Common Illnesses

If you are from a Western country or somewhere on the same latitude as China, you should be quite used to the climatic conditions in China, while others may need days or weeks to adjust to the different weather which may be hotter or colder than you are used to. Generally, the conditions of hygiene in China are also quite appalling compared to Western standards, and it is advisable that you take extra precautions especially when it comes to food and drink.

There are a few known illnesses quite common to travelers, and they are jet lag, tick-borne illness, traveler's diarrhea and high-altitude illness. Before your trip, make sure you check for specific areas in China where certain diseases are known to occur. If you must travel to these areas be sure that you are wary of the risks and how to avoid them. You are not required to produce any vaccination certificates upon your entry to China unless you are arriving from an area infected by yellow fever. Nonetheless, there are several types of vaccinations recommended for travelers to prevent the contraction of more complicated or potentially life-threatening diseases.

Travelers staying at cheaper motels or dorms have to be wary that some beds in China have ticks (or bed-bugs). In these places, bed sheets are not changed frequently and you may be sleeping on the same bed linen used by the traveler before you. Ticks can transmit all sorts of communicable diseases or cause skin irritation. When you stay in budget lodgings, you can either use your own bed sheet or cover yourself with long-sleeved clothing, but the sure way to get rid of ticks is to use insect repellents. If the place you are staying has mosquitoes, use a mosquito net to keep them at bay.

One of the most common illnesses for travelers in China is traveler's diarrhea, and this usually happens to those who drink from the tap or eat partially cooked food. Take note that tap water in China is not safe for drinking, and you have to boil it to make it potable (you'll probably want to make sure you find a source of bottled water near where you are staying). Try not to order any drinks with ice because most sellers make their ice directly from the tap. Also, it is best not to consume any salads because the vegetables are often washed with tap water. Before eating your food, you should check if the meats are well-cooked. Many food sellers in China rush through their cooking during busy hours, and consequently, some of the meats they serve are uncooked on the inside. Traveler's diarrhea usually subsides within four to five days even if untreated. For more serious cases, bouts of vomiting and fever can also occur, leaving you quite void of energy to perform any traveling or training. If you get traveler's diarrhea, you can treat it with anti-diarrheal medicines like Immodium, but if these medications are not effective, you should consult a physician. More severe infections may require treatment with an antibiotic such as Ciprocilin, which you may want to obtain before you go to China. Because of the potential side-effects of antibiotic treatment, this is usually only reserved for instances where the diarrhea lasts 3 or more days and when blood is present in the diarrhea.

It is fairly easy to get ill when you are traveling. Many foreigners find it rather difficult to adjust to the living conditions in China, and they tend to be more sensitive when it comes to hygiene. Many people prefer to keep a bottle of hand-sanitizer with them, however this is not necessary if you are careful about keeping your hands out of your mouth (very few foods in China are 'finger-foods' for this very reason).

Being prepared to avoid or treat these common illnesses will ensure your stay will be a LOT more enjoyable-- being sick in bed for days on end can really affect how much fun you have on your trip!