This is the second in a series about travel packing. In this post, I cover medicine and hygiene kits, and what might be helpful to take with you.

Imodium.
Will be your friend on long bus journeys.

Traveler’s Diahrrea medication.
Read about traveler’s diahrrea here. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traveler’s_diarrhea )
I took Levaquin (Levofloxacin) with me, but fortunately never had to use it.
It has other uses too. If bitten by an animal, the same pills will usually help prevent the spread of rabies from the wound, until you can get to a hospital or place to get vaccinated.

Paracetamol / Ibuprofen
Cure-all. Fevers, aches etc.

Malaria prophylaxis medication. I started out carrying this with me, pills I had to take four times a week. However, the side effects were too much for me, and I stopped taking them and focused on not being bitten by mosquitos. The side effects can sometimes be dangerous. In my case I suffered from sun sensitivity, which resulted in dehydration.

Hydration salts. Mixed with water, these hydrate you well. Started carrying these after my run-in with dehydration. They’re good for long hikes, days spent in the sun, walking around etc.

Band-aids

Lip balm / Chapstick

Moleskin (to prevent blisters)

Lozenges

Sun block

Insect repellent (with at least 30% DEET)
Try and take water-based repellent. Alcohol based repellent is more flammable, and is prohibited on flights.

After-bite bite reliever. This helped occasionally. It helped relieve the pain from a scorpion sting as well.

I took a few Vitamin C tablets with me, and would stock up as necessary. Vitamin C has a reputation for being useful for fighting off colds and things. It isn’t so. Most of the benefits are from the placebo effect. Vitamin C is only useful if you have a diagnosed vitamin deficiency, which most people eating a balanced meals don’t have to worry about, they get everything they need. I didn’t always have a chance to eat balanced meals, so took vitamins, sometimes. In retrospect, a multi-vitamin would have worked better. Most people that take vitamin supplements are overdosing, and this isn’t good for them. For a good explanation of the science behind this, please read this.

Duct tape. Just a few feet, not the entire roll. I made my own small roll of duct tape with a stubby pencil and a few feet from a bigger roll. This is useful for many things, like putting on blisters, rips in clothing and tents, etc.

Toothpaste

Toothbrush + toothbrush case

Roll-on deodorant

Bar of soap (can use for washing myself as well as clothes)
I would buy cheap (and really good) bars of Dettol brand soap as I went along. (Irish Spring works as well.) They’re available everywhere, don’t flake easily, as the ‘fancier’ soaps tend to do (important when washing clothes, otherwise you end up brushing soap flakes from your clothes for the rest of your trip)

Box for soap
I like the ones without holes in them to drain out water. Those are messy. I like to zip-loc my soap box as well.

Nail clippers

Tiny pair of blunt ended scissors, useful for trimming nose hair, nails, and a variety of other uses.

I started out with a disposable razor, but threw it away. I went eight months without shaving. I did get myself a cheap ($8) and light battery powered hair trimmer, for my face, underarms and other areas. It’s a hygiene thing, it helps to keep your underarms and body hair trimmed when in warm and humid places.

I put it all in a mesh pouch, like this one.

This is a fairly comprehensive medical / hygiene kit. A few other travelers I met had similar kits, though some of them were also carrying a couple of wrapped disposable syringes and needles. In case they needed shots, and they were in a country whose health system and standards they didn’t trust. As you may be able to tell, this post doesn’t cover women’s travel medical issues; I don’t feel qualified to discuss them, but there are other resources on the internet, I’m sure.

I also made sure I was up to date on the following vaccinations:
- Yellow fever
- Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B
- Polio
- Tetanus / Diptheria
- MMR
- Typhoid

If you’re planning a trip, get medical advice from your doctor or a travel nurse. A random blog on the internet or anecdotes from friends can be helpful but are no substitute for advice from a professional.

Don’t stress about your medical kit too much. Remember, you won’t end up using most of it. If you need something, you can find it, or a substitute almost anywhere in the world. Keep in mind that developing countries are a good place to buy medication, it’s cheaper. Quality is not an issue usually.

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Also in this series:
Travel Packing 1/5: Backpacks
Travel Packing 2/5: Medical Kit
Travel Packing 3/5: Electronics
Travel Packing 4/5:
Travel Packing 5/5:

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Do you have suggestions? Advice? What would you take with you on a trip? Leave a comment!