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What is troubling you? Common holiday illnesses Through the year Why travel makes you ill Staying well Ill on holiday? When to see a doctor After you get home When to get in-person care Can an online doctor help? Travel health tools Conditions How Mobi Doctor works Frequently asked questions Sources
Dr. Chrysoula I. Liakou MD, PhD
- Treated online: Yes, for most holiday illnesses, including sunburn, rashes, bites and stings, travellers’ diarrhoea, travel sickness and jet lag. The doctor tells you when you need in-person care.
- Summer trips: heat exhaustion, sunburn, heat rash, sun allergy, insect bites, jellyfish and weever fish stings, and stomach upsets.
- Winter trips: frostbite, chilblains, cold urticaria, snow blindness, altitude sickness, sprained ankles and winter viruses.
- Any journey: travel sickness, jet lag and painful ears on landing can affect any trip, in any season.
- Emergency: call 112 for signs of heatstroke, a severe allergic reaction, confusion or breathlessness at rest at altitude, or frozen, hard skin after severe cold.
Call 112 or go to an emergency department if someone becomes confused, collapses or has a seizure in the heat; has swelling of the lips, mouth or throat or difficulty breathing after a sting, a bite or a meal; is confused, unsteady or breathless at rest at altitude; has skin that is hard and frozen after severe cold; is vomiting blood; has chest pain or sudden breathlessness after a long flight; or has a large or deep wound, or bleeding that will not stop.
What is troubling you?
Choose the problem that bothers you most. Each page covers the usual causes, what helps, and what a doctor can do.
- Headache and nausea up highAltitude sickness
- Nausea in a car, boat or planeTravel sickness
- Tired and awake at night after a flightJet lag
- Hot, weak and dizzy in the heatHeat exhaustion and heatstroke
- Red, sore skin after the sunSunburn and sun poisoning
- An itchy rash in the heat or sunHeat rash or sun allergy
- Diarrhoea on holidayTravellers’ diarrhoea
- Itchy bites after a night awayBed bug bites
- A sting at the beachJellyfish, weever fish or sea urchin
- A twisted, swollen ankleSprained or broken ankle
- Painful ears after a flight or diveEar barotrauma
- Cold, numb or itchy fingers and toesFrostbite or chilblains
Which illnesses are common on holiday?
In summer, most holiday illnesses come from the sun and heat, the sea, insects and food. In winter, they come from the cold, snow, altitude and winter viruses. Travel sickness, jet lag and painful ears on landing can affect any trip. Most can be managed with self-care and a doctor’s advice by video.
| When | Common problems | Usual cause | Read more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer: sun and heat | Sunburn, heat rash, sun allergy, heat exhaustion | Strong sun and high temperatures, especially in southern Europe | Sunburn Heat rash Sun allergy Heat exhaustion |
| Summer: sea and countryside | Jellyfish and weever fish stings, sea urchin spines, insect bites and stings | Beaches, shallow water, gardens and walks | Jellyfish stings Weever fish stings Horsefly bites Bee stings |
| Any time: food and water | Travellers’ diarrhoea, food poisoning | Contaminated food and water | Travellers’ diarrhoea Food poisoning |
| Winter: cold and snow | Frostbite, chilblains, cold urticaria, snow blindness | Cold, wind, damp, and sunlight reflected off snow | Frostbite Chilblains Cold urticaria Snow blindness |
| Winter: mountains and slopes | Altitude sickness, sprained ankles | Fast ascents above 2,500 metres, falls and twists | Altitude sickness Sprained ankle |
| Winter: viruses | Colds, flu, COVID-19 | Viruses that spread more in the colder months | Cold Flu COVID-19 |
| Any trip: the journey | Travel sickness, jet lag, ear pain on landing | Motion, time zones and changes in cabin pressure | Travel sickness Jet lag Ear barotrauma |
| Any trip: where you stay | Bed bug bites, athlete’s foot | Shared beds, showers and pools | Bed bug bites Athlete’s foot |
| Any trip: animals | Dog and cat bites, and rabies risk | Contact with stray and wild animals | Animal bites |
When are holiday illnesses most common in Europe?
It depends on the season. Flu epidemics run between November and April, sandflies bite around the Mediterranean from April to November, most West Nile virus infections happen between July and September, and weever fish are on UK beaches from June to October. Sun, heat and stomach upsets dominate the summer, and cold, snow and altitude the winter.
| When | What to watch for | Where | Read more |
|---|---|---|---|
| November to April | Flu epidemics, lasting about 4 months overall across Europe, alongside colds and COVID-19 | Everywhere | Flu Cold COVID-19 |
| Winter sports season | Frostbite, chilblains, cold urticaria, snow blindness, altitude sickness and sprained ankles | Mountains and ski resorts | Frostbite Snow blindness Altitude sickness |
| April to November | Sandfly bites, and sandfly fever from April, peaking by September | Mainly Mediterranean countries | Sandfly bites |
| Spring and summer | Sun allergy rashes, which are more common in spring and summer | Sunny holidays | Sun allergy |
| May to October | Compass jellyfish from May and weever fish from June, both until October | UK and Irish beaches | Jellyfish stings Weever fish stings |
| July to September | Most West Nile virus infections, from mosquito bites; about 80% cause no symptoms | Southern, eastern and western Europe | Mosquito bites |
| Summer | Heat exhaustion, sunburn, heat rash, and travellers’ diarrhoea, which affects 8 to 20% of travellers to southern Europe | Southern Europe especially | Heat exhaustion Travellers’ diarrhoea |
| Autumn and winter | Leishmaniasis from sandfly bites, with cases often peaking in these months | Mediterranean countries | Sandfly bites |
Why do I get ill when I travel?
Because a trip changes several things at once: new germs in food and water, close contact with crowds in airports and planes, broken sleep across time zones, and more sun, heat and activity than usual. A few people also fall ill as soon as they stop working, which researchers call leisure sickness.
- Food and water: 30 to 70% of travellers worldwide get travellers’ diarrhoea during a two-week trip, against up to 7% of travellers to western Europe and 8 to 20% to southern Europe.
- Planes and airports: sitting close to other passengers raises the risk of catching a respiratory infection, most of all while boarding and leaving the plane. Cabin air passes through filters that capture 99.97% of particles, but it is dry, at 10 to 20% humidity, which dries the airways and eyes.
- Sleep and time zones: jet lag disturbs sleep, concentration and digestion in the first days after flying across time zones.
- Sun, heat and new activities: sunburn, heat exhaustion, stings and sprains follow days of more sun and activity than the body is used to.
What is leisure sickness?
Some people fall ill at weekends or on holiday, as soon as they stop working. In a Dutch survey of nearly 1,900 adults, about 3% recognised the pattern on holiday, most often with headaches or migraine, tiredness, muscle pain, nausea, and colds or flu-like illness. It was linked to a heavy workload, a strong sense of responsibility for work and difficulty switching off. A doctor can check that nothing else explains the symptoms.
How to stay well on holiday
A few habits prevent most holiday illnesses. These are the steps doctors suggest most often:
- Respect the sun and heat Stay in the shade in the middle of the day, use a sunscreen of SPF 30 or more with high UVA protection, drink regularly, and plan walks for the cooler hours.
- Choose food and drink with care Wash your hands before eating, and where hygiene is poor choose freshly cooked hot food and sealed drinks. Check whether the tap water is safe.
- Protect your skin and feet Cover up and use insect repellent outdoors, wear water shoes on sandy and rocky beaches, and flip-flops in shared showers.
- Prepare for cold and height Dress in warm, waterproof layers, wear goggles or wraparound sunglasses on snow, and climb slowly above 2,500 metres.
Pack a small kit: paracetamol or ibuprofen, oral rehydration sachets, an antihistamine, sunscreen, insect repellent, plasters, and your regular medicines in their original packaging with a copy of the prescription. The medication checker shows what to carry with each medicine you take abroad.
What should I do if I get ill on holiday?
In an emergency, call 112, the free emergency number available everywhere in the EU, from any phone. For everything else, start with a pharmacist or a doctor by video, and keep your health insurance card and travel insurance details with you.
| Situation | Who to contact | What to have ready |
|---|---|---|
| Chest pain, difficulty breathing, collapse, signs of heatstroke or a severe allergic reaction | 112: the operator can locate you, and often answers in English | Your location if you know it, and your medicines |
| A minor problem: a cold, mild sunburn, a few bites or a mild stomach upset | A pharmacist, or a doctor by video | The names of the medicines you take |
| A rash, an infected bite, diarrhoea that is not settling, or a question about your medicines | A doctor by video | Photos of the problem, where you have travelled, and your medicines |
| A possible fracture, a deep cut, or a wound that needs stitches or dressings | A local clinic or an emergency department | Your EHIC or UK GHIC, and your travel insurance details |
| Too ill to travel home, or to start a trip | A doctor, for an assessment and the letter your insurer asks for | Your booking and insurance details |
The free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), and the UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) for UK residents, give access to medically necessary state healthcare during a temporary stay, under the same conditions and at the same cost as people insured there. Neither card covers private healthcare or the cost of getting home, the UK card does not cover mountain rescue, and neither replaces travel insurance. If illness stops a trip, the Too ill to travel page explains the doctor’s letter insurers ask for.
When should I see a doctor about a holiday illness?
Book a consultation if:
- diarrhoea has not improved after 3 days, or comes with blood in the stool or a temperature of 38°C or more
- a bite, a sting or a burn becomes hot, red, swollen or more painful over the following days
- the swelling around a bite or sting is more than about 10 cm across
- a rash after time in the sun or heat has not settled after a few days
- your ears are still blocked a few days after a flight
- you are pregnant, have a long-term condition, or take regular medicines and want to know how a trip or an illness affects them
Can a holiday illness start after I get home?
Yes. Some travel illnesses only show up days, weeks or months after a trip, so tell any doctor you see where you have been. These are the ones to know:
| Symptom after a trip | What it can mean | How soon to get help |
|---|---|---|
| A painful, swollen calf, or chest pain or breathlessness, after a journey of more than 4 hours | A blood clot in the leg, which can travel to the lungs | Chest pain or breathlessness: call 112. A painful, swollen leg: get medical advice the same day |
| Diarrhoea lasting more than 2 weeks | A parasite, among other causes | Book a consultation, and say where you travelled |
| A round or oval rash spreading from a tick bite, usually 1 to 4 weeks later but up to 3 months | Lyme disease | Book a consultation |
| A sore on exposed skin that will not heal after a Mediterranean trip | Leishmaniasis of the skin, passed on by sandflies | Book a consultation |
| A high temperature, sweats or shivers within a year of visiting a country with malaria | Malaria, which usually starts 7 to 18 days after the bite | Urgently: get medical advice the same day |
Worldwide, an estimated 700,000 to 1 million people get leishmaniasis each year, and about 95% of skin cases occur in the Americas, the Mediterranean basin, the Middle East and central Asia.
When to get in-person care
Call 112 or go to an emergency department now for:
- confusion, collapse, a seizure, or hot skin that has stopped sweating after time in the heat
- swelling of the lips, mouth or throat, or difficulty breathing, after a sting, a bite or a meal
- confusion, unsteadiness or breathlessness at rest at altitude
- skin that is hard and frozen, or blistered, after severe cold
- vomiting blood, a stiff neck with pain in bright light, or a sudden, severe headache or tummy ache
- chest pain or sudden breathlessness after a long flight
- a large or deep wound, or bleeding that will not stop
Get medical advice the same day for:
- a bite, a scratch or a lick on broken skin from an animal that could carry rabies, which needs help immediately
- blood in the stool, a temperature of 38°C or more, or being unable to keep fluids down
- a painful, swollen calf after a long journey
- a sting in the mouth, the throat or near the eye
- a fever during or after a trip to the tropics
Mobi Doctor consultations are for adults aged 18 and over. A child who is unwell needs a paediatrician or a local doctor in person, and emergency signs in a child mean 112.
Can an online doctor treat travel illnesses?
Yes, for most of them. Sunburn, rashes, bites and stings, travellers’ diarrhoea, travel sickness, jet lag and blocked ears are assessed mainly from your story and from what the doctor sees on camera. Heatstroke, frostbite, deep wounds, a possible rabies exposure and fractures need care in person, and the doctor tells you where to go.
What the doctor can do online
The doctor listens, looks at any photos you share and decides with you what helps. If a medicine is the right answer, the doctor prescribes it. If you need an examination, a test or urgent care, the doctor tells you where to go.
- Warning signs checked first Heatstroke, severe allergic reactions, dehydration and the signs of a fracture or a serious infection are checked first, and you are sent to the right care if any is likely.
- Treatment that suits the trip The doctor takes your destination, your plans and your other medicines into account before suggesting anything.
- A plan for the days ahead What to expect, when you should feel better, and which signs mean you should be seen in person.
- Help before you go Advice on preventing altitude sickness, travel sickness and jet lag, and on managing a long-term condition on the trip.
Unwell on your trip and not sure what to do? A doctor can tell you in one consultation.
See available times →Travel health tools
Free tools on Mobi Doctor help you plan before you go and while you are away:
- European Travel Health HubDestination guides, medication paperwork and fit-to-fly rules for trips in Europe
- Climate Health IndexDaily heat, UV, pollen and air quality scores for European cities
- European Travel Health IndexDestinations rated on summer heat, mosquitoes, tap water and access to doctors
- Medication checkerWhich medicines you can take abroad, and what to carry with them
- Fit-to-fly checkerWhether your airline needs a certificate after surgery or a fracture, or in pregnancy
- Too ill to travelThe doctor’s letter your insurer asks for when illness stops a trip
- Flu trackerHow much flu, COVID-19 and RSV is going around
- Am I still contagious?How long you are likely to stay contagious, from the day your symptoms started
Travel and holiday illnesses
Most of these can be assessed and treated online. Each page covers the symptoms, what helps, and the signs that need in-person care.
Summer: sun and heat
Summer: sea, insects and animals
- Jellyfish and sea urchin stingsFirst aid, and why vinegar is not always right
- Weever fish stingsSevere pain from a fish in the sand, and hot water
- Mosquito bitesItchy bites, and when a bite needs a doctor
- Horsefly bitesLarge, painful bites and the signs of infection
- Bee stingsRemoving the sting and spotting an allergic reaction
- Wasp stingsPain, swelling and allergic reactions
- Tick bitesRemoving a tick, and the signs of Lyme disease
- Animal bitesDog and cat bites, infection and rabies risk
Winter: cold, snow and mountains
- FrostbiteFrostnip, frostbite and safe first aid
- ChilblainsItchy, red or purple toes after the cold
- Cold urticariaHives from cold air and water
- Snow blindnessPainful, gritty eyes after a day on the snow
- Altitude sicknessPrevention, symptoms and when to go down
- Sprained ankleSprain or break, and recovery times
Winter: colds and flu
Any trip: journeys, hotels and food
- Travel sicknessTablets, patches and what works
- Jet lagDaylight, sleep and how long it lasts
- Ear barotraumaEar pain after flying or diving
- Travellers’ diarrhoeaHow long it lasts, fluids and when antibiotics help
- Food poisoningSickness and diarrhoea after a bad meal
- NorovirusA fast-spreading stomach bug
- Bed bug bitesItchy bites in a line, and checking your room
- Athlete’s footItchy, peeling skin between the toes
How Mobi Doctor works
- Book a time that suits you: daily 7am–11pm CEST. You can see a doctor over video, usually within 15 minutes. No subscription, and the exact price is shown before you pay.
- Speak to a licensed doctor about your symptoms: say where you are or have travelled and when it started, and show the problem on camera if it is on your skin, eyes or ankle.
- Leave with a plan: what to do, what to take and for how long, and which signs mean you should be seen in person. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
No sign-up needed
Frequently asked questions about travel illnesses
What are the most common holiday illnesses?
In summer: sunburn, heat rash, heat exhaustion, insect bites and stings, jellyfish stings and travellers’ diarrhoea. In winter: colds and flu, chilblains, frostbite, snow blindness, altitude sickness and sprained ankles. Travel sickness, jet lag and ear pain on landing can affect any trip.
Can I see a doctor online while I am on holiday?
Yes. Licensed doctors on Mobi Doctor are available by video daily 7am–11pm CEST, wherever you are staying in Europe. If the doctor prescribes, you can use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
What should I pack in a travel medical kit?
Paracetamol or ibuprofen, oral rehydration sachets, an antihistamine, sunscreen, insect repellent, plasters, and your regular medicines in their original packaging with a copy of the prescription. Add travel sickness medicine if you need it.
What should I do if I get diarrhoea on holiday?
Drink plenty of safe fluids, and use oral rehydration solution if you are losing a lot. Most travellers’ diarrhoea settles within 3 to 4 days. Get medical advice for blood in the stool, a temperature of 38°C or more, or diarrhoea that is not improving after 3 days.
How do I avoid heat exhaustion and sunburn on holiday?
Stay in the shade in the middle of the day, drink regularly, wear light, loose clothing and a hat, and use a sunscreen of SPF 30 or more with high UVA protection. Plan walks and sightseeing for the cooler hours.
What should I do if an animal bites me abroad?
Wash the wound with soap and water for at least a quarter of an hour, then get medical help immediately in the country where you are, because rabies treatment must start promptly. Do not wait for symptoms.
Which travel illnesses need emergency care?
Call 112 for signs of heatstroke, a severe allergic reaction, confusion or breathlessness at rest at altitude, frozen skin after severe cold, chest pain or sudden breathlessness after a long flight, and large wounds or bleeding that will not stop.
Can I get a prescription for travel sickness or altitude sickness before I go?
Yes, when it suits you. A doctor can assess your trip and your health by video and prescribe a medicine to prevent travel sickness or altitude sickness when it is right for you. A prescription is never issued without a consultation.
What should I do if I get ill on holiday?
In an emergency, call 112, the free emergency number available everywhere in the EU. For anything else, see a pharmacist or a doctor by video, and keep your EHIC or UK GHIC and your travel insurance details with you in case you need a clinic or a hospital.
Why do I get ill when I travel?
A trip brings new germs in food and water, close contact with crowds in airports and planes, broken sleep across time zones, and more sun and activity than usual. A few people fall ill as soon as they stop working, a pattern called leisure sickness.
Does the EHIC replace travel insurance?
No. The EHIC, and the UK GHIC, give access to medically necessary state healthcare during a temporary stay, under the same conditions and at the same cost as people insured there, but they do not cover private healthcare or the cost of getting home.
Where can I check the health risks at my destination?
The European Travel Health Hub on Mobi Doctor has destination guides covering tap water, summer heat, mosquitoes, vaccinations and the emergency number, and the Climate Health Index shows daily heat and UV scores for European cities.
- Travellers’ diarrhoea, TravelHealthPro, National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC), UK.
- Heat exhaustion and heatstroke, NHS, National Health Service (UK).
- Sunscreen and sun safety, NHS, National Health Service (UK).
- High-altitude travel and altitude illness, CDC Yellow Book, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US).
- Frostbite, NHS, National Health Service (UK).
- Rabies fact sheet, WHO, World Health Organization.
- Insect bites and stings, NHS, National Health Service (UK).
- 112: the European emergency number, European Commission, updated 23 June 2026.
- European Health Insurance Card, European Commission.
- Apply for a free UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 12 December 2023.
- Air travel, CDC Yellow Book 2026, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 23 April 2025.
- Jet lag disorder, CDC Yellow Book 2026, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 23 April 2025.
- Travelers’ diarrhea, CDC Yellow Book 2026, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 24 March 2026.
- Leisure sickness: a pilot study on its prevalence, phenomenology and background, Vingerhoets AJJM et al., Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 2002.
- Seasonal influenza: factsheet, ECDC, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, 2022.
- Phlebotomine sand flies: factsheet for experts, ECDC, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
- West Nile virus infection: facts, ECDC, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
- Polymorphic light eruption, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 10 June 2025.
- Compass jellyfish, The Wildlife Trusts.
- Lesser weever fish, The Wildlife Trusts.
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 30 April 2026.
- Lyme disease, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 3 June 2025.
- Leishmaniasis: fact sheet, WHO, World Health Organization, 12 January 2023.
- Malaria, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 29 July 2025.
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for a medical consultation. Guideline links are provided for transparency; treatment decisions are made with your doctor.
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Read article →Speak to a doctor about a holiday illness over video, usually within 15 minutes
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