The Best of Cambodia & Laos

Come Armed with Singles
We recommend coming to Cambodia with a large stack of dollar bills. You’ll
blow through them quickly while zipping around towns on tuk-tuks and
motos, and the lower cost of food and drink means they’ll come in handy.
Larger bills dispensed by ATMs can be harder to break.
against mosquito bites is crucial to preventing
a variety of diseases, including malaria.
This means using an effective repellent
(with DEET, or one of the newer eucalyptus-based
products) day and night, and
sleeping under a net or in a screened or
sealed room. Wear long trousers and a longsleeved
shirt if you are in a risky area.
Another problem in Cambodia can be
the heat and the sun. Use a good sunscreen,
cover your skin, try to stay out of the sun
during the hottest part of the day, and keep
up your fluid intake. If you can’t avoid
being in the sun, make sure you wear a hat.
Keep properly hydrated with water (beer,
soda, or tea does not do the job). It’s a good
idea to carry rehydration salts with you.
There are big problems with hepatitis
and HIV in Cambodia (an estimated 40%
of commercial sex workers are HIV-positive).
If you are determined to put yourself
in harm’s way, then be sure to practice
safe sex.
AILMENTS IN CAMBODIA
Like many poor tropical countries, Cambodia
is a host to a variety of ailments that
with proper attention to hygiene and preventative
measures the traveler will avoid
getting.
WORMS & OTHER INTESTINAL PARA-
SITES These can be a problem due to
poor hygiene. Be careful where you eat
and what you eat (especially if it is street
food). Watch out for any meat that looks
uncooked.
GIARDIA, DYSENTERY, & SALMO-
NELLA These are contracted as a result
of infected food and poor hygiene. Giardia
is a parasite that, if you are infected,
causes some fairly unsociable symptoms of
flatulence with the odor of rotten eggs. It
is treated through a course of prescription
drugs, notably metronidazole (brand
name Flagyl).
DYSENTERY Dysentery is an unpleasant
condition involving stomach cramps,
diarrhea (with blood and mucus in the
stool), and fever. In amoebic dysentery,
the parasites that cause it are dealt with
through a course of metronidazole. Bacillary
dysentery can be treated with antibiotics
if very severe, but normally one gets
through it in 1 to 2 weeks, during which
remaining well hydrated is vital. Salmonella
is also bacterial and symptoms begin
with nausea and vomiting and progress to
abdominal pains and diarrhea. Additional
symptoms include fever, chills, and muscle
pains, and it can last anywhere from several
days to 2 weeks. There is no treatment,
and you just have to get through it
by making sure you stay hydrated.
HEPATITIS A Hepatitus A is a viral
infection of the liver, also contracted from
bad food or water. The best way to avoid
it is (if over 2 years old) to make sure you
are vaccinated, stick to bottled water, and
keep a good eye on what you eat. Symptoms
include fatigue, fever, abdominal
pain, nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite,
depression, jaundice, weight loss, and itching.
Inoculation takes the form of a single
shot and a booster after 6 months.
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PLANNING YOUR TRIP TO CAMBODIA 3
HEALTH