post tips for avoiding getting sick in India
 

please post tips, suggestions for avoiding sickness,,would hate to spoil 2 week trip in India!!!

Take a look at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/disea...diarrhea_g.htm

quoting from that page:
"What preventive measures are effective for travelers' diarrhea?

Travelers can minimize their risk for TD by practicing the following effective preventive measures:

Avoid eating foods or drinking beverages purchased from street vendors or other establishments where unhygienic conditions are present
Avoid eating raw or undercooked meat and seafood
Avoid eating raw fruits (e.g., oranges, bananas, avocados) and vegetables unless the traveler peels them.
If handled properly well-cooked and packaged foods usually are safe. Tap water, ice, unpasteurized milk, and dairy products are associated with increased risk for TD. Safe beverages include bottled carbonated beverages, hot tea or coffee, beer, wine, and water boiled or appropriately treated with iodine or chlorine."

To that I would add:

Wash your hands before eating.

Be aware that even brushing your teeth with tap water can make you sick.

If you choose to violate the food and water precautions, know why you are choosing to do so and do things to minimize your risks. So, if you eat street food, eat only freshly cooked hot food, and attend to the cleanliness of the plate/utensils.

here is waht we did...never eat anything on the street....only bottled water...no salads, nothing not freshly cooked.... only fruit that you peel....

keep mouth closed in shower...brush teeth with bottled water...no ice at all!!!

eat as much as you can in hotel restaurants and/or recognized reputable restaurants...

think before you eat...

many folks only eat veggies, no meats, fish etc....we did eat meats with no problems and fish also...

no buffets, except perhaps the usual breakfast buffet....

And chew two Pepto Mismo tablets before each meal.

The weather will be hot and you will be so tempted to fill your glass with ice. Stop!

Use ice only at the top restaurants, never from small shops, vendors and such places.

Try to drink bottled water with a few drops of fresh lemon as it is cooling, soothing and also helps with the digestive system.

Use hand sanitizer very, very often. I even used it after handling money, getting into cars/taxis, climbing steps-touching stair railings, elevators, shopping and the list goes on.

Once when I ran out of hand sanitizer I had bought with me, I started using a small washcloth/handkerchiefI had in my purse before touching things such as door knobs etc. Then when back to hotel room, I would wash it out and dry it to use again.

Have also used Kleenex in the same manner.

Take every precaution you can take. Really upset stomach on just a 2 week vacation will spoil all the fun. So, do your best.

As mentioned above, good idea to have some Pepto Bismol daily. Of course, check with your doctor if it would be okay with your health.

Food and spices in India are different and thus your stomach has to get used to the new stuff. So go slow for the first few days at least and remember to always order a yogurt dish as the good bacteria in yogurt is very, very helpful for the digestive system.

When I am not too sure of the menu, I always order plain yogurt to eat along side and that has always been a good idea.

Have a wonderful and safe trip.

Yogurt and other dairy products are not necessarily safe to eat in India. A numbe rof people have reported doing fine with yogurt, others have reported getting sick.

You're going on an Oberoi trip. You can eat/drink everything at the hotels. Take reasonable precautions when on the road and you'll be just fine. Enjoy your journey and don't worry.

Is Marija correct? You're doing Oberoi's? Well, at Oberoi, as Marija says, you can eat/drink anything and everything. I ate salads every day for three weeks and nary a stomach pain. Even the tap water is suppose to be fine at Oberoi, although I stuck to bottled water. Trust only carries me so far : )

The only sickness I ended up with was a cold--which was miserable. I'd worry more about that. 16 hours on an airplane is like 16 hours in a petri dish. Since then I wear a tiny ionic air purifier around my neck and haven't had a cold since.

Food? As long as it is really hot or at the Oberoi, and you keep your hands clean via the tips above, you will be fine. Enjoy. You will love it and get ready to be astonished by your hotels. Seriously astonished.

Yup, Marija is correct. I quote from yesterday's missive:

<i>'I will fly into Mumbai and stay 3 nights. Then will fly to Delhi where I will spend 2 nights. Three nights in Shimla, 2 jaipur, 2 agra and then back to Delhi and fly home. I am doing an Oberoi package and I am very excited...' </i>

I'd estimate the chances of julia's getting ill are around 00.01% - not that that will stop her stressing. Thanks to BostonHarbor, expect a post about 'how to avoid getting a cold on airplanes' soon.

And, if you do get sick, don't hesitate to call the hotel Dr. who will give you an injection that will stop the symptoms quickly. I had to call on behalf of my H who got very ill from a lassi that he drank at a luxury hotel!

All of the advice so far should help you on your trip. At Oberoi's you can drink the water and eat everything.

Away from Oberoi's (and other good restaurants)just keep 2 things in mind:
1. Don't eat cut fruit
2. Drink hot tea or coffee or bottled water

Most of all, don't forget to enjoy your trip.
Don't worry too much...sometimes worrying and stress is worse than the change in environment and food.

OK, Dogster, you can chuckle at my little ionic air purifier, but I'm completely sold on it. I am a western medicine kind of gal. I have a Masters degree in Nursing and I don't fall for anything, including medical gadgets. However, I saw a video of what I originally thought was a silly little, worthless gadget, tested at UC Irvine labs by physician scientists and it was astounding what happened with bacteria AND viruses when they got near this ionic thingie--they are repelled--to 99%. Then, this gadget received the Good Housekeeping seal of Approval (which is almost harder to get than FDA approval) and I decided to buy one. ($99). It blows a little strem of fresh air in your face during the flight (you really can't feel it) and keeps all the bugs and viruses away from your nose and mouth.

Laugh if you want, but I'm a sold customer. : ) I was sick with a cold on almost every single trip I took prior to owning one of these things and since then, six 10+ hour trips and nada, not a sniffle. Anecdotal? Maybe, but I do not leave home without it.

I have nothing at all to do with this company, but it is called the Wein mini Personal air supply.

Chuckle away, my dear Dogster, but it works :) Swear.

How are you anyway? You sound just fine : )

Take daily pro-biotic acidophilus capsules, available at health food stores , a few days befoe you leabve. Start a few days before you leave, and continue during your trip. Maybe just coincidence, but taking them daily during last two trips to India, and some quite un-Oberoi type places, i never had gi upset.
Boston, thanks for air purifier idea. Being a nurse, i too am skeptical of of "gadgets"--but i'm gonna give yours a try!
JuliaJane, in Shimla, please do not miss Maria Brothers Bookstore, on the mall. The Chemists Shop (Drug Store) next to it is fun too. Make sure to take a ride up to the the indian Institute of Advanced Studies, a magnificent former mansion, where you will see the table at which Partition of India was planned by Nehru. Gandhi, Mountbatten, etc .(I think that table is in the movie "Gandhi")

One aspect often overlooked is the meals taken in transit between 2 destinations. Avoid partaking of non-vegetarian meals on these midway hotel cum restaurants. The electricity is eratic & so is the refrigeration. All those travellers who have avoided non veg / yoghurt, fair far better than those who are not cautious. Also one should eschew having non-veg food at religious places like Varanasi, even if it is offered by some non-caring hotel of your stay. I know of one specific instance where an expensive tour of an American lady & her daughter went for a six, because the poor lady unsuspectingly partook of chicken dish, offered at one of the Fodors popular hotels of stay!
Closer home, yes, you gonna love our Shimla hills!
One of the more pleasant way of visiting the IAAS is by walking down from the Cecils. Begin your walk at about 9:30am, takes you along a not-so-much used road...20 minutes...and when you arrive, the guided tour is just about to begin. The 100 years old bell supplied by Nepal has gone missing & so has the weather wane, at the back of the building from where you can take a bird's eye-view of the snow clad hills up north & the road arriving from Dharamsala, falls on your left. A word of caution about the semian theives, do not carry eatables & a beautifully carved walking stick, purchased from the Lakkar Bazaar, will warn them, you are no lover of monkeys!!
A visit to Shimla is incomplete without partaking of a meal at the Chapslee & the 'Koi Hai' gong which will bring the butler to attention. Or lunch at Baljees.
The barman at the Holiday Inn is steeped in old world courtesies. The best time to arrive here is at sunset for a drink & you will see the entire Shimla litup. They make some lovely Reshami kebabs!
The best trout with mashed potatoes is to be had at Spars Lodge, a very small place a 100 yards from the Cecil & to your left. The views of the valley are just as grand as your high-end Cecils Premium-Valley-Facing rooms. As you are staying at Cecils, do insist on this category of rooms for the other sides are non-descript.
Enjoy yourself!

It is Hotel Holiday Home @ Shimla, please.

lol Boston, I meant a post from the OP - who IS prone to stress. I'm with you all the way on the fact that there is far more risk getting a lurgie on the airplane TO India than IN India [if you stay at the Oberois].

Given the OP's previous history of posts, I suspect she'll be wrapping herself in cling-wrap before venturing out. We all forgot to remind her of danger of rabid dogs in the Oberoi foyers.

El Dog is at this moment in the lounge at Copenhagen Airport, waiting for a flight to Bangkok. He's looking for people sitting with airpurifiers under their noses. Strangely, none so far...

I am not a big fan of the pepto-bismol routiene. I know a lot of people think they are preventative, but they slow down your GI track's motility, thus keeping in your system any bug you may have acquired. Watching what you eat and drink is the best prevention.

Those who regularly munch Pepto-Bismal tabs with every meal may also develop the not-so-stylish Pepto Black Tongue from the bismuth. It goes away when you stop the Pepto...

Here's the official line from the CDC:

<b>Nonantimicrobial Drugs for Prophylaxis</b>

The primary agent studied for prevention of TD, other than antimicrobial drugs, is bismuth subsalicylate (BSS), which is the active ingredient in Pepto-Bismol. Studies from Mexico have shown this agent (taken daily as either 2 oz of liquid or two chewable tablets four times per day) reduces the incidence of TD from 40% to 14%. BSS commonly causes blackening of the tongue and stool and may cause nausea, constipation, and rarely tinnitus. BSS should be avoided by travelers with aspirin allergy, renal insufficiency, and gout, and by those taking anticoagulants, probenecid, or methotrexate. In travelers taking aspirin or salicylates for other reasons, the use of BSS may result in salicylate toxicity. Caution should be used in administering BSS to children with viral infections, such as varicella or influenza, because of the risk for Reye syndrome. BSS is not recommended for children <3 years of age. Studies have not established the safety of BSS use for periods >3 weeks.

The use of probiotics, such as Lactobacillus GG and Saccharomyces boulardii, has been studied in the prevention of TD in limited numbers of subjects. Results are inconclusive, partially because standardized preparations of these bacteria are not reliably available.

As long as we're citing research... Bastyr Institute has studied probiotics preparations and has found that taking them in advance of a trip has no effect on the incidence of TD. However, taking them after having experienced some TD shortens the duration of the symptoms.

I can't add anything else to what the others have already said but before we left we asked our doctor to prescribe us antibiotics to take with us, we never used them but it was a relief knowing we had them if one of us got sick.

Thanks for the tips!! Love the shimla suggestions!!! I am keeping a list of must do's!!!
JJ

JJ, If you're at the far end of the mall (opposite to where The Cecil is) the restauranat at Clarke's is excellent--not just for Indian food, but for other cuisines. We had delicious Spaghetti Bolognese there--the best since Italy, and far better than its incarnation in other countries Also, fantastic Spring Rolls! After nearly three weeks , this was our first "international cuisine" food, and boy, was i good!!
Clarkes was Mr Oberoi's first purchased hotel. (Theer is a placque in front of hotel about this.) It is way at the opposite end of the mall from the The Cecil. Very "old- Raj" feel. look for an English cottage look building. Even if you don't eat there, have a peak inside the homey little lobby , which reminded me of little hotel lobbies in UK . It's certinaly not as grand asts the Oberoi, but it's got it much smaller scale charm. (We stayed in a suite with a huge old chandelier, and the hugest pillows i've seen in a hotel anywhere in the world.) Wander a bit down, and you might here the sweet voices of school kids singing at the Christian school just below it, on the way to the ramp leading down to the parking area.

If you've been to a town in England and walked its High Street in the days before all the modern chain stores, you'll "recognize" it in Shimla.

A restaurant we heard great things about, but did not make it to, is Devicoes.

Another must-see in SHimla: the old Gaiety Theater, in a tudor style building on the Mall. Stand inside and you can just about hear the actors' voices from 60 or 70 yrs ago. It's been refurbished and is wonderful!! There is also a little teeny gift area in the lobby which has some interesting books. IF you have chance to rent "Shakespearae Wallah" (available on Netflix) before going on your trip, do try to see it, for a feel of the days in Shimla area as the British presence and influence came to an end. Some of it was filmed at the Gaiety Theatre, where the actors in the movie really did perform.

One of the places we loved for shopping in Shimla was the HImachal State Emporium. Go downstairs and there are lots of inexpensive souvenirs eg little key hook holders with pretty imitation Indian miniature paintings imitations for the equivalent of one or two dollars. Other lovely chachkes as well.

At "your " end of the Mall (assuming you're staying at the Cecil, not Wildflower??) if you crave a latte , there is a Cafe Coffee Day, a chain in India where at least you can get a pretty decent latte and other hot and cold espresso drinks.

There are two markets in SHimla--one below the Mall-this is the more "local style"one. the other is the Lakkar bazaar which Mr Singh referred to--which you veer off the Mall to get too(There will be signs.)

Look for the fun sign at the bus stop area: "work is worship" )sounds very WASP!) and other fun use of the language aroud Idia. One of my favs,directed at i suppose the many bikers, seen on highway outside New Delhi on way to Agra: "Hell or helmet--choice is yours"

Re: the efficaciousness of lactobacillus tabs, i figured they might not help, and it might be coincidence that my daughter and i survived two trips untouched by gi upset...but it cannot hurt, so what the heck!! (-;

Thanks Calinurse!! we will stay 2 nights at wildflower and 1 night cecil!!! great tips I appreciate!
JJ

Enjoy the massages at Wildflower, JJ. Your body may need them after walking up and down hills in and around Shimla!!
You and son are gonna LOVE this trip. My early 20's daughter and I returned in late June from our trip to INdia.. I am already planning the next one, and I'll bet, after a week back home, you'll be wondering about the next time too!
Sorry about typos in previous response. I get all into writing, and forget to edit before clicking on "submit" !!

Calinurse..do you remember how expensive the spa services were? I get a 25% discount but wondering in comparison to prices in US for massage.
jj

JJJ, we didnt have massages at Wildflower--never made it up there from Shimla. But, I am trusting that they will be be great for you, based on recs from a friend who went.
Wildflower's prices likely will be similar to those in a US hotel or good spa. We had\ve ahd much less expensive massages in India, ones in India, but the "spa menu" at both ITCs where we stayed was equal to price sin USA. The Ista hotel in Amritsar, with Ananda masseuses, was half the price of USA--still qu =ite expensive for India.
Unless you are ready to bare all, in a much more direct way than a carefully draped as in US, request Western style, not ayurvedic, massage. Perhaps Wildflowre is a it more "western" oriented in preserving modesty. Other places we've been to have not been as "sensitive" as we're used to in USA. (I could relate some funny stories, but my dtr would strangle me if she thought they were online!)