally suffering from airborne allergies.
- Digital thermometer – This came in handy during my December 2024 trip to Europe, where I developed a fever of 102.6°F (39.2°C) due to Covid. That thermometer let us know how serious the situation was and prompted us to take drastic action. (Also taking 600mg of Ibuprofen three times a day was barely touching the fever.)
Navigating Medical Care Abroad
Let’s imagine you’re on holiday and begin to feel like you’re developing a cold. Unfortunately, you didn’t bring any medications to attempt to treat your symptoms independently. Here’s a step-by-step guide to navigating health care in a foreign country:
- Start at a pharmacy: Use Google Translate to explain your symptoms. Pharmacists can often recommend effective local treatments and provide you with important instructions on how to take the medications safely.
- Ask hotel staff for help: If your symptoms worsen, ask the hotel or a trusted local to help you find a doctor. In many places, doctors can do house calls. That’s what happened when I had Covid in Germany—a doctor came to my hotel room, prescribed steroids and other meds, and helped me salvage the rest of our trip.
(And, in case you’re wondering, I found out I had Covid by buying a test kit at a nearby pharmacy [they even gave me a second one for free to confirm my diagnosis]. Despite all my precautions, I had trusted my last booster from eight months earlier, while my mom, who did get hers a couple of weeks before departing, remained perfectly healthy. I powered through the rest of the trip thanks to my new prescriptions, but the aftermath was brutal. I ended up partially dislocating several ribs and tearing cartilage from coughing so hard. That pain was way worse than the virus itself. Lesson learned!)
- Know when to surrender and seek help: If you cannot find a doctor and are too ill to self-manage, accept your fate and go to a hospital before you become too ill to escort yourself to one. You do not want to have to deal with an ambulance, particularly if you are traveling in the United States, where taking even a short ride in an ambulance can potentially cost you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars, even with Travel Insurance. Many hospitals have English-speaking staff or access to translation services. Bring your phone, charger, and any necessary adapters. If you don’t have access to a translation service, then Google Translate could be your lifeline.
Final Thoughts: The Top Three Rules
To wrap all this up and tie it with a neat bow:
- Prevent what you can – Stay up to date on vaccines, take preventative medications when needed, and be cautious about food and waterborne illnesses.
- Pay attention to your body – Act quickly at the first sign of illness.
- Be prepared – Purchase a Travel Insurance plan with medical care coverage and emergency evacuation, travel with essential medications, and know when and how to seek medical help.
And remember: If you’re visibly sick, airlines can legally prevent you from boarding. So do what you must to ensure you are as healthy as possible before stepping onto that plane.
Stay safe, stay smart, and may your travels be memorable for the right reasons, not the wrong bugs.