The expert spoke about the common diseases of tourists abroad

During a beach holiday, approximately 40% of tourists' requests for medical help are related to acute respiratory diseases such as acute respiratory viral infections, tonsillitis and otitis media. Moreover, this figure is even higher among children. Artem Iskra, Managing Director of the Retail insurance underwriting department at Renaissance Insurance, told Izvestia about this.

According to him, the main causes of these diseases are sudden temperature changes due to air conditioners, prolonged exposure to water, leading to hypothermia, as well as the rapid spread of infection between children who play / spend time together.

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Injuries are in second place in terms of the frequency of referrals, accounting for about 15% of all cases. They usually occur when swimming on wild beaches, where tourists get bruises from falls on slippery rocks, cuts on sharp shells or painful injections of sea urchins. In some regions, such as the Mediterranean or Southeast Asia, jellyfish are an additional danger, as their burns cause severe skin irritation. If there is no access to an equipped beach, experts recommend using special swimming shoes — they will protect your feet not only from sharp objects, but also from burns that can be obtained on hot sand in countries with hot climates.

"At the same time, the proportion of injuries increases significantly in two cases.: in regions with ski resorts and in Thailand. In the first case, an increased risk is associated with winter sports, where even minor mistakes in skating technique or incorrectly selected equipment can lead to sprains and fractures," the specialist explained.

In Thailand, the main cause of injuries are accidents involving tourists renting motorbikes. Many of them do not take into account the specifics of local traffic, where heavy traffic and the lack of strict priority rules make driving especially dangerous for an untrained person.

From 6 to 10% of requests for medical help during rest are related to gastrointestinal disorders. Most often, they are provoked by the use of unleaded water, including when brushing teeth or when adding ice to drinks. Often such ice is made from tap water in some cafes and bars.

"Another common reason is eating in outdoor cafes with questionable conditions, where dishes can be prepared without observing the necessary sanitary standards. In countries with hot climates, such as India or Egypt, an additional risk factor is fresh fruits and vegetables that could have been washed with unboiled water," Iskra warned.

Earlier, on May 14, Vladimir Neronov, MD, an infectious disease specialist at JSC "Medicine" (Academician Roitberg Clinic), told Izvestia about the importance of vaccinations when planning a vacation abroad. He warned that there are diseases specific to specific regions where entry may be prohibited without a vaccination certificate.