Health Tips

While there are a few health risks to travelers to Cambodia, problems can be easily avoided with a little common sense, and most travelers to Cambodia will have any health problems more serious than an a bit of an upset stomach.

Traffic accidents are a risk for travelers, but while Cambodian traffic can be chaotic, it is not nearly as busy as Thailand or Vietnam. Cambodians generally drive at a more leisurely pace, though they are still found of overtaking on blind corners. Hiring a car and driver is the safest way to travel. Renting a motorbike is only recommended for experienced riders, it is cheap to hire a tuk tuk or moto and you are much safer with an experienced local rider.

Contact Lenses wearers beware- Cambodia is very dry and dusty in the dry season. Contact lenses can be a problem especially if you are travelling by tuk tuk or moto- bring your glasses.

Phnom Pehn and Siem Reap have the best hospitals and doctors in Cambodia. Ask an embassy or up market hotel to recommend a local doctor or clinic. Medical treatment is not expensive costing around $20 for a consultation plus the cost of medicines. You might need to pay in advance and collect from your travel insurance later. If you are in an urban area visit a private doctor rather than the hospital which may have less than adequate equipment, staff training and hygiene standards. For serious illness it is advised to go to Phnom Penh, Siem Reap or Bangkok for treatment.

If you need dental work while in Cambodia, there is no need to go to Thailand, as Phnom Penh has a few world class dental clinics. There are a lot of smaller dental clinics everywhere which you can recognize by the picture of the big tooth out the front, I can’t recommend having work down there, but the larger international dentist clinics have impeccable hygiene standards, the latest equipment and charge up to 2 or 3 times less than your dentist at home. I personally recommend the European Dental Clinic, I would say their standard of treatment is higher than most Western dentists.

European Dental Clinic
Nº. 160A, Norodom, Tonle Bassak, Chamkarmon, PP
12302 Phnom Penh, Cambodia
023 211 363
023 362 656

Food and Water
Don’t drink the tap water in Cambodia- drink only bottled water which is available everywhere. You should also brush your teeth with bottled water, though if you forget once or twice you should live! Some people find it easier to rinse the brush under the tap after brushing then let the brush dry or rinse in bottled water.

It is generally safe to consume ice in restaurants- ice is usually factory produced from bottled water. When you are offered a drink of water in a restaurant it will be bottled water- locals don’t drink the tap water and they are not likely to offer it to you. Be more careful if you are in remote area where it might be safer to ask for no ice, and drink water from a bottle or drink tea- which has been boiled and should be safe.

The old rule of boil it, cook it, peel it or forget it doesn’t hold much sway any more. Hygiene has improved in Cambodia these days and salads are delicious in Cambodia- you are really missing out if you don’t try them.

Food at roadside stalls is generally safe if it looks clean and is freshly cooked which is usually is. Surprisingly it is most often the fancy expensive restaurant where you will pick up a nasty dose of food poisoning- anywhere which isn’t busy and may serve food which was prepared a day or more ago is a risk. If you do get food poisoning it probably won’t be too serious, drink plenty of fluids and you should be fine again in a couple of days.

Most cases of traveler’s food poisoning can be traced back to inadequate refrigeration- you will see meat for sale on hot days without refrigeration- hanging from hooks- sometimes sitting on fast melting ice.

Restaurants that look clean and are busy are generally safe, a high turnover of food means everything is fresh, and recently prepared..

Be wary of buffets and any food or salad that is prepared and sat around for awhile
Be wary of mayonnaise, I suspect that most bottles of mayonnaise in Cambodia have never atually seen the inside of a refrigerator.
Avoid eating seafood unless you are close the ocean or river where it was caught
Be wary of shellfish- eatin undercooked shellfish can have some nasty consequences.

Here are some of Cambodia’s exotic tropical diseases that you are unlikely to catch if you can remember to be just a little bit sensible….

Malaria
There is no malaria in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap or most urban areas of Cambodia. Travelers on short trips to urban areas only are generally advised that malaria medication isn’t necessary. Malaria is a serious disease and you should seek medical advice, especially if you are travelling to rural areas where malaria medication is recommended. Remember the best prevention for malaria is preventing the mosquitoes from biting you.

Use mosquito repellent containing Deet for protection of up to 4 hours. You can buy mosquito repellent in Cambodia but it might be difficult to tell what concentration of Deet it contains- may be easier to bring mosquito repellent from home. Prolonged exposure to Deet may be harmful especially to children. Natural mosquito repellant is available- again it is easier to buy this at home before you leave. Remember that natural mosquito repellant will need to applied every hour to be effective.

Mosquito coils are found in almost every small shop in Cambodia. Restaurants in Cambodia are usually outdoors and often they will light a mosquito coil under your table when you sit down. If not, and the mosquitoes are collecting around your ankles, ask if they have a mosquito coil, or light your own.

You can buy mosquito nets in any market in the larger cities, if you are heading to a remote area, get one before you go. If you are spending $15 or upwards per night for accommodation you shouldn’t need a mosquito net. If you are staying in budget accommodation you might want to bring your own net, many guesthouses will supply mosquito nets, but they might be holey- bring your own or a needle and thread.

Sihanoukville is considered an urban area and very low risk for malaria, but the islands off the coast have a higher risk, if you want to stay the night on one of the islands- and there are some charming beachside bungalows- take some mossie coils and repellent.

Dengue
Dengue is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes that are mostly bite during the day. Travelers are generally considered at low risk of contracting dengue in Cambodia. The risk is increased during Dengue epidemics, these most often occur during and just after the wet season so be extra careful to avoid bites at these times. There is no prevention for the disease other than avoiding being bitten.

Rabies
Rabies is a problem in Cambodia, usually carried by wild dogs or monkeys. A bite or lick from an infected animal can spread the disease. Avoid being bitten by wild animals and if bitten wash with soap and water and apply an iodine based antiseptic, then see a doctor.