Health precautions (medicines to carry etc.etc.) followed by a hospitals guide.

Like any other tropical countries, there are precautions that need to be taken care of when traveling in India. Health services in the country are very good, However it is advisable, to either go to a good hospital (ask a chemist if you do not know of a reliable person) or to a private practitioner in case you need to see a doctor. Most of the medicines can be purchased over the counter in India and one does not need prescription for it.

: Perhaps the most important thing while traveling in India is, to be particular of what you eat and drink. Eat only at restaurants that seem respectable, till you are able to use your discretion. Drinking ‘bottled water’ or commonly referred as ‘Mineral Water’ is one thing you should stick to throughout your travel in India.

: Also remember to carry your own ‘Toilet Paper’ with you. It is very possible that you will come across situations where you will find Bathrooms without the Toilet Paper.

: It is recommended that you have jabs of meningitis, typhoid and hepatitis, especially if you are planning a long trip to the country. If you are arriving in India from a country infected with Yellow Fever, you will be asked for an inoculation certificate.

: All of the animal lovers need to be particularly careful about is stray dogs or for that matter even pet dogs. Stray dogs and Pet dogs both need to be kept at a distance. These dogs are very different from the ones we come across in western countries, hence they cannot be befriended. It is recommended to keep distance and not to encourage any interaction.

: Mosquito bites not only leave itching marks (that go away in few days) but can also cause a common ailment known as Malaria. The best way to avoid Malaria is prevention. Always use Mosquito repellent creams or spray when outdoors or even indoors during summer and warm weather or during monsoons. Make sure you don’t leave any uncovered body part without the repellent. Mosquitoes seem to have knack for finding weird places to bite.

: Keep your medical kit regularly replenished. Before you head off into remote places visit a local pharmacist and stock up on aspirins, diarrhea tablets, insect cream, salt tablets and other first-aid essentials.

: It is advisable to use sun protection at all times during the day. This is even more necessary at higher altitudes where temperature might not indicate the need of having a sunblock, however the UV rays are much more harmful at such places. To avoid such situations drink lots of fluid, wear a hat or a cap and rest. Also make sure to not be out in sun for long hours.

: Wash your hands often with soap and water or, if hands are not visibly soiled, use a waterless, alcohol-based hand rub to remove potentially infectious materials from your skin and help prevent disease transmission.

: Do not eat food purchased from street vendors or food that is not well cooked to reduce risk of infection (i.e., hepatitis A and typhoid fever).

: Do not share needles for tattoos, body piercing or injections to prevent infections such as HIV and hepatitis B.

One should have to take care of all these things so as to maintain his health and also can save unnecessary expenses on medicines and doctors.