THE questions in this month's column address health
advice for honeymooners in St Lucia to cruising in the
Caribbean, plus what to do if you get a severe case of
food poisoning and advice on the painful subject of
sunburn.

Q My honeymoon is to be spent in St Lucia in April and
I want to know what vaccinations and health advice are
relevant to this destination?

A St Lucia offers beautiful beaches kissed by the
Atlantic Ocean on the east coast and on the west -
beauty enhanced by the calm Caribbean seas.

Known for its orchards of bananas, mangoes, coconuts
and papaya trees - St Lucia just seems ideal for a
honeymoon.

However, there is some relevant travel health advice
which should be followed.

Vaccinations: Under the UK vaccination programme you
should be up to date for Diptheria, Tetanus and Polio.
If this is not the case your practice nurse or GP will
be able to further advise you.

While it is not compulsory for St Lucia, a vaccination
against Hepatitis A is recommended. And you should try
to get this at least two to four weeks before you
travel.

Consideration should be given to safe sun care - be
wise and wear sun protection creams with factors that
are no less than 15, and try and stay out of the sun's
strong rays between 10am and 3pm.

If you are eating out - ensure your food is cooked
thoroughly.Avoid buying food from market stalls or
street vendors.

If you are hiring a car, motor bike or moped - be sure
the vehicle is roadworthy. Make sure your insurance is
adequate a covers all aspects of your holiday.

It's always advisable to take a first aid kit away
with you on holiday for smaller emergencies. Ensure
your kit contains painkillers, cream for bites,
antiseptic wipes, plasters and rehydration sachets.
Travellers' diarrhoea can ruin holidays so follow good
hygiene to avoid getting this pest of an illness. Note
that diarrhoea should only last a few days and keep
rehydrating yourself. Should it last any longer seek
immediate medical help.

St Lucia has a disease known as Dengue Fever. This is
spread by a bite from a mosquito which flies during
the day time, so taking bite avoidance measures is
necessary.

There is no vaccine for this disease so instead, after
applying suncream, apply your insect repellent which
should have DEET 55 per cent as the actual repellent.
Try to have little as possible skin exposed and don't
wear perfumes. Air-conditioned rooms are an advantage
too and stay away from ponds, rivers and wet swampy
areas.

Q What should I do if I get sunburn on holiday?

A The simple straight answer here is to avoid it
happening.

It must be remembered that the sun's rays, A and B at
home and abroad are harmful. The 'A' rays age your
skin, giving it a leathery look while the 'B' rays
burn the skin - turning it red and painful.

If you get a case of sunburn follow first aid advice.
Get inside or into the shade out of the sunshine,
cover the skin with light clothing (t-shirt or towel).
Cool the skin by gently sponging it with cold water or
soak the affected area in a cold bath for 10 minutes.
Drink cold fluids - frequent sips are best. Calamine
lotion is an ideal preparation to soothe the skin.
If the sunburn is severe, especially if the area is
blistered, seek medical advice.

Remember the rules for enjoying the sun safely. Use
sun screens with factors 15 and above. Wear a sun hat,
t-shirt, sunglasses and stay out of the mid-day rays.
Drink plenty of plain fluids to ensure you do not get
dehydrated.

Take special care of the young and vulnerable,
especially those with fair hair and skin.

Q If I get a severe case of food poisoning on holiday
- what should I do?

A This is a nasty condition which can be prevented by
following safe food and hygiene rules. These are:
Drinking only bottled water, avoiding ice cubes. Don't
drink/eat unpasteurised foods; milk, ice cream, cheese
and yoghurts.

Eat hot food that has been cooked right through, and
don't eat reheated food. Shellfish is a high risk food
and is best avoided.

Peel all your own fruit and try not to buy food from
roadside vendors and most importantly, always wash
your hands before handling and after handling food,
and especially after using the toilet.

If you are unfortunate and get food poisoning then
stick to eating and drinking plain foods/drinks.
By day three if you don't get or feel better - seek
medical advice and ensure you take fluid replacement
medication. These are available from your pharmacist.
Anti-diarrhoea tablets are also available from your
chemist and are handy to have on holidays.

A visit to your GP when you arrive back home, after
you have suffered a bout of food poisoning and or
diahorrea is also advisable just in case.

Q My holiday this year is a Caribbean cruise landing
on five or six different islands - are there any
special health precautions for this holiday?

A Cruising has become very popular for residents from
the UK - and more popular now than skiing. Firstly
check out that your vaccinations for Tetanus,
Diptheria and Polio are up to date.

If this is not something you know about, your practice
nurse or GP will be able to help.

Hepatitis 'A' vaccine would be recommended - though
it's not compulsory.

Care should be taken to avoid sunburn, check the
advice given under the previous questions.

Try to avoid dehydration while in sunny places like
the Caribbean by drinking cool fluids regularly and
don't overdo alcohol consumption.

Because ships are unstable, accidents are common due
to falls on deck or stairways so be sure to take note
of hand rails, stairs, steps and lighting to ensure
you don't have a fall.

You should ensure your cruise is booked with a
reputable cruise line and ask about onboard medical
facilities. Good insurance would be most advisable.
If you take regular medication for say, diabetes,
hypertension, asthma or any other condition you should
ensure you take plenty of supplies with you, as the
onboard hospital facilities may not carry
these.Carrying syringes as well, will mean you'll need
a doctor's letter.

Malaria risk is very low, particularly in the
Caribbean area and on most land visits.

If your cruise takes you to the countries of Central
and South America or the Sub Sahara in African
Countries then you need to have your Yellow Fever
vaccination as you'll only be able to enter these
places by showing proof of immunisation.