Immunisation

To decide which vaccination should be taken up for travelling to India depends on the area to be visited and even on the way of travelling. Of course the standard vaccinations like Tetanus and even Polio should be up to date. Some areas are plagued by Malaria-infecting mosquitos. However, anti-malaria drugs do not prevent the infection itself, but reduce the intensity of the disease. Even more important than using anti-malaria drugs is the protection from moskitos by insect repellents and appropriate clothing and mosquitos nets.
A Hepatitis A vaccination is advisable since it is easy to get infected through contaminated food.

Other immunsiations which one could take up are against Typhoid, Meningococcal Meningitis, Hepatitis B, Rabies and Tuberculosis, but generally those diseases can be avoided by taking proper care while travelling. Rabies vaccination is easily available throughout India and can be taken up to 24 hours after a dog bite has occured. Meningocoocal Meningitis occurs as epidemics in northern India and is a very dangerous disease.

Travellers coming from Yellow Fever infected areas like South America or Central Africa require a Yellow Fever vaccine before entering India.

Please always check with the health department for up-to-date advice about the present situations. Some vaccinations have to be taken well in advance. It also helps avoiding unnecessary vaccinations.

Medical kit for travellers

Generally, all kinds of medicines are available in most Indian towns. Times have changed, and doctors use fresh needles and hospitals try to maintain basic hygenic standards. Anyhow, for extra safety needs it is an option to carry sterilized injecting needles, bandages, cotton and a wound dressing. An antiseptic, mosquito repellent, an antibiotic, paracetamol, and a medicine against diarrhoea are advisable to carry. In the country side and far off areas one should take special precautions to carry sufficient medicines and to observe whether doctors are using sterile instruments.

Food&Water

Indian Food is delicious and generally hygienically prepared. Anyhow it is always good to eat in places with higher food turnover so that one can be assured that it is fresh. It can be more safe to eat on a road stall where food is fresh than in an expensive restaurant where food might be carefully prepared but is stored too long. Avoid things which are prepared with unboiled water. A good dose of chilly can kill most of the germs.
In places where filtered or boiled water is not available it is good to consume only bottled water since most of the stomach and intestinal diseases come from the water.
Cure loose motions with soft boiled rice and curd.