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Brits Shun Holiday Health for Polished Looks Despite A Third Falling Ill Abroad

When it comes to going on holiday most British holidaymakers seem to only imagine the sun, sea and sand
Leisure, World - 29 July 2011   Download IconContent available for download:  
Audio | Interview with Dr. George Kasianos| Login to Download

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Web Video | A Guide to Holiday Health| Open Video
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New research reveals that more than half of Brits will spend as much as £500 preparing their looks before a holiday, but very few are considering their health whilst abroad. Falling ill on holiday can affect both the sufferer and the people around them as they take up to 3 or 4 days out of their holiday to care for them. A fifth of Brits take a trip without any travel insurance which, should they fall ill, could lead to hefty medical or hospital bills.

Six in ten adults have fallen ill whilst on holiday and nearly a third (32%) have avoided visiting a country over fears that the differences in water, food and environment will lead them to being unwell. Almost a third (28%) of 19-21 year olds fail to take any holiday medication away with them, compared to just 13% of the much better prepared over 50s. The most common illness whilst abroad is diarrhea, affecting four in ten (42%) adults, followed by sunburn (37%), mosquito bites (20%) and heat stroke (14%).

Countries that UK holiday-makers perceive as having a ‘high health risk’ are Africa (19%), India (18%), Pakistan (14%) and Egypt (13%). However, in reality, the top three places where holidaymakers have fallen ill are Spain (32%), Greece (14%) and France (9%) – much closer to home.

. Introduction:

When it comes to going on holiday, most British holidaymakers finish their planning once they find their passport and the excitement of sun, sea and sand takes over. However, new research has revealed that we need to become savvier when it comes to thinking about our holiday health, regardless of where we are travelling. We are guilty of forfeiting travel insurance for magazines at the airport and most importantly, we don’t consider that popular European destinations can be as unsafe and as unhygienic as the more exotic locations.

So, how can we make sure we’re fully prepared for our holidays this summer?

Joining us to discuss this further is Dr. George Kassianos, a GP, Secretary of the British Travel Health Association and a member of the International Society of Travel Medicine.

. Suggested Questions:

So how prepared are people in our area for their holidays this summer?

Why are people failing to prepare for being ill on holiday?

What are the most common health issues people encounter while on holiday?

Why do people assume that health precautions only need to be taken for more exotic holiday destinations?

What advice would you give to anyone going on holiday this summer who is worried about problems like Travel Diarrhoea?

Where can we find out more information?