Health and Vaccines in India

No specific vaccination is required for a stay in India. Consult your travel clinic for vaccinations needed for any trip.

Vaccines

No vaccine is required for India. However you will travel to a remote part of the world. Then some precautions may be necessary. Here is the list of vaccines recommended by the pasteur institute:

• Be upto date with diphtheria, poliomyelitis and tetanus
• Viral hepatitis A (if you travel a lot)
• Typhoid (especially if you travel after the monsoon)
• Viral hepatitis B (for long or repeated periods)
• Rabies (for solo travelers and circuits on the Tibetan plateau in Ladakh)

Anti-malarial treatment

Almost eradicated in large urban centers and absent in mountains above 2000 meters, malaria remains only in forest and marshy areas. Learn more from your doctor or a vaccination center, depending on the location of your trip.

Dengue and Chickungunya

Like malaria, these diseases are also transmitted by insect bites. There is no vaccine, it is best to guard against bites. A good anti-mosquito repellent and clothes covering the arms and ankles for the evening are good means of prevention.

Food

Although your guide will advise you, it is however recommended to observe the following guidelines:

• Do not eat improperly washed fruits or vegetables
• Do not eat raw meats or vegetables
• Avoid drinking unpasteurized milk
• Avoid washing your teeth with tap water in rural areas
• Do not take ice cubes in your drinks
• Wash your hands frequently using an alcohol-based solution

Diarrhea is one of the disadvantages of a trip to India. Often due to change in diet and / or heat, it rarely lasts more than 48 hours. Always have an anti-diarrheal drug within easy reach. And do not hesitate to share your health status with your guide, who can take decisions, if any, for your well-being.

Personal Pharmacy

The main risk in India comes from water. Be vigilant to drink only boiled and / or filtered water. Stomach aches are common during a trip to India. With a small appropriate treatment, they pass in a few days. Consult your doctor before you make your aid kit. Little things like itching, indigestion, blister and a small wound can quickly spoil your trip. Here's what your personal pharmacy might look like:

• Antidiarrheal and anti-constipation/medicines against diarrhea and constipation
• Broad spectrum antibiotics
• Repellent against mosquitoes and other insects
• Soothing cream for bites of insects or plants
• Solar cream
• After-sun cream or Biafine
• Disinfectant and transparent mercurochrome
• Sterile compresses and dressings, including special dressings for ampoules
• Stretchable and breathable tape
• Paracetamol
• Cream for hematomas, aches
• Throat lozenge Eye drops, if the eye is drying out
• Tweezers
• Purifying tablets