Insect bites

Symptoms itchy spots or blisters on arms and legs.
Treat with a dose of prevention — use insect repellent and cover up biteable flesh. If you are already too late, calamine lotion and antihistamines should do the trick.
Top tip repellent sprayed on skin lasts only hours. On cotton clothes — kept in plastic bags — it stays active for weeks.

Swimmer’s ear

Symptoms an itchy discharge caused by infection.
Treat with drops containing a combination of antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. This means a trip to the doc.
Top tip it’s a recurring problem, and the bugs responsible love water. Thwart them by using earplugs when swimming or washing your hair.

Prickly heat

Symptoms a rash over limbs and trunk so itchy it drives you bonkers.
Treat by keeping cool — it’s a reaction to sweat. Seek shade, wear loose-fitting clothes and take regular showers. Not much helps the established rash. You can try hydrocortisone 1 per cent cream, which is available over the counter.
Top tip antihistamines don’t work — or if they do, it’s only because they zonk you out..

Blisters

Symptoms crippling fluid- filled blisters caused by friction on the foot, a real hazard on walking holidays.
Treat with blister plasters to reduce friction. Some find applying petroleum jelly to hot-spots prevents trouble as it acts as a lubricant to reduce friction. Pop blisters — with a sterile needle — only if they’re particularly painful, and leave the “roof” on.
Top tip break in new shoes before your hols.

Sunburn

Symptoms the familiar red, itchy, sore misery.
Treat with common sense. Gradually increase your exposure, avoid the most intense hours and use sun protection. Already fried? Stick to the shade for a while and use any cooling lotion.
Top tip sun-burnt docs swear by anti-inflammatory creams or gels such as hydrocortisone 1 per cent or ibuprofen.

Athlete’s foot

Symptoms itchy, sore scaling between the toes, caused by a fungus.
Treat with anti-fungal creams and keep the feet clean and dry.
Top tip check your groin. Men, in particular, are prone to fungal infection there and unless treated it may spread back to the feet.

Insect stings

Symptoms a sudden burning pain resulting in a red, sore lump which goes after a few hours.
Treat with cold compresses and painkillers. Anithistamines help if the sting is particularly itchy.
Top tip remove the bee sting asap.

Travel sickness

Symptoms sweating, pallor, nausea and vomiting.
Treat with hyoscine or antihistamines, available from the chemist. Ginger — a popular folk remedy — may help.
Top tip fix your vision on the horizon, if possible. On a boat or plane, sit near the middle, where the motion is least dramatic. And when food’s served, shut your eyes and nose.

Traveller’s diarrhoea

Symptoms watery diarrhoea, sometimes with nausea, vomiting and belly ache.
Treat with rehydration fluids and over-the-counter anti-diarrhoeals such as loperamide.
Top tip antibiotics aren’t routinely used but can help severe attacks. If you’re particularly prone, or going to a high-risk area, your GP might supply them.

Holiday heart

Symptoms palpitations, may be with dizziness, shortness of breath or chest pain. Booze binges trigger an abnormal heart rhythm.
Treat with an urgent dash to A&E.
Top tip go easy on the juice so you don’t spend your holidays in an English ER.