Gap year and nut allergies - advice needed

[bellafraebuchan]

Help.....DS waiting for A2 results and taking a gap year next year as no idea what he wants to do. Is doing 3 month cookery course at local college with a view to finding a job, saving some money and going on a Borneo/rainforest/Belize trip for 6 weeks or so. No problem with this, but am very worried about his peanut and tree nut allergies for which he carries epi pens and has had moderate to severe attacks. In addition the poor guy has asthma/exzema - all in all a very allergic child.......am I wrong to think that remote trip is a seriously bad idea. I don't want to stop him doing something he would love to do, but no point if he's going to struggle with his health.

Can anyone tell me what health care is like on any of these jungle trips and what food is eaten. Contacting the companies doesn't always give you the whole picture.....am I being mad to entertain the whole idea? As with any teenager, he hates the idea of his health preventing him doing something. The army, his preferred career won't take him because of his health!

[FantaSea]

Hello there, I have a DD also waiting for A2 results, and who also has asthma and severe allergies so I know what a worry it all can be. DD always thinks everything is going to be 'fine', and like your DS refuses to let it get in the way of anything, which is good on the one hand, but very worrying on the other.

She has some friends who have done the world challenge this year to Borneo - I had the impression that is in the middle of nowhere far away from any civilisation, but in reality, the ones who went this year said that they were reassured before they went that they are in contact with a crew who can organise an air ambulance to reach them quickly at any of the remote destinations they go to, and that good hospitals are actually very accessible.

What did concern me though was the diet - DD said that they had said they ate mostly fruit, which she said was a problem for most of the boys who didn't normally eat any fruit!

Hope that helps a little, and good luck for results.

[WaxyDaisy]

I had a friend who was turned down at the last minute for his gap year abroad because they would not take the risk of his severe nut allergy. Insurance I think. It's worth him asking the question early of the organising company, as it was awful having hopes dashed at the last minute.

[specialsubject]

there are plenty of other places to go and things to see, and it can all be done a lot cheaper than with these tour companies. He could get a six month holiday for what these six weeks will cost, see a lot more and learn a lot more.

I would say first stop is the travel insurers to see what cover he can get with his pre-existing conditions. And also what the situation is with malaria prophylaxis.

[bellafraebuchan]

Thank you so much for replying - I still find it amazing that you take the time to come back to strangers with very helpful advice. Off to get the results in a few minutes - that will help to clear up what DS can and can't do next year.

[specialsubject]

nice one. There is a lot of world out there that can be seen even with health restrictions.

[nostress]

Hi, I did my postgrad study in a rainforest in Belize. I have asthma and it wasn't a problem at all (none of my normal allergens there). I went traveling round some of the mountains in Guatemala and it was bad there (altitude I think).

Anyhow we were pretty deep and that was about two hours drive in a landrover to the nearest 'town'.

A member of the party got bitten by a snake and was picked up by a british army military helicopter as they had a base there.

Enjoyed every minute!

[nostress]

Oh yes in Belize the food is Caribbean/mexican. So fried chicken, rice and peas, refried beans, stewed beans, fish, plantain and lots and lots of hit sauce...

[nostress]

*hot