Allergies to Paradise

Many people who suffer with allergies know what their allergen triggers are and can reliably predict and avoid situations that provoke them. While on vacation or travelling in transit travelers have less control over the types of exposure they will encounter.

Some airport allow smoking throughout the terminal. Frankfurt is Europe 's busiest airport and as a hub for connections. Coming from Canadian non –smoking terminals  can be quite a change. People with smoke allergies may choose to book a direct flight and avoid connecting. Fortunately recently Frankfurt has become smoke free and hopefully more will follow this trend.

Food allergies are important in travelers. When traveling be sure to know the correct dialogue in all the relevant languages for instance “no seafood”, or “no fish, please”. This does not always work as strict vegetarians encounter similar problems when asking for “no meat” the meal will still involve a little mean on the side. A ‘vegetarian' dish can be interpreted as a plate of vegetables along with the usual meat.  Travelers must accept that in some situations, especially off the beaten path, they may not have control over their diet.

Vegetarian/ Vegan restaurants are listed in many guidebooks

One patient I saw tried to find out after 25 years she was still allergic to lobsters. Half an hour later her tongue was three times its normal size and breathing was threatened until we administered her medications. A vacation hundreds of miles away from hospitals is not the best time to rechallenge suspected allergies.

Anyone with a history of a significant allergy should have standby medication and a plan to access help. Family doctors may prescribe asthma inhalers, antihistamines and rarely standby cortisone steroids for severe problems; as well as an adrenaline injection kit. Adrenaline is for severe allergies and works very quick. I caution that anyone sick enough to require adrenaline still be seen by a doctor as soon as possible. The effects of adrenaline do not last as long as the allergy and symptoms may return.

It always helps to have the names of medications that you have allergies clearly written or typed with you in case you need to see any doctors. We encourage everyone at our travel clinic to find the address of a clinic or hospital where they will be staying and have this information close at hand when needed.

Clinics can be found through guidebooks and large hotels