Malaria is a tropical disease which is spread through infected mosquitos. Malaria symptoms can appear at any time from within a week to a year after an initial bite and the infection can be fatal if left untreated.

Symptoms can include:

• Fever

• Chills

• Fatigue

• Muscle aches

• Headaches

• Diarrhoea

• Nausea and vomiting

Pregnant women, children, the elderly and those with a weakened immune system may develop complications if they contract malaria.

With pver 100 countries known to have a risk of malaria, here at Honeycomb Pharmacy we can advise and supply you with the correct ant-malarial for your travel destination. This is essential as the choice of anti-malarial is dependent on the travel destination and your medical history. You will always be informed when and how to take the medication and of any side-effects you may experience.

Extremely important to note, even if you're revisiting an area, you should be aware that any malaria guidelines may have changed since your last trip, so always check with us first. You should also consider whether you may need any travel vaccinations before you set off.

Dengue fever is an infection spread by mosquitoes. It's not usually serious and often resides on its own. In very few cases, the infection can be more serious, but this is rare.

Dengue is common in certain parts of the world especially tropical areas including:

• Parts of Africa and Asia

• Central and South America

• The Caribbean

• The Pacific islands

• Some southern areas of North America

• There's also a risk of getting dengue at certain times of the year (spring to November) in parts of southern Europe.

Here at Honeycomb Pharmacy, we offer a vaccination against this.

Hepatitis A is a liver infection that is spread in the faces of an infected person. The infection is more common in parts of Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Central and South America.

Hepatitis A can be contracted from:

• Drinking unclean water
• Eating food that's been washed or grown in unclean water
• Eating food that's been handled by an infected person
• Close physical contact with an infected person, examples include sex and sharing needles

The vaccination is recommended in the following circumstances:

• You are travelling to a country where hepatitis A is prevalent –
• You have recently been in close physical contact with someone with the virus
• You have long-term liver disease
• You have a blood clotting disorder, such as haemophilia
• You are a man who has sex with men
• Your job puts you at risk of infection – for example, you’re a healthcare worker or a sewage worker

Hepatitis B is caused by a virus that is spread through blood, semen and vaginal fluids. This can be through sexual contact or exposure to blood from needlesticks or other sharp instruments.

In the UK the hepatitis b vaccination is recommended for:

• People from or travelling to countries where the disease is prevalent, examples include Africa, Asia and the Middle East
• Health workers who regularly vaccinate, take blood, or encounter body fluids

Full protection involves having 3 injections of the hepatitis B vaccine at the recommended intervals into the upper arm.

Typhoid

Typhoid fever is caused by a bacterium called Salmonella typhi which can cause serious complications and can be life threatening without prompt treatment. It spreads rapidly through the body affecting many vital organs. Typhoid fever is highly contagious. that is spread through contamination of food or water with infected urine or faces..

Vaccination against typhoid fever is recommended if you are travelling to parts of the world where the condition is widespread.

High-risk areas include:

• The Indian subcontinent (Bangladesh, Pakistan, India)
• Africa
• Parts of south and southeast Asia
• Parts of South America

There are two main vaccines for typhoid fever. One is given as a single injection, and the other is given as 3 capsules on alternate days. Prevention is becoming ever more a priority since some strains of typhoid are now resistant to certain antibiotics making them much harder to treat.

Cholera is a bacterial infection that can cause severe diarrhoea. It is predominantly found in places without a clean water supply or modern sewage system, such as parts of Africa and Asia.

You can catch cholera from:

• Drinking unclean water

• Eating food (particularly shellfish) that's been in unclean water

• Eating food that's been handled by an infected person

A cholera vaccination is recommended for aid workers and people likely to have limited access to medical services – for example, people working in refugee camps or after natural disasters.

The vaccine is given as a drink in 2 separate doses. For adults, 2 doses (given 1 to 6 weeks apart) providing protection for up to 2 years. Children ages 2 to 6 years should have a third dose taken 1 to 6 weeks after the second dose.

Guidelines recommend both doses are consumed at least a week before your travel.

A single booster dose is also recommended If you have previously been vaccinated and travelling to an infection prone area.

Rabies is a rare but serious infection that is usually caught from a bite or scratch of an infected animal. It can also be transmitted if an open wound, the eyes or nose are licked by an animal infected with rabies. It's an extremely fatal condition following the onset of symptoms, but vaccination and early treatment can prevent it.

The rabies vaccine is recommended if you're travelling to a part of the world where rabies is more common, especially if:

• Remote areas where it may be hard to get medical help quickly
• You might come into contact with infected animals, places were stray digs are prevalent
• You're staying longer than a month

The rabies vaccine is administered as injection into your upper arm. You will be given 3 doses over the course of 28 days (about 4 weeks)

This combined vaccination is part of the UK childhood vaccination programme.

You should always make sure you and your children are up-to-date with your routine vaccinations before travelling.

Further booster doses are usually only recommended if you're going to visit parts of the world where diphtheria is widespread, and your last vaccination dose was more than 10 years ago.

Should they be required, additional doses are given as a 3 in 1 vaccination

Japanese Encephalitis is contracted from infected mosquitos. Japanese Encephalitis is not found in the UK. It's mostly found in rural areas of Asia.

Although it is extremely rare for travellers to contract the virus, immunization is recommended if you're travelling to a part of the world where the virus is found, especially if:

• You're staying for more than a month

• You're staying in a rural area

• You're staying near or visiting rice fields, wetlands, or places where pigs are farmed

Vaccination against Japanese encephalitis usually consists of 2 injections, with the second dose given 28 days after the first.

It is recommended the second dose is administered a week before you travel.

Meningococcal disease is caused by 13 different groups of meningococcal bacteria.

In the UK, the disease is almost always caused by 1 of 4 meningococcal groups commonly known as MenB, MenC, MenW or MenY.

The meningococcal bacteria live in the back of the nose and throat in about 1 in 10 people without causing any symptoms or illness. The bacteria from an infected individual are spread from person to person by prolonged close contact such as coughing, kissing or sneezing.

Meningococcal infections can happen at any age, but babies, young children and teenagers are especially vulnerable. Meningococcal disease can cause both meningitis and septicemia (blood poisoning). Septicemia and meningitis can trigger sepsis, which is a life-threatening response to infection, although this is rare.

There are several meningitis vaccinations that can be administered at different stages. Here at Honeycomb Pharmacy, we offer the MenACWY. This offers protection against 4 strains of the meningococcal bacteria

As Older teenagers are most likely to carry and spread the meningococcal bacteria, teenagers and ‘fresher’ students going to university for the first time are encouraged to have this vaccine.

The MenACWY vaccine is given by a single injection into the upper arm.

The ticks that cause TBE are mainly found in forested areas of central, eastern and northern Europe, and some parts of eastern Russia and Asia, including some regions of China and Japan.

Tips to reduce tick bites include:

• Covering your arms with long sleeve tops
• Wearing long trousers `

• Use insect repellent on your skin and clothes (choose a repellent with DEET)
• Avoid walking through woodland and stick to paths where possible
• Check your skin and clothing after being outdoors

The vaccination requires a course of 3 injections for full protection. The second dose is given 1 to 3 months after the first and provides immunity for about a year.

A third dose, given 5 to 12 months after the second, provides immunity for up to 3 years.

The course can sometimes be accelerated if necessary. This involves 2 doses being given 2 weeks apart.

Booster doses of the vaccine are recommended every 3 years, if necessary.

Yellow Fever is a fatal infection that is spread by a certain mosquito. It is prevalent in some areas of tropical Africa and Central and South America.

Some countries even require a proof of vaccination certificate before they let you enter the country.

The vaccine is administered as a single dose which provides lifelong protection. It is important to note that the vaccine must be administered at least 10 days before travel, so get in there at your earliest convenience.

Following vaccination, you will be issued with an International Certificate which is then valid for life.