Berlin (dpa) – Jungle tours in Thailand and safaris in Kenya – the nearest
that many allergy sufferers and asthmatics get to experiencing such exotic
holidays are taking longing looks at pictures in the brochures.
Many of them stay well away from long-haul holidays for fear of falling ill
far from home. But if they plan carefully, even allergy sufferers can travel
to exotic and far-flung destinations, say medical experts.
“Travel and holidays are part of our quality of life, so people should not
make do without them,” said Hartwig Lauter, chairman of the German Allergy
and Asthma Association. He said fear of the risks of long-haul holidays are
usually based on a lack of information.
There is no real reason for staying at home on the sofa. If you are well
informed about how to deal with your allergy, then you can try anything. But
it is important to remember that medical care is not the same in different
parts of the world and sometimes there might be communication difficulties
with local medical services.”
To avoid difficulties, allergy sufferers should stock up with all the
medicines they might need on their way, including daily medication and items
needed in emergencies for allergic shocks.
Even people who do not suffer allergies should never travel without
antihistamine ointment for insect bites. A doctor can advise what to take on
a trip as well as how to store, carry and use medications properly.
With careful planning, you can do even do your allergy some good on holiday.
For example, a summer Mediterranean holiday is ideal for someone allergic to
pollen because the blossom period is past by then, said Josef Wenning, a
general practitioner who is president of the German association of doctors
specialising in allergy treatment.
Sufferers should find out as much as they can about the pollen count
calendar of their destination before setting out, he said. Coastal regions
in general are beneficial for people suffering from allergies.
People allergic to animal hairs or dust mites should also find out from
their tour operator in advance if the apartment they are hiring is “animal
free”. Otherwise a holiday can quickly end in a hospital bed, warned Dr.
Wenning.
Anyone needing inoculations for their destination should be cautious.
Protein-based vaccines can often cause heavy allergic reactions. Yet for
many long-haul destinations, protection against hepatitis or yellow fever is
unavoidable. Anyone who does not take well to the inoculations, might have
to forego these particular destinations.
Many allergy sufferers notice an immediate improvement in their condition
within the first few days of their holiday. But this does not mean they can
quickly forget about taking their routine anti- allergy medication.
It is important to keep taking the tablets, said Wolf Nuernburg, a senior
doctor in Kuehlingsborn on the Baltic Coast in northern Germany. Otherwise a
condition might suddenly deteriorate, especially for asthmatics, he said.
Care should also be taken with food allergies. Being experimental can have
serious consequences. “Particular care needs to be taken with raw fish,
seafood, dishes with unidentifiable ingredients and local spices,” said
Nuernburg.
Also problematic are the allergies caused by a combination of materials or
foods. People who suffer allergic reactions to latex, are also likely to
react to bananas, avocados or figs. And people plagued by grass pollen
allergies usually cannot eat peanuts or soya products.
But apart from these few precautions, no one should allow their whole
holiday to be dictated by their allergy. “Very few allergies are
life-endangering. Most are simply a burden,” said dermatologist Wenning.
To avoid complications in serious cases, such as an allergic reaction to a
medicine, it would be a good idea to have an allergy passport translated
into the language of your destination before you travel, and to have a tried
and tested homeopathic alternative therapy included on it. Consulates and
institutes of tropical medicine often offer such services.
It also makes sense to learn a few key words in the language of your holiday
destination. At least then you can tell the Japanese waiter that you would
rather do without the soy sauce – on health grounds.
