The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has just updated travel advice ( http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-...ia/philippines ) and most of the 95,000 reported visits by British tourists last year were trouble free
It may help to avoid trouble by having a health check list
1. Confirm what is covered by your travel insurance, take proof that you have health insurance and save the emergency number to call from the Philippines.
2. Vaccines : a. primary or booster for typhoid, tetanus, hepatitis A 2(+) weeks before travel. ( Consider also polio / cholera. You have probably had BCG ). These are FREE within the NHS.
b. Others, such as rabies, hepatitis B, influenza, Japanese Encephalitis - not usually recommended, and chargeable.
3. Malaria tablets : see separate thread. Mefloquine starting 1 - 3 weeks before travel, every week in the malarious area ; or doxycycline daily, starting 2 days before. Continue tablets for 4 weeks after return. Expect to pay 40 GBP for course.
4. Other OTC ( over the counter ) medicines :-
a. Painkillers - paracetamol or ibuprofen.
b. Travellers' diarrhoea - usually self-limiting. Reduce risk by good hygeine ( use antiseptic wipes / antibacterial hand gel ; drink bottled water and be selective where / what you eat ). Anti - diarrhoea drugs such as loperamide ( " Imodium " ) or diphenoxylate ( " Lomotil " ). IF symptoms persist and are severe, seek medical help. Antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin ( " Pharex Ciprofloxacin " in Philippines ) or metronidazole ( " Moniliasol " in Philippines ) may be needed. " Just in case " buying in UK needs private prescription, so only buy if necessary in Philippines.
c. Constipation - bisacodyl ( " Dulcolax " ).
d. Insect repellent as spray or lotion ( " Repel " from Boots ) containing 50% DEET. Spray or lotion to sooth bites.
e. Travel sickness - cinnarizine ( " Stugeron " ). Start 2 hours before travel.
f. Sunblock cream ( 50 SPF, 5* UVA , such as Boots " Soltan " ).
g. E45 cream for dry skin, athlete's foot cream.
h. Antihistamine for allergies such as sneezing, runny nose, itching eyes ( loratidine / " Clarityn " ).
5. Supply of any medicines you usually take, if necessary with a letter from your doctor explaining that they are for personal use. Keep in hand luggage if possible. Contraceptives. Condoms.
6. Basic first aid kit - plasters, bandages, scissors.
7. Note your blood group.
8. Of course there are several good travel websites, you can search the forum for relevant threads, and it's as well to visit your doctor / practice nurse several weeks before you go . There's a good chance you will know more than them about conditions where you will be visiting .