🌏 The Aftermath of Travelling
🛳 From River Cruise to
Hotel Stay
On the final day of our Yangtze River cruise travel
experience, we checked into a luxury hotel in Shanghai. I shared a
room with my elder brother, and though the journey had been exhausting, I
looked forward to a restful night.
😷 A Cough That Spread
That night, my brother’s sporadic coughing echoed through
the room, stealing bits of sleep. Despite the disturbance, I managed to rest
after twelve long days on the river. By morning, however, my the younger
brother had caught the same travel-related flu virus, and his symptoms
quickly worsened.
At Guangzhou Airport, the medical clinic had no
suitable medicine for his condition. Back home, he was eventually given strong
treatment, including antibiotics for flu symptoms. Meanwhile, my elder
brother took a pre-emptive dose of azithromycin and, according to flu
test kits, was soon free from cough and flu.
🤒 My Own Turn
Three days after returning home, I began to feel the
textbook signs of a viral infection after travel: a severe sore throat,
sporadic coughing, and phlegm building up rapidly, making breathing difficult.
A friend mentioned that in the Netherlands, doctors
often avoid prescribing medicine for flu, preferring to let the body fight
naturally. In Malaysia, however, doctors are more sympathetic,
prescribing a range of medicines to ease symptoms.
💊 The Long List of
Remedies
Over the past two weeks, I’ve been prescribed and taking:
- Bromhexine
(for cough relief)
- Loratadine
(antihistamine)
- Triprolidine
HCl
- Acetylcysteine
(phlegm thinner)
- Chlorpheniramine
- Cetirizine
- Panadol
(without antibiotics)
The throat pain has eased, but the phlegm production
after flu continues to linger, with no clear end in sight.
✨ Closing Reflection
Travel often leaves us with unforgettable memories, but
sometimes, the aftermath includes unexpected battles with health. This
experience reminded me that recovery is not always immediate — and that
different countries approach flu treatment in very different ways.
