Travel tips

Most common travel illnesses are caused by something you ate or something that bit you. Cover up, wear bug repellent, drink only bottled water, don't use ice cubes, make sure your food is well cooked. Visit a travel clinic before you leave to get malaria pills or antibiotics along with specific advice about health concerns where you are going. Or visit www.cdc.gov/travel for more information.

Dengue:

This mosquito-borne virus is in the same family as West Nile.

Most likely to get it in: Southeast Asia and Central and South America.

Symptoms: High fever, often preceding a rash, searing headache behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain.

Prevention: Wear mosquito repellent with at least 30 percent DEET and reapply every six hours; cover up.

Treatment: Supportive care with fluids and pain medication. Patient can feel washed out for weeks.

Malaria:

Mosquito-borne, possibly life-threatening, parasitic disease.

Most likely to get it in: Africa

Symptoms: High fever, flulike aches.

Prevention: Wear bug repellent, cover up, take antimalaria drugs.

Treatment: The key is to treat before parasite spreads to vital organs.

Diarrhea:

Mostly it's caused by bacteria and resolves itself. But studies show that those who are sick enough to see a doctor often have the parasitic form, which is chronic with a longer incubation period.

Most likely to get it: Parasitic mostly from India, Pakistan, and Nepal; bacterial form is common everywhere, especially Southeast Asia.

Symptoms: Bacterial form is violent, with wrenching cramps for short time; parasitic form is characterized by loose stools and longevity.

Prevention: Drink bottled water and well-cooked food.

Treatments: Travel clinics will prescribe antibiotics to take with you in case of bacterial diarrhea; other drugs for parasites.

TINA CASSIDY