Treatments for travel health

We take a look at medicines for common travellers' problems such as sickness and diarrhoea, as well as travel vaccines to prevent infectious diseases


In this section you'll find information about the different types of medicines that are recommended for carrying in your travel first aid kit to help with common travellers' problems such as travel sickness or diarrhoea. Your pharmacist can advise on which products are specifically suitable for you and your fellow travellers. You'll also find information about malaria tablets and travel vaccines to prevent disease. Don't forget this is only a guide – talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you've any questions.


Travel health

Along with simple painkillers for relieving mild pains like headaches, you might want to consider carrying the following types of medicine in your travel first aid kit.

Diarrhoea treatments

Many people experience traveller's diarrhoea when visiting foreign countries. If you have blood or yellow/ green mucus in your stools, or you also have a fever, you will need to get advice from a doctor. But if not, you can take one of the following medicines to stop the diarrhoea.



It's really important to avoid dehydration if you have diarrhoea or vomiting while you are away, particularly for children and frail or elderly people, so it's a good idea to take one of these medicines with you. These rehydration drinks should be made up using freshly boiled and cooled water.

Bites and stings

Avoid getting bitten by using an insect repellent. If you do get bitten or stung the itching or swelling can be relieved with one of the following medicines.

Sun burn

It's best to try and avoid getting sunburnt by applying sunscreen with a high protection factor, covering the skin with loose clothing and a hat, seeking shade and staying out of the midday sun. If you do get burnt you can soothe your skin with products such as these.

Travel sickness

If you suffer from travel sickness the following medicines can be used. These are best used before travelling to help prevent the sickness developing; it's harder to control once it's started.

Travel vaccines

When travelling abroad you may be advised to get vaccinated against certain other diseases, depending on your destination. Your pharmacist, GP or travel clinic can advise what vaccines you may need, where you should get them and how long in advance of travel you will need to have them.

Some travel vaccines, such as hepatitis A, typhoid and cholera, are available on the NHS from your GP. Others, such as yellow fever, you'll have to pay for privately. You can choose to have your travel vaccines at a travel clinic or at your surgery. Travel clinics charge for all vaccines.  

Malaria tablets

If you are travelling to a region where malaria is prevalent it is important to take malaria tablets to prevent this serious disease. Different preventive medicines are recommended for different regions of the world and you should get specific advice from your GP, pharmacist or travel clinic. You should also take whatever steps you can to avoid being bitten by mosquitos while you are away.

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