Health issues and the quality of medical fa­cilities vary enormously depending on where and how you travel in Laos. Travellers tend to worry about contracting infectious dis­eases when in the tropics, but infections are a rare cause of serious illness or death in travellers. Pre-existing medical conditions such as heart disease and accidental injury (especially traffic accidents), account for most life-threatening problems. Becoming ill in some way, however, is relatively com­mon. Fortunately, most common illnesses can either be prevented with common-sense behaviour or be treated easily with a well-stocked traveller's medical kit.

The following advice is a general guide only and does not replace the advice of a doctor trained in travel medicine.