Jay Marathe's website

Guidelines for staying in good health when visiting India Many foreign tourists in India get upset stomachs or other symptoms. It is often assumed that 'Delhi belly' is an unavoidable part of travelling here. However, this is not true. It is generally possible to stay in good health throughout your India stay if you follow these guidelines: - Bottled or boiled water only: Always drink bottled water or boiled water. Some travellers even brush their teeth with bottled water. In hot weather, drink plenty of water. - No uncooked foods outside the house: See table DANGER GENERALLY SAFE - Raw / uncooked foods outside of family homes, especially those that are handled e.g. salads, chopped onions, coriander, cut lemon. - Cooked foods that have been left or stored at room temperature for a long time so they can accumulate bacteria (e.g. Samosas that are not freshly cooked). - Do not take ice or added cold water in drinks. - Sealed from the factory drinks, such as bottled cola and juice in tetrapaks is safe. - Freshly boiled water, tea or coffee etc, even from street stalls, is generally safe. - At high end / five star hotels and bars, freshly squeezed juices and filtered water or ice is generally safe. - Naturally sealed fruit, such as unpeeled bananas and oranges are safe. - Pure yoghurt is generally safe - Raw food (e.g. salad, chopped carrots, radish, cut lemon, raw onions, coriander) freshly prepared in family homes is generally safe - Use travel handwash: Alcohol based handwash for travelling. Can be bought in chemists. - Avoid Mosquitos: o To prevent mosquito bites wear light long sleeved clothes that cover the skin. o Bring cream or spray containing DEET. Apply at evening time/dusk or when mosquitos are present to the neck, arms, back of the knees (mosquitos go for areas that are exposed and warm). o At night, use a plug-in anti-mosquito device where required. Use mosquito nets where available. - Avoid over-eating: Hard to avoid when the food and hospitality is so good. Eating different food in different places every day is a risk factor. Overeating makes it worse. - Wear Sunscreen and Hats: Avoid sunbathing and swimming during high sun. A rimmed hat is important to prevent sunstroke / burning - this shields the back of the neck and behind the ears - from where sunstroke is caused. - Take vaccinations: On advice of doctor several weeks before you leave for India. Generally, you will need to be up to date on Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Polio and Tetanus. Good advice is available on NHS Scotland Fit for Travel