No
inoculations are currently required for Peru,
but it's a good idea to check with the embassy
or a reliable travel agent before you go. Your
doctor will probably advise you to have some
anyway: typhoid, cholera and yellow fever shots
are all sensible precautions, and it's well
worth ensuring that your polio and tetanus-diphtheria
boosters are still effective. Immunization
against hepatitis A is also usually recommended.
Yellow fever still breaks out now and again in
some of the jungle areas of Peru; it is
frequently obligatory to show an inoculation
certificate for yellow fever when entering the
Amazon region - if you can't show proof of
immunization you'll be jabbed on the spot.
Rabies still exists and people do die from it.
If you get bitten anywhere in Peru by a dog or
vampire bat (only likely in some parts of the
Amazon region), you should undergo a series of
injections administered to the stomach (available
in most Peruvian hospitals) within 24 hours.
This is the only cure, unless you have been
inoculated in advance with one of the new anti-rabies
jabs.
Malaria is quite common in Peru these days,
particularly in the Amazon regions to the east
of the country. If you intend going into the
jungle regions, malaria tablets should be taken
- starting a few weeks before you arrive and
continuing for some time after. Make sure you
get these, or whatever is recommended by your
doctor, before leaving home. The prophylactics
most commonly recommended against Peruvian
malaria tend to be a combination of Paludrin and
Cholorquine tablets. Few people who have to
spend a lot of time in the rainforest regions
use prophylactics, preferring to treat the
disease if they contract it, believing that the
best prevention is to avoid getting bitten if at
all possible, by wearing long sleeves, long
trousers, socks, even mostquito-proof net hats,
and sleeping under good mosquito netting or well-proofed
quarters. There is more information on this
issue at www.cdc.gov/travel/regionalmalaria.
Diarrhoea, dysentery and giardia
Diarrhoea is something everybody gets at some
stage, and there's little to be done except
drink a lot (but not alcohol) and bide your
time. You should also replace salts either by
taking oral rehydration salts or by mixing a
teaspoon of salt and...
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Water and food
Water in Peru is better than it used to be, but
it can still trouble non-Peruvian (and even
Peruvian) stomachs, so it's a good idea to only
drink bottled water ( įgua mineral), available
in various sizes, including litre and...
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Medical resources for travellers
To begin, select a topic in the navigation bar
to the left
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The sun
The sun can be deceptively hot, particularly on
the coast or when travelling in boats on jungle
rivers when the hazy weather or cool breezes can
put visitors off their guard; remember,
sunstroke is a reality and can make you very
sick as well as...
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>>
Altitude sickness
Altitude sickness - known as soroche in Peru -
is a common problem for visitors, especially if
you are travelling quickly between the coast or
jungle regions and the high Andes. The best way
to prevent it is to eat light meals, drink...
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>>
Insects
Insects are more of an irritation than a serious
problem, but on the coast, in the jungle and to
a lesser extent in the mountains, the common fly
is a definite pest. Although it can carry
typhoid, there is little one can do; you might...
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>>
HIV and AIDS
HIV and AIDS (known as SIDA in Latin America)
are a growing problem in South America, and
whilst Peru does not have as bad a reputation as
neighbouring Brazil, you should still take care.
Although all hospitals and clinics in Peru
are...
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>>
Contraception
Condoms ( profilacticos) are available from
street vendors and some farmacias. However, they
tend to be expensive and often poor quality (rumour
has it that they are US rejects, which have been
sold to a less discriminating...
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>>
Farmacias
For minor ailments you can buy most drugs at a
farmacia without a prescription. Antibiotics and
malaria pills can be bought over the counter (it
is, however, important to know the correct
dosage), as can antihistamines (for bite...
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>>
Traditional medicines
Alternative medicines have a popular history
going back at least two thousand years in Peru
and the traditional practitioners - herbaleros,
hueseros and curanderos - are still commonplace.
Herbaleros sell...
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>>
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tambopata, candamo, kuelap, lord sipan, tucume,
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