Hiking pharmacy
You can find our hiking pharmacy checklist here: Hiking Pharmacy
Selection of possible ailments
Blisters on the feet: Blisters on the feet are caused by shear forces, which leads to the formation of a space in the prickle cell layer of the skin. This becomes filled with tissue fluid. Risk factors include heat, humidity, ill-fitting shoes and socks, and heavy exertion. Painful blisters can be punctured and drained with a sharp and sterile instrument, but the overlying skin should usually be left on the wound and not cut away. Blister plasters are good for treatment, and there are a number of recommendations for prevention (see there). Altitude sickness: Acute altitude sickness can occur during a rapid ascent above 2500 meters (“too high, too fast”). The most common symptoms include headache, nausea, loss of appetite, sleep disturbances, fatigue, exhaustion, vomiting and dizziness. Serious and sometimes fatal complications at high altitude include pulmonary and cerebral edema. For prevention, certain rules of behavior should be followed (slow ascent, take breaks, acclimatization). For drug prevention, acetazolamide, dexamethasone and ginkgo are used. For treatment, analgesics, antiemetics, dexamethasone, acetazolamide, and oxygen are used, among others. Weight loss: Prolonged strenuous hiking can lead to a loss of body weight. Causes include greatly increased energy requirements and concomitant inadequate food intake, carrying too little food to save weight, consumption of low-energy foods (e.g., fruits and vegetables), dehydration from sweating, and loss of appetite triggered by exertion. In a study by Hill (2008), it was shown that hikers often consume too few calories and do not meet the increased energy needs. To prevent this, a healthy diet should be followed and nutritious foods should be carried (e.g., energy bars). Weight loss may of course be desirable if you are overweight. Dehydration: In warm weather and heavy exercise, several liters of fluid can be lost through sweat; in extreme conditions, this can be as much as 10 liters. Progressive fluid loss leads initially to fatigue, headache and feeling sick, and eventually to serious complications. In the case of fluid deficiency, the organism reacts by increasing the concentration of urine and decreasing the frequency of urination. Therefore, the dark color of urine and infrequent urination indicate insufficient intake of fluids. As a preventive measure, always carry a water bottle and drink enough. Electrolyte drinks such as Isostar, which contain sugar and minerals in addition to water, are also commercially available. Dehydration is an important risk factor for heat illness. Heat illnesses: Heat illnesses result from acute overheating that can no longer be physiologically compensated for by the organism. Different degrees of severity are distinguished. While sunstroke or heat exhaustion can be treated by oneself depending on the course, immediate medical treatment is absolutely necessary if there are signs of heat stroke. Symptoms include feeling warm, headache, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and chills. Heat stroke is defined as a body temperature above 40°C with central nervous disturbances such as delirium, agitation, and convulsions. Sunburn: Sunburn is a reddening of the skin caused by excessive exposure to UV-B rays. It develops within a few hours and can lead to acute complications such as blistering, hyperthermia, and oedema. Since sunburn is also a risk factor for the development of skin cancer, it should be avoided as far as possible. To this end, it is advised to avoid exposure to the sun, especially between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., to wear protective clothing, sunglasses and headgear, and to apply sunscreen with a protection factor adapted to the skin type. The two most important measures for treatment are good initial cooling and skin care with water-based skin care products. Insect bites and mosquito bites: Bees, bumblebees, wasps and hornets are equipped with a stinging apparatus that they use for defense or hunting.When stung, they inject a venom that causes mild local to dangerous and potentially fatal allergic general symptoms in humans. Prevention and treatment depend on the course. A mild and localized reaction can be treated with good cooling and application of an antipruritic and analgesic gel. If the reaction is severe, emergency medical services must be alerted. Mosquito bites are harmless in our latitudes, but can be very bothersome due to the severe itching. Tick bites: A variety of diseases can be transmitted by tick bites. The most important infections in this country are bacterial Lyme disease and viral TBE (early summer meningoencephalitis), which can be accompanied by serious complications. The tick should be removed as soon as possible, without prior use of home remedies, using good tweezers and then disinfecting the affected skin area. To prevent tick bites, closed shoes and long clothes should be worn in the forest, the undergrowth should be avoided if possible, and the body should then be checked for ticks. The use of repellents such as DEET also helps protect against ticks. Injury from animals: Dangerous animals are rare in many countries. Challenges include domestic cattle (bulls) and dogs, for example. Cows, while mostly friendly, can also be very dangerous in exceptional cases, such as mother cows. Switzerland is currently rabies-free, wolves and bears are very rare and shy. Whoever nevertheless encounters a bear should follow certain rules of conduct. In general, one should back away from an animal slowly and not run. Bite wounds always belong to medical treatment. They should be well washed and disinfected in case of emergency. Two venomous snakes are found in many countries, the asps viper and the adder. They are becoming increasingly rare and live mainly in alpine valleys. They are also shy and only bite when they feel threatened or cornered (for more information see Meier et al. 2003). Diarrhea: Diarrhea is one of the most common travel ailments of all and is also triggered by contaminated water drunk from rivers or lakes. The risk of diarrhea can be reduced by good chemical or physical water treatment. Hygiene measures such as washing hands after urination and defecation, and washing cooking utensils with warm water also reduce the risk. However, this only applies if washing-up liquid or soap is used. Skin wolf: Skin wolf or intertrigo is an inflammatory skin disease that develops on opposite skin surfaces (in skin folds), for example in the genital area, on the groin and around the anus. Risk factors include physical activity (friction), obesity, accumulated heat and moisture. For prevention, the corresponding areas should be kept as dry and cool as possible, for example, by wearing light clothing made of natural materials. Dehydrating agents such as zinc pastes and powders are controversial, as they may cause further skin irritation. Treatments include topical glucocorticoids, antibiotics, antifungals, and tanning agents. Pain and injury: The most common complaints on hikes include pain and minor and major injuries. These include muscle and joint pain, back and neck pain, muscle cramps, muscle soreness, vision and ankle pain, bruises, connective tissue injuries, abrasions, burns, localized numbness, paresthesias, fractures, and accidents. Hikers should carry some bandages, disinfectants and painkillers, know the basics of first aid and be able to alert the emergency services in case of an emergency (cell phone, ambulance: 144, Rega: 1414). see also: motion sickness in post buses and gondolas, worm infections after eating wild berries, hypoglycemia, headaches, constipation and other indications.
Hiking pharmacy
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