Staying Healthy in the Philippines: Hygiene, Disease Prevention, and Medical Safety 🏥💧☀️

By Rob, 2025.

Living or traveling in the Philippines is an incredible experience, but the tropical climate, high humidity, and variable sanitation standards mean that proper hygiene and disease prevention are essential. If you’re not careful, you could end up with infections, food poisoning, or worse – serious illnesses.

Here’s everything you need to know about staying healthy, clean, and safe from medical complications in the Philippines.

💦 Drinking Water Safety – Avoid Contaminated Water

One of the biggest risks to foreigners is drinking unsafe water. Water sources, especially near coastal towns, islands, and beachfront areas, often contain high levels of salt, bacteria, and contaminants.

🚨 What You Need to Know About Water Safety:

🚱 DO NOT drink tap water. It is not treated for safe consumption.
🚰 Always drink bottled or purified water. Buy from trusted brands like Wilkins, Summit, or Nature’s Spring.
🚫 Avoid ice cubes in drinks unless you know they are made from purified water.
⚠️ Be careful in beachside areas. Water near the ocean can be salty and contaminated with bacteria from poor sewage systems.

✅ How to Get Safe Drinking Water:

• Buy refillable purified water containers (available at most convenience stores).
• Use a water filter or purification tablets if staying long-term.
• If unsure, boil water for at least 5 minutes before drinking.

💡 Tip: Even brushing your teeth with tap water can cause stomach issues – use purified water instead.

🍛 Food Hygiene – Avoid Food Poisoning & Stomach Issues

Filipino food is delicious, but improper food handling can lead to foodborne illnesses like E. coli, salmonella, and amoebiasis.

🚨 What to Watch Out For:

🥡 Street Food: While tasty, it’s often prepared in unsanitary conditions. Choose stalls that look clean and have a lot of customers.
🥩 Undercooked Meat & Seafood: Always ensure chicken, pork, and seafood are well-cooked – undercooked food can contain parasites.
🥬 Unwashed Fruits & Vegetables: Always wash fresh produce with purified water before eating.
🥚 Eggs & Dairy: These spoil quickly in the heat. Avoid buying from street vendors.

✅ How to Eat Safely:

• Eat freshly cooked meals instead of food sitting out too long.
• If unsure, stick to restaurants with good reviews or ask locals where they eat.
• Carry anti-diarrheal medication and activated charcoal for emergencies.

💡 Tip: If you suddenly get diarrhea or vomiting, rehydrate with ORS (Oral Rehydration Salts) and seek medical help if symptoms persist.

🦟 Mosquito-Borne Diseases – Dengue, Malaria, and More

The Philippines has a high risk of mosquito-borne diseases, including Dengue Fever, Malaria, and Chikungunya.

🚨 How to Protect Yourself:

🦟 Use Mosquito Repellent. Get a DEET-based repellent like OFF! Lotion or Baygon Sprays.
👕 Wear Long Sleeves & Pants. Especially in areas with stagnant water or heavy vegetation.
🏠 Sleep Under a Mosquito Net. This is a must in rural areas.
💧 Eliminate Standing Water. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, so avoid leaving water containers open.

💡 Tip: Dengue has no cure – if you have a high fever, severe body aches, and skin rashes, go to a hospital immediately.

💉 Infections & Wound Care – Avoiding Serious Complications

In the tropics, small cuts and scratches can become serious infections quickly due to humidity, bacteria, and poor sanitation.

🚨 How to Prevent Infections:

🩹 Clean wounds immediately with antiseptic (Betadine or Alcohol).
⚠️ Avoid swimming in dirty water if you have an open wound – it can become infected with bacteria or parasites.
💊 Use antibiotic cream and cover wounds to prevent further contamination.
👣 Watch for foot infections. Walking barefoot can lead to fungal infections or parasitic worms.

💡 Tip: If a wound starts swelling, oozing, or smelling bad, seek medical attention immediately – it may be a serious infection.

🏥 Healthcare – What to Do If You Get Sick

The healthcare system in the Philippines is not like Western countries.

🚨 What You Need to Know:

• Public hospitals are overcrowded and have limited resources.
• Private hospitals are much better but expensive without insurance.
• Many local pharmacies sell fake or expired medications – only buy from trusted chains like Mercury Drug or Watsons.

✅ How to Stay Safe:

💳 Get health insurance if staying long-term.
🏥 Go to private hospitals like St. Luke’s, Makati Medical Center, or The Medical City for better care.
🛒 Stock up on personal medications – some Western medicines are hard to find.

💡 Tip: If you get seriously ill, consider flying to Thailand or Singapore for better medical treatment.

🚽 Restrooms & Sanitation – What to Expect

Toilets in the Philippines are not always what you’re used to.

🚨 What to Expect:

🚻 Many public restrooms don’t have toilet paper – carry tissues or baby wipes.
🚽 Some toilets don’t flush properly – you might have to use a bucket of water to flush manually.
💧 Some places only have bidets – Filipinos prefer washing over wiping.

💡 Tip: Always carry hand sanitizer – many public restrooms don’t have soap.

🚨 Common Diseases & How to Avoid Them

Here are some common illnesses foreigners get in the Philippines and how to prevent them:

✅ Final Tips to Stay Healthy in the Philippines

💧 ONLY drink bottled or purified water.
🦟 Protect yourself from mosquito bites.
🍛 Eat fresh, well-cooked food.
🚿 Shower daily & maintain good hygiene.
🏥 Go to private hospitals for serious medical needs.
🩹 Treat wounds immediately to prevent infection.

💡 Final Thought: Staying healthy in the Philippines requires awareness, hygiene, and a little preparation. By following these tips, you can enjoy the country safely and avoid unnecessary medical complications.

📢 Have you experienced any health issues while in the Philippines? Drop your experiences in the comments below! 👇