Planning a tropical holiday? It's important to know the risks of catching parasitical diseases before you head and how to avoid falling ill when we travel, we have visions of adventure—tropical beaches and rainforests, wading in lakes and hiking on trails through streams and rivers—all to escape our regular lives.

None of us, however, envision parasites lurking in the flowing water or behind a salad leaf. Do you ever think about the after-effects of a mosquito bite or the consequences of stroking a camel, elephant or stray dog? If you don’t, the following information and recommendations will make you think twice.