Deborah Mills, a well known doctor-cum-author in the travel medicine sector, has switched channels and unveiled a mobile application for those who fall ill on holiday.
The new extension to the dog-eared healthy travelling guidebook features a series of areas that allow travellers to identify health complaints and establish what they should do next.
The Travel Health app is categorised into top-level segments including symptom search, first aid advice and common complaints associated with travel.
Users are prompted to self-diagnose to a certain level until the system suggests that medical treatment be sought or advice given on drugs to be taken.
Launched in mid-February 2010, the paid-for iPhone and iTouch app has already secured 5,000 downloads and follows the success of Mills's travel book Travelling Book.
Colleague Dr Nelson Lau says:
"At this stage, we have chosen not to include any location specific features as we wanted it to be fully functional even when travelers have no access to wi-fi or a phone network, which is commonly the case when traveling in remote or third world countries."
Versions of the app in the future are expected to include sections on exotic travel medicine diseases, things to do before travel, what to do when returning home and still feeling unwell, video tutorials and translators.