Your health is more at risk in Cambodia than most other parts of Southeast Asia, due to poor sanitation and a lack of effective medical treatment facilities. Once you venture into rural areas you should consider yourself very much on your own, as even where pharmacies and hospitals are available you may have trouble making yourself understood.

If you feel particularly unwell, try to see a doctor rather than visit a hospital; hospitals are pretty primitive and diagnosis can be hit and miss. If you Call seriously ill in Cambodia you should return to Phnom Penh, as it is the only place in the country with decent emergency treatment. Pharmacies in the larger towns are remarkably well stocked and you don't need a prescription to get your hands on anything from antibiotics to antimalarials. Prices are very reasonable, but do check the expiry date, as some medicine may have been on the shelves for a long time.

Don't let this make you paranoid. Travel health depends on your level of predeparture preparation, your daily health care while travelling and how you handle any medical problem that may develop. While the potential dangers can seem quite frightening, in reality few travellers experience anything more than upset stomachs.