How I came to write Bugs Bites & Bowels
The idea for the book came from Laura Fleminger who was then a literary agent at Peters Fraser & Dunlop. She heard me talk at an expedition symposium at the Royal Geographical Society in Kensington. Laura convinced me that I was capable of writing an antidote to the professorial style of the only other guide at the time, Travellers Health. So, with some trepidation at setting up in competition to a host of boffins, I began work on my first comprehensive health guide for remote places. I had by then acted as medical officer on expeditions to the Himalayan region, Madagascar (twice) and Peru and had lived in several remote corners of Asia, so I had some experience and knowledge of exotic health problems.
Soon after meeting Laura and when our sons were still small we went to live on an island in the Karnali River, Nepal where there was no electricity. Here I had uninterrupted writing time even if I had to develop expertise in improvisation. I became convinced of the power of health information and my interest in health education grew. I had already recognised the dearth of readable information on avoiding ill health in remote places and enjoyed the challenge of writing on the subject.
Bugs Bites & Bowels was first published simultaneously by Cadogan in the UK and Globe Pequot in the US in 1995. Now in its fourth edition, I believe it is still the only comprehensive single-author travel health guide.
That particular RGS symposium proved to be an auspicious meeting because the founders of Wanderlust magazine were also in the audience and they approached me with an offer of a regular travel health slot. I have written for Wanderlust ever since, and to date have concocted nearly 100 double page features for them.
Fragments
Dangerous Sea Fish
(from page 201)
About 100 species of fish can administer dangerous stings, and a selection (moray and conger eels, barracuda, garfish, groupers and sharks) are able to inflict severe bites. Fish stings are common, and it is estimated that there may be as many as 1500 stingray stings and about 300 scorpion fish stings a year in the US alone. However, fatalities from fish stings are rare, and so are deaths from shark attacks.
Giardia
(from page 130)
Giardia are elegant heart-shaped microbes that swim around the small intestine propelled by two splendid whiskers. Infection upsets the stomach and causes sulphurous, foul-smelling belches and farts, abdominal distension and often diarrhoea.
Giardia infection is probably the most over-diagnosed, inappropriately treated travellers’ ailment; if you think you have it get a stool check before rushing to take a course ofantibiotics, and/or try 24 hours on clear fluids and a bland, fat-free diet. Other microbes cause similar symptoms, and untreated giardiasis does little harm except make you an unwelcome guest. One fairly specific symptom is passing stools that stink, float and are difficult to flush away (there are other causes of this, so if the treatment appears to fail, find a doctor). The parasite causing giardiasis is Giardia lamblia.
| Reviews |
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Endlessly Fascinating. Even if you’re not going to be travelling in remote places, this book is wonderful. Jane Wilson-Howarth’s no nonsense (and funny) tone makes this book an excellent read, even if it’s just for the vicarious thrill of knowing which parasites you might encounter.
Wilson’s [no relation] Disease Reviews (on the web)
“the most approachable guide” Simon Calder in the Complete Guide to Travel Health.
The Independent
"It offers useful advice to protect your family's health at home and abroad."
Independent on Sunday
“travellers bible” Doctor
“its bedside manner is decidedly more reassuring and less alarmist” [than the Lonely Planet guide]
Sunday Telegraph book of the week
“This clear concise manual explains how to avoid the icky side effects of travel”
Best Title Award from Big World Magazine (Pennsylvania)
“the most amazing collection of well-written, easy to read, and jargon-free information flowing off every page of this book.”
Doctor newspaper
“Whilst her theoretical knowledge is extensive, it is her personal experience that adds great charisma and humour to the very informative text, making the book a true pleasure to read.”
Travel Wise: newsletter of the British Travel Health Association
“offers practical advice for disease prevention and treatment, based on the author’s and travellers’ personal experiences in a clear and concise way.”
Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
“clear, easy to read, comprehensive manual… everything from jet lag to the psychological problems of being a long-term expat spouse.”
Carousel: diplomatic service families association magazine
“magnificent book… readable and accessible”
Expeditioner (Brathay Expeditions)
“indispensable…some of the most realistic, practical advice about trekking”
Independent on Sunday
“covers insect bite treatments, acclimatization, AIDS avoidance, snake-bite treatment and travel related skin problems.”
Los Angeles Times
“at once attractive, user friendly and a good read.” Discovery – Cathay Pacific
“Amusing and informative…By far the best book of this type”
Sesame: Scientific Exploration Society Newsletter
“Interesting off-beat guide” Observer, London
“coverage is excellent…sensible…accurate and well researched…single authorship makes it an easy read”
Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
“with tips on avoiding afflictions such as ‘sahib’s knee’ when mountain walking.”
Australian Gourmet Traveller
“advice…from immunisation to dealing with snake-bites."
General Practitioner
“there is even a section on ‘Sex and the Single expat’. An extremely useful book.”
Good Book Guide
“essential reading” Marie Claire
“a must for anyone going travelling.” Wanderlust
“The sensible precautionary advice covering common and uncommon ailments is not only thorough, but also made more palatable by the case histories and touches of humour.”
The Book Seller
“irresistible… Each topic is in easy-to-follow sections, with anecdotes and case histories to illustrate the medical guidelines.”
Globe (London)
Get bitten by the travel bug
'Bugs Bites and Bowels can be used in one of two ways. As a guide to health hazards abroad, it is the most useful and least hysterical travel health book I have ever come across. Its purpose is not to fill the reader with paranoia, but describe what you can catch or pick up, how to avoid it, and what to do if the worst happens.
The book doesn't advocate avoiding all local foods and never drinking the water, as if the rest of the world is some disease-ridden cesspit, but calmly, and reassuringly details how to avoid such problems as dehydration, sunburn, mosquito bites and dodgy stomachs. As she says in her introduction, Wilson-Howarth is not attempting to be your portable doctor in times of crisis (although she is one), but to try to ensure that a doctor is never required.
I haven't read as clear and comprehensible description of the malaria issue anywhere, and as I travelled to Africa this year, I really appreciated the clear and detailed summary this book contains - its worth owning just for that.
However, the other good reason to own a copy of this book is as a source of sick entertainment: although she insists that such critters are rare, the sections on some of the more unpleasant beasties that lurk in far-flung corners of the world are nothing short of addictive.
Revel in descriptions of the horrible Tumbu flies, put your friends off their dinners with tales of the Candiru fish, and generally have fun with snake stories. The author might well convince you that the sensible traveller need never risk an encounter with such unpleasantness, but still, this is a read-aloud classic when drunk.
Posted on amazon by ‘i_am_george_lazenby’.