FAQs
How would I know if someone in my family has H1N1 influenza?
Due to global mobility it is inevitable that H1N1 influenza (the new strain of influenza known as swine flu) will come to, and eventually spread in Egypt. The good news is that despite early fears, doctors are finding this virus, in its current form, causes a mild to moderate illness in healthy people. The CDC reports that in most people symptoms are similar to that of regular flu: fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue, and occasionally vomiting and diarrhea. Young children may not have typical symptoms, but may have difficulty breathing and low activity. Young children, pregnant women, those with chronic medical conditions, and the elderly are more likely to experience more severe illness.
What can I do to limit exposure to air pollution in Cairo?
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Choose to live in a low-density residential area away from industry
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Stay in on days when the air quality is especially poor
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Don’t exercise outdoors on poor air-quality days
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Avoid exercise that causes you to breath road fumes (biking, running or walking on the busy streets)
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Get out of the city to areas with clean air as often as you can
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An indoor air filter may help remove pollutants from indoor air
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For those with respiratory allergies be sure to take prescribed preventative medications and find a good physician to manage your care locally
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Drive a car with safe emissions or do not own a car, so as not to contribute to the problem
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Don’t smoke and avoid places where you breath the smoke of others
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Find ways to encourage friends, colleagues, and staff to think about improving air quality
For a perspective on Cairo’s air quality click here
How can I prevent getting tummy trouble?
While most of us will experience Pharaoh’s Revenge some time during our stay in Egypt, there is plenty you can do to avoid frequent bouts of these unpleasant experiences. Routines, such as hand washing, refrigeration, using safe water, dishwashing, and eating food immediately after it is prepared, help protect us from these illnesses. Our immune system also works hard to protect us, not only from harmful organisms in food and water, but also from those in the environment. We can help our body’s defenses by trying to decrease the amount of bugs we are exposed to by taking these precautions:
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Wash your hands – all the time!
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Drink only safe water.
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Take special care with fresh produce.
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Handle meat & eggs separately to fresh produce.
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Train your house-help and monitor their practices.
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Consider probiotics.
For more information about these precautions
click here
What can be done for tummy trouble?
In all likelihood most of us will experience Pharaoh’s Revenge (a.k.a Traveler’s Diarrhea) some time during our stay in Egypt. Actually, bacteria, rather than the ancient Pharaohs, are the culprits for the majority of tummy trouble that people experience while living in Egypt. Intestinal parasites, such as Giardia and amoeba, can also cause problems. Less frequently, viruses can too. Sometimes if vomiting is the major symptom, the problem can be food poisoning (when bacteria produce toxic substances as they multiply in food).
You don’t necessarily need to know the cause of the tummy trouble to care for someone unlucky enough to experience Traveler’s diarrhea. Making them as comfortable as possible, and observing for, and preventing dangerous symptoms is the basic care: Prevent dehydration, manage vomiting, treat fever, avoid unhelpful medications, promote rest, re- introduce normal foods as soon as possible, and look for signs that indicate you need medical help.
How can I avoid problems caused by the hot Cairo weather?
Cairo experiences very high daytime temperatures from May to October. The dry heat is intense and a lot of fluid can be lost through perspiration which quickly evaporates from skin. The sun is very strong because of proximity to the equator and lack of cloud cover. The UV Index is extreme ( 11) and burns skin much quicker than in milder climates. Sun and heat exposure can result in serious short and long term health problems requiring emergency care and hospitalization.
During summer pay careful attention to protecting yourself from the sun, avoiding the heat, and replacing fluid and electrolytes to avoid dehydration. Anything that raises metabolism, increases sweating, or causes additional loss of fluids (such as exercise, fever, or diarrhea) results in a high risk for dehydration and heat exhaustion.
What Vaccines Do I need for living in Egypt?
There are some infectious diseases that occur in Egypt, as well as many other countries, for which vaccinations are available.Vaccination can prevent specific diseases that cause temporary incapacitation, chronic illness, disability, and death. In Egypt vaccine preventable diseases (such as measles, chicken pox, typhoid and hepatitis) are still common.
Some people who have been living in Egypt for a while do not have the recommended vaccines, or need boosters. Other people are just moving to Egypt and need to check their vaccine status. It is never too early or too late to update your vaccines. Vaccines are available in Maadi at: Digla Medical Center, Dr. Ghali’s Medical Group, The Lab and other doctor’s offices.
Do children get more colds in Egypt?
Young children average up to one cold per month, during the cooler season in any country. Symptoms can last an average of 14 days. So you need not be concerned if your child has cold symptoms off and on for nearly half of the cooler months. It is also not unusual for children to develop a second cold as the symptoms of the first cold are resolving; this can make it seem as if a single cold lasts for weeks or even months. There is no reason to worry unless more serious symptoms develop.
For information about caring for and preventing the common cold,
click here.
How can I maintain my equilibrium while in Cairo?
Returning to Cairo, or starting up life, work, and school in Cairo can really take its toll on your inner fortitude. Don’t despair. It can be hard at times but others have gone before you – and survived. Here are some simple measures can help and are easy to include in daily life but often get crowded out:
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Time for yourself (pamper yourself)
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The nurture of strong friendships (both at home and here)
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A balanced, healthy diet including a variety of foods, especially lots of fresh fruit and vegetables
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A way to relax and release stress
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The opportunity to learn something new
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Something meaningful to get involved in (paid or volunteer)
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Regular exercise
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Adequate sleep
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Time with your family or significant others.
Slot some of these simple ideas into your daily routine to boost your mental and emotional health from sun-up to long after the stars come out.
Sometimes we will need a little more than lifestyle supports to get us through the day. If you are experiencing one of those times there are friendly faces, counselors, and mental health professionals around that can help, so don’t go it alone. Ask someone you know for a recommendation; look in our Community Marketplace online directory or contact the CSA Information & Referral Desk at CSA to find local resources.
How do I choose a doctor?
There are very few General Practitioners/Family Doctors in Egypt. Most doctors are specialists. Doctors may practice in their own private clinic, a group clinic or in a hospital outpatient department, or all three! Unfamiliarity with the system, cultural considerations, and language barriers can make it difficult to find a doctor that suits your needs.
Tips for Choosing a Doctor
- CSA provides a quick reference list of medical resources that you may need in the first few weeks. However, it is recommended that once settled you do your own research to find health care resources that suit you and your family.
- Get to know your local facilities and resources as soon as possible after arriving.
- You may choose to schedule check ups with specialists (such as ongoing management of a disease) and sensitive routine test and procedures (such as mammograms and pap smears) during your home leave, but everyone needs a primary care doctor on location to take care of day-to-day problems that arise.
- Seek recommendations from friends and/or your company.
- Check claims of overseas training or licensure carefully.
- Feel comfortable picking and choosing your physician. It is an acceptable practice for you to determine who will best meet your health care needs.
- Just like anything if at first you don’t succeed, try again by going to a different doctor.
- Do not be afraid to get a second opinion if the diagnosis or treatment concerns you.
Search our Community Marketplace information directory or read tips on visiting the doctor.
Should I have my baby in Cairo?
Deciding where to have your baby is an important personal decision and not one that should be entered into lightly. There are family, financial, medical, and cultural factors to consider.
Medical care in Cairo is of a standard that may be acceptable to you for caring for routine pregnancy and birth. However, your final decision should be based on an informed choice after you have considered both what you want and the local capacity to effectively deal with the worst case scenario. Do not allow your decision to be made through a haze of optimism but base it on a cool, detached assessment of the situation. As parents-to be it is important that you are satisfied and confident that there is no significant extra risk to you or your baby in having the delivery in Egypt rather than in any other location available to you.
For more information on minimum requirements for safe delivery and tips on making your decision, click here.