Customer Reviews

Lonely Planet Healthy Travel Africa (Lonely Planet Healthy Travel Guides)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
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If you are planning to travel anywhere in Africa, especially Sub-Saharan Africa this small, handy book is a must. With the number of infectious diseases prevelant in Africa it is foolish to take unneccessary risks, but most people are probably not familiar with the health risks and options open to them. This book contains comprehensive information on what do to before you go, how to stay healthy, and what to do when you get back. It also has a substantial list of symptoms, diseases and treatments just in case you do get sick (or injured from outdoor activities). It works for outdoor adventurer's, resort go-ers, and urban-only businessmen. Plus its minature size makes it convenient to carry.

I used this on a recent trip to Africa. It was most valuable in the preparation stage of my trip when figuring out what to bring and what shots were needed to enter certain countries (some of this is now outdated). It has really good maps of where Malaria, Yellow Fever, etc are located on the continent and a good, if also outdated, discussion of anti-malarial drugs.
I wouldn't use this as a medical book during any trip, but it's a great primer that gives an overview of all the wonderful parasites and diseases in the region.

Bottom line: Gives a really good idea of how to prevent and prepare for getting sick in Africa. Buy it a few months before your trip so you can start getting shots.

Excellent and essential reading for anyone going to the African continent.
Currently being used by several participants in the Plymouth to Banjul run.

Isabelle Young has compiled a "packing worthy" field guide for individual health care as well as diagnosing and treating illness/disease peculiar to the African continent. I was amazed this guide carries approximately 400 pages of easy to read and understand descriptions of common and not so common maladies discussing prevention,diagnosis, treatment and whether you need to leave to get lifesaving treatment. I would commend this guide for individual travelers and those leading tour groups or short term medical mission groups. I was so impressed that I purchased a guid for each of the physicians and nurses that I led on a short term medical mission experience in Sierra Leone. Perhaps the best news is the price for the guide!

My family and I recently returned from a trip to Africa. We traveled with our two small children and had a wonderful time. This book was wonderful in leading us to beautiful destinations. Our trip would not have been the same without it. My husband is an army officer and had brought along his own guidebooks he obtained through the service. This is the one we relied on the most.
Stacey Belkin

I lived in Guinea, West Africa for two years and was 15 hours taxi ride from a qualified doctor. This book helped me to diagnose and treat myself for giardia, scabies, bed bugs and countless other illnesses. It was an absolute life-saver and I recommend it for anyone going to Africa. It's a must have.

Lonely Planet Healthy Travel Africa is a good pocket sized book crammed with info - perhaps too much info. If you read about all you could catch or what could happen them it may put you off!

But its a good book and especially handing in its warnings about certain water borne diseases and those that 'things' that bury into your soles of your feet.

Worth the money and is handy ref book with some useful first aid info.

I have been having this book for a while now and it turned out pretty useful... Good organisation, very complete and good advices on what to do in case of sickness. Very small so easy to travel with. Recommended.

Very helpful. If you have medical concerns and are away from medical services this book will help in most cases, provide a course of action and give you piece of mind. It is small and light and will not encumber minimalist traveler. Very useful also in cultural interactions and so on.