Here you find Bali-informations about:

Hygiene - Exposure - Intestinal Parasites - Cuts and Scrapes - Medical Treatment and Consulates.

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Hygiene cannot be taken for granted in Indonesia. Away from the tourist areas few places have running water or sewerage. Most water comes from wells, and raw sewerage goes into the ground or the rivers. Tap water is not potable and must be boiled.

Most cases of stomach complaints are attributable to your system not being used to the strange foods and stray bacteria. To make sure you do not get something more serious, take the following precautions:

Never drink unboiled water from a well, tap or bak mandi (bath tub). Brush your teeth only with boiled or bottled water, never with water from the tap or bak mandi. Bottled water is available everywhere and usually called "Aqua", which is the most popular and reliable brand name.

Ice in Bali is made in government-regulated factories and is deemed safe for local immunities. Confirm that the ice is made from boiled water before relaxing with an ice drink.

Plates, glasses and silverware are washed in un boiled water and need to be completely dry before use.

Fruits and vegetables without skins pose a higher risk of contamination. To avoid contamination by food handlers, buy fruits in the market and peel them yourself.

To mandi (bathe) two or three times a day is a great way to stay cool and fresh. But be sure to dry yourself well and you may wish to apply a medicated body powder, such as Purol, to avoid the unpleasantness of skin fungus, especially during the rainy season from November to April.

Many visitors insist on instant suntans, so overexposure to the heat and sun are frequent health problems. Be especially careful on long walks. Wear a hat, loose-fitting, light-colored, long sleeved cotton clothes, pants, and use a good quality sunscreen (bring a supply with you). Do not wear synthetic fibers that do not allow air to circulate. Tan slowly-don't spoil your trip. Drink plenty of fluids and take salt.

A likely traveling companion is called "Bali belly" locally. In addition to the strange food and unfamiliar micro-fauna, diarrhea is often the result of attempting to accomplish too much in one day. Taking it easy can be an effective prevention but ask your physician before leaving home about what the latest and greatest of the many remedies are and bring some along.

When it hits, it is usually self-limiting to two or three days. Relax, take it easy and drink lots of fluids, including rehydration salts such as Servidrat (local brands are Oralit and Pharolit). Especially helpful is water from the young coconut (air kelapa muda) or strong, unsweetened tea. The former is an especially pure antitoxin. When you are ready, start with bananas, plain rice, crackers, tempe (fermented soybean cakes), and bubur (rice porridge). Avoid fried, spicy or heavy foods and dairy products for a while. After three days without relief, consult a doctor.

It is estimated that 80 to 90 percent of all people in Indonesia have intestinal parasites and these are easily passed on by food handlers. Prevention is difficult, short of fasting, when away from luxury hotel restaurants and even these are no guarantee. It's best to take care of parasites sooner rather than later.

If you still have problems when you get back, even if only sporadic, have stool and blood tests. Left untreated, parasites can cause serious damage.

Your skin will come into contact with more dirt and bacteria than it did back home, so wash your face and hands more often. Cuts should be taken seriously and cleaned with an antiseptic like Betadine solution available from any pharmacy (apotik). Once clean, antibiotic powder (Sulfanilamide) or ointment, both available locally, should be applied. Cover the cut during the day to keep it clean, but leave it uncovered at night and whenever you are resting so that it can dry. Constant covering will retain moisture in the wound and only encourage an infection. Repeat this ritual after every bath. Areas of redness around the cut indicate infection and a doctor should be consulted. At the first sign of swelling it is advisable to take contact a pyhsician.

Malaria is very rare in Bali, particularly in the southern tourist areas, but if you're heading beyond the island take a prophylaxis. Malaria symptoms are fever, chills and sweating, headaches, and muscle aches.

The other mosquito concern is dengue fever, spread by the morning-biting Aedes aegypti, Especially during the rainy season. The most effective prevention is not getting bitten (there is no prophylaxis for dengue). Dengue fever symptoms are headache, pain behind the eyes, high fever, muscle and joint pains and rash appearing between the third and fifth days of illness. Within days, the fever subsides and recovery is seldom hampered with complications. The more serious variant, dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), which can be fatal, may be the reaction of a secondary infection with remaining immunities following a primary attack.

Cases of Japanese encephaltis, a viral infection affecting the brain, have occurred recently and are added cause to take protective measures against mosquito bites.

Portable nets (kelambu) provide protection at night when sleeping; you can buy these in most general stores for $5. They're a hassle to put up in hotel rooms. Upon request, your room will be sprayed for insects.
Be sure this is done long before you are ready to sleep if you want to avoid the smell and inhaling fumes. Aerosols clear out insect intruders, but do not have residual effect. You can also buy slow-burning mosquito coils (obat nyamuk bakar), which last 6-8 hours. Double Rabbit is one of the more reliable brands. There are brands which do not contain pyrethrum, these are ineffective. An electric (smokeless) version is also available.

Insect repellents and lotions are widely available. Any chemical repellent containes DEET (diethyl toluamide) should be applied with caution and never to the face. Application to clothing can be more effective. A local non-chemical solution is citronella oil (minyak gosok, cap tawon).

Find out the generic names for whatever prescription medications you are likely to need as most are available in Indonesia but not under the same brand names as they are known at home. Get copies of doctors' prescriptions for the medications you bring into Indonesia to avoid questions at the customs desk. Those who wear spectacles should bring along prescriptions.

The Indonesian name for pharmacy is apotik and a hospital is called rumah sakit. Smaller villages only have government clinics, called Puskesmas, which are not equipped to deal with anything serious.

Fancier hotels often have doctors on call or can recommend one, but these often do not know enough about the civilisation diseases (i.e. Diabetes, Parkinson, Epilepsy). Misuse of antibiotics is still a concern in Indonesia. They should only be used for bacterial diseases and then for at least 10 to 14 days to prevent developing antibiotic resistant strains of your affliction.

Indonesians don't feel they've had their money's worth from a doctor without getting an injection or antibiotics. If either is prescribed, be sure it's necessary.

Ensure syringes have never been used before or better yet, buy your own disposable from an apotik (pharmacy) and take it to the clinic.

AUSTRALIA, CANADA, NEW ZEALAND
Jl. Hayam Wuruk 88 B Tanjung Bungkak, Denpasar
Tel: +62-361-241118, Fax: +62-361-241120,
E-mail: bali.congen@dfat.gov.au

BRITAIN
Jl. Mertasari 2, Sanur, Denpasar 80227
Tel: +62-361-270601, Fax: +62-361-270570,
E-mail: tamarin@dps.centrin.net.id

CZECH REPUBLIC
Jl. Pengembak 17, Sanur, Denpasar
Tel: +62-361-286465, Fax: +62-361-286408,
E-mail: bali@honorary.mzv.cz

FRANCE
Jl. Mertasari Gg. II No. 8, Sanur
Tel: +62-361-285485, Fax: +62-361-286406,
E-mail: consul@dps.centrin.net.id

GERMANY
Jl. Pantai Karang 17, Sanur
Tel: +62-361-288535, Fax: +62-361-288826,
E-mail: dtkonsbali@denpasar.wasantara.net.id

HUNGARY
Marintur, Jalan Raya Kuta 888, Kuta
Tel: +62-361-757557, Fax: +62-361-757562,
E-mail: cristofoli@denpasar.wasantara.net.id

ITALY
Lotus Enterprises Building, Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai, Jimbaran
Tel: +62-361-701005,
E-mail: italconsbali@italconsbali.org

JAPAN
Jl. Raya Puputan 170, Denpasar
Tel: +62-361-227628, Fax: +62-361-265066

MEXICO
PT Puri Astina Putra, Jl. H.M. Yamin 1 A, Renon, Denpasar
Tel: +62-361-223552,
E-mail: astina@denpasar.wasantara.net.id

NETHERLANDS
KCB Travel, Jl. Raya Kuta 127, Kuta
Tel: +62-361-751517, Fax: +62-361-752777,
E-mail: purwa@denpasar.wasantara.net.id

NORWAY & DENMARK
Mimpi Resorts, Jimbaran
Tel: +62-361-701070,
E-mail: mimpi@mimpi.com

SPAIN
Jl. raya Sanggingan, Br. Lungsiakan, Kedewatan, Ubud
Tel: +62-361-975736, Fax: +62-361-975726,
E-mail: rabik@indo.net.id

SWEDEN & FINLAND
Jl. Segara Ayu (Segara Village Hotel)
Tel: +62-361-288407, Fax: +62-361-287242,
E-mail: segara1@denpasar.wasantara.net.id

SWITZERLAND & AUSTRIA
Istana Kuta Galeria blok Valet 2 No 12 Kuta
Tel: +62-361-751735, Fax: +62-361-754457,
E-mail: swisscon@denpasar.wasantara.net.id

UNITED STATES
Jl. Hayam Wuruk 188, Denpasar
Tel: +62-361-233605,
E-mail: amcobali@indosat.net.id