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Staying healthy away from home
Going to the Caribbean? Avoid learning the hard way and be prepared
While snorkeling at what used to be her favorite spot in the Caribbean, Suzanne Williamson felt something brush against her calf, and then a small sting.
“Uh-oh,” she said to herself, fearing the worst — a woman down the beach had warned her that she’d seen jellyfish in the water. “But when I looked around and checked my leg, I saw nothing,” she says.
Williamson showered in her condo and then went for a hike in the rainforest.
“On the way back, my leg started to itch,” she says. “I picked up my pant leg and was horrified to see a huge, raised red area stretching from my calf down to my ankle. It hurt and itched like crazy, almost exquisitely.”
It turns out that some jellyfish stings can take several hours, even days, to reveal themselves. In the meantime, Williamson had made the wrong move: She should have rinsed with salt water, not fresh, which can worsen the reaction.
Williamson and her husband spent the next two days exploring not beaches and reefs, but pharmacies and doctors’ offices — even the hospital emergency room. But no one could help beyond giving her a shot of antihistamine with a chaser of over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream. “I asked one doctor what islanders do when they get stung by a jellyfish, and he said, ‘We suffer.’”
So did she. “The fun aspect of our trip was over when I got stung,” Williamson says.
Back home in Manhattan, her dermatologist gave her a prescription-strength hydrocortisone cream, which stopped the pain and itching almost immediately.
“Before going someplace now, I check out the medical risks, maybe talk to my doctor,” says Williamson. “I take a first-aid kit, and I don’t go in the water without having that cream around.”
She learned the hard way, but you don’t have to. A little knowledge and preparation will enable you to deal with any of the itches and inconveniences you might encounter in the Caribbean.
Jellyfish stings
Did you know that even dead jellies can be harmful if touched? “The people in real danger are the ones who are allergic,” says Dr. Paul Sanders of Travel Medical Consultants in Dallas, Texas. If that’s worrisome, call a dermatologist for allergy testing before your next trip.
Prevention: Avoid jellyfish-infested waters, or wear a wetsuit and gloves.
Symptoms: A red, painful, swollen, itchy rash at site of contact.
Treatment: Flush with vinegar and rinse with salt water, then immobilize. Apply hydrocortisone cream.
Get Help: In case of weakness, vomiting, muscle spasms, fever and chills or difficulty breathing — all signs of an allergic reaction.
Travelers diarrhea
Rich foods, lots of adult beverages, and water- or food-borne stomach bugs can all cause a case of tummy distress. “Taking a swig of Pepto-Bismol a few times a day can help settle your stomach,” recommends Dr. Sanders.
Prevention: Eat thoroughly cooked foods while they’re still hot; eat raw fruits and veggies that you peel yourself; drink only beverages that come from sealed containers.
Symptoms: You know it when you’ve got it.
Treatment: Whack it with Imodium; replace lost fluids and electrolytes with sports drinks.
Get Help: If the victim suffers from vomiting, acute stomach pains or bloody stools.
Sunburn
Nothing ruins more vacations faster than a smackdown from Mr. Sun. “The worst thing you can do is lay in the sun for hours without moving,” says Dr. Sanders. For a safe tan, limit sunbathing to 20 minutes a day for three to five days. The alternative is a week or more of recovery and irritating lobster jokes.
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Prevention: Slosh on the sunscreen, SPF 15 or higher, and limit your time in the sun. Wear protective clothing and a brimmed hat.
Symptoms: Red, inflamed skin that’s sensitive to heat and touch.
Treatment: Take a cool bath, then apply sunburn cream or aloe-vera gel.
Get Help: If the burn blisters, or if the victim suffers delirium or unconsciousness.
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