10 Most Common Travel Illnesses (and How to Avoid Them)

Traveller's diarrhea

Don't get stuck spending the bulk of your holiday sitting on the toilet. According to the Centre for Disease Control, Traveller's Diarrhea affects 50% of international jet setters. Symptoms include cramps, frequent trips to the loo, fever, loss of appetite and dehydration. 

How to avoid:

The main cause is contaminated or dirty water and food. Try to avoid things like ice cubes, raw fruit and vegetables or anything that looks questionable. If you're visiting somewhere with an uncertain water source, consider using treatment (or iodine) tablets in your drinking water. 

Sunburn and Heat Stroke

Fall asleep on the beach or go for a treacherous hike in the heat and you may find yourself suffering from one of these two travel buzzkills. Sure, everyone's been sunburnt but extreme sun exposure can result in itchiness, blisters, tumours and even cancer. Many who suffer from sunburns also end up with heat stroke, which is caused by overheating.  

How to avoid:

Pretty simple! Wear a hat and sunscreen when you're going to be exposed for an extended period of time and be sure to drink lots of water. 

Sinus Infections

If we learned anything from flight attendants, planes are pretty disgusting places. Blame the close quarters and lack of fresh air for germ incubation that can cause annoying sicknesses like colds, flus and sinus infections. Many travellers experience pain in their ears as well as the inability to equalize or 'pop,' particularly during take off and landing. 

How to avoid:

To help with the pain, try chewing on gum, swallowing frequently or sucking on a hard candy. If the ache persists, a decongestant can help alleviate some of the pressure.  

Getting the flu when you're far away from your cozy bed is cruel. Whether you pick it up on the plane, in the airport or at one of the busy tourist attractions you visit, the flu will knock you on your back with dizziness, fever, fatigue and the hot and cold sweats.

How to avoid:

Be diligent with your hygiene. Make sure you clean or disinfect your hands every time you put them anywhere near your mouth and steer clear of anyone who is sneezing or constantly blowing their nose. 

Though cholera is quite rare in Canada, developing countries like India, Zimbabwe and Indonesia still report outbreaks of this infected water-born disease--Canada Public Health recently reported outbreaks in Cuba, Mexico, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Caused by dirty water (often infected with feces--yikes!), symptoms include diarrhea and vomiting and in extreme cases, grey or blue-tinted skin. 

How to avoid:

As a basic rule, follow the same precautions as traveller's diarrhea but if you know you're headed somewhere where cholera has been reported; get a preventative vaccine like Dukoral before you make the trip.  

If you're heading somewhere tropical, check for dengue before you leave. The mosquito-born disease is no fun with symptoms including fever, headache and muscle and joint pains. Some suffers also get a freaky looking rash similar to the measles or frighteningly low blood pressure. 

How to avoid:

Though there is no approved vaccine for the virus, the best way to avoid it is to avoid getting mosquito bites. Do this by staying away from areas with standing water (a breeding ground for mozzies) and wearing mosquito repellant and netting while you sleep. 

Another mosquito-born disease, malaria is most commonly found in Africa, Asia and tropical parts of the Americas. Sufferers experience headaches, dizziness, fever and sometime hallucinations, which can lead to coma or (in some cases) death. 

How to avoid:

Reducing your susceptibility to bites is the first step but there are also a number of antimalarial medications available. Make sure to consult with a doctor before taking any of these as some have serious side effects like death, suicidal tendencies and psychosis.

Yes, polio still exists. Though most countries have eliminated the debilitating poliovirus--which can cause muscle weakness and paralysis--Public Health Canada recently issued a warning that the disease is still cropping up in places like Kenya, Cameroon, Israel, Brazil, India and Afghanistan. 

How to avoid:

Make sure you have been vaccinated. Polio has no cure so if you're travelling somewhere and think you may be exposed; make sure you make a stop at the travel medical clinic first. 

Another ancient disease, measles have resurfaced in places like Brazil, the U.S., Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines in recent years. Symptoms typically involve fever, loss of appetite, runny nose and a horrific rash that covers the entire body. 

How to avoid:

Though most people are immunized as children, a vaccine is available if you are travelling to an affected area.

Also known as bird flu or H5N1, the avian influenza is a type of flu spread by birds, which has a scary death toll—currently around 50%. Public Health Canada has reported cases of the disease all across Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa since 1997. 

How to avoid:

Take the same precautions as you would to prevent flu infection by sanitizing hands and practicing good hygiene. If you're visiting an affected area, try to avoid contact with poultry.