| India is a large country with diverse cultures
and climatic patterns, thus different areas have their own
set of medical problems. An effort has been made to deal with
those problems which are very common and can happen anywhere.
Few things should always be kept in mind before undertaking
a long journey:
Tips
- Traveler should always consult her/his personal physician
before undertaking the journey and s/he should always carry
the medicines prescribed.
- If the person is advised precautionary vaccinations or
medicines before the start of the journey, s/he should follow
the instructions strictly.
- If the person is on any routine medicines, s/he should
have adequate stock of medicines with her/him (at least
2 weeks of extra stock apart from the duration of journey)
along with the prescription by the physician.
- The medicines given in the list are for emergency use
only. A doctor should be consulted at the earliest opportunity.
- Dosage given in the list is for adult patients. The thumb
rule for children is 12 years and above adult dose, 6-12
half of adult dose, 3 - 6 one fourth of adult dose, but
dosage may differ according the weight/size of the infant.
Top
EMERGENCY KIT
Tablets or syrups according to age
- Tab Paracetamol or Nimesulide
- Tab Dicyclomine ( 20 mg ) or Meftal Spas
- Tab Cetrizine (10mg)
- Tab Ibuprofen (400mg)
- Syr Milk of Magnesia
- Tab Roxithromycin (150mg) or Cap Amoxycillin (150mg)
- Ciprofloxacin / Tinidazole combination drugs
- ORS Packets – 2/3
- Tab Domperidone or Tab Metoclopromide 10mg
- Antibiotic ointment/cream for wounds
- Bandaid / gauze
- Mosquito repellent cream
- Calamine lotion
- Crepe bandage
- Anti inflammatory/pain killer ointment (like Voveron)
for external use.
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Simple Injuries Wounds
• The wound should be cleaned with an antiseptic
solution
• Dressing should be done with antiseptic cream
• Doctor should be consulted for internal injuries
Twist Injuries
•
Cold compress on the area affected
• Pain killer like Ibuprofen 400 mg, three times a day
• Crepe bandage to be applied lightly to immobilise the
joint for one to two days.
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Acute Diarrhea/Gastroenteritis
Symptoms- Diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea,
vomiting and maybe feverTreatment
- Adequate fluid replacement in form of juices, soups,
glucose and electrolyte drinks (Common trade brands Walyte
/ Electral)
Milk and milk products to be avoided.
- Tab Ciprofloxacin/Tinidazole combination (Cifran-CT/Ciplox
T2) should be taken twice a day.
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Abdominal Pains
Causes can be a variety of medical or surgical
reasons
Treatment
- Depends on the cause but for colic pains (due to GI infections,
gall bladder stone, kidney/ovo-urinary stones).
- Tab Meftal Spas 2 tabs – and can be repeated after
6 hours, but consultation with physician is essential.
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Constipation
Symptoms fretfulness, loss of appetite,
intermittent abdominal pain, distension
Treatment
- Lactose solution 15 to 20 ml at night or
- Syrup Magnesium Sulphate 15 to 20 ml at night
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Vomiting
Causes - acidity, food poisoning, dehydration
due to heat, travel sickness
Treatment
- Patient should take frequent sips of ORS/cold water.
- Avoid heavy meals before traveling to avoid motion sickness.
- Tab. Domperidone (Domstal) 10mg , 3 times a day
Tab. Maxeron/Reglan 10mg, 3 times a day.
- To prevent motion sickness Tab. Cyclizine or Stugil ½
an hour before starting journey.
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Dehydration
Causes- vomiting, diarrhea, fluid loss due
to burnsTreatment
- ORS one glass of water + 1 pinch of common salt + 1 tsp
of sugar + 10 drops of lime juice.
- Common brands of ORS Electral / Walyte
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Burns
- Burnt area to be kept under running cold water avoid ice
cold water.
- Do not puncture the bullae.
- Apply silver or soframycin ointment.
- Cover with sterile dressing.
- Tab. Paracetamol 500mg, 6 hrs if there is pain
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Mosquito and Insect Bites
- Tab. Cetzine 10 mg, once a day.
- Topical application of calamine lotion.
- Pain killer Ibuprofen 100 mg if required
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Acute Fever
Any temperature greater than 37.7 deg. C
Treatment
- Hydrotherapy and rest.
- Tab. Paracetamol (common trade names Crocin, Calpol)
500 – 1000 mg 6 to 8 hrly or
- Tab Ibuprofen 400-600mg 8 hrly (common trade name Brufen).
- Antibiotics/Antibacterial are to be given only after
physicians consultation
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Fever in Children
- Syrup Paracetamol 15mg/kg dose can be repeated 6 hourly.
- Syrup Ibuprofen 10mg/kg. 1 dose can be repeated at 6
hourly intervals.
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Throat Infections
Symptoms - Pain in the throat, aggravation
or swelling with congested feeling, fever
Treatment
- Take plenty of fluids.
- Take rest.
- Take warm saline gargles.
- Tab. Roxithromycin150mg, twice a day for 5 days.
- Common drugs – Roxid, Roxeplin or Cap. Mox 500mg
3 times a day.
- Tab Paracetamol 500mg 3 times a day for fever and body
pain
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Common Cold/Allergies
A cold is the most common acute viral infection. Allergies
may be triggered by many allergens.
Symptoms - running or blocked nose, general
bodyache with fever and irritation of throat
Treatment
- Tab. Cetzine (Zyrtec, Cetzine) 10mg once a day for 5
days.
- Tab. Paracetamol 500mg 3-4 times a day.
- In case of nasal obstruction - Epsedrine 0.75% nasal
drops 3 times per day in each nostril.
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