Common Holiday Ailments in Spain — Symptoms & First-Line Treatment

Most holiday illnesses in Spain are predictable and treatable without an ER visit. Here's a field guide to the most common ones, what to do at home, and the warning signs that mean you need a doctor.

Sunburn

Spain's UV index in summer (Ibiza, Costa del Sol, Canarias, Mallorca) regularly hits 9–11 — extreme. Even careful tourists get caught out.

Treatment:

• Cool, not cold, compresses or a cool shower (cold water makes blood vessels constrict and worsens damage)
• Aftersun with aloe vera, generously and often. Pharmacy aftersun is fine; fancy brands aren't necessary.
• Oral ibuprofen (400 mg every 6–8 hours, with food) — reduces pain and inflammation
• Hydrate aggressively — sunburn pulls fluid out of you
• Loose, breathable cotton clothing over the burned area
• Don't pop blisters. They protect the skin underneath. If they pop on their own, clean gently and cover with non-stick gauze.

See a doctor if: widespread blistering, fever above 38°C, signs of infection (pus, expanding redness), severe pain unresponsive to ibuprofen, or sunburn on a young child.

Heat exhaustion and heat stroke

Spain hits 35–42°C in inland summer (Sevilla, Madrid, Valencia, Mallorca interior). Heat exhaustion comes first; heat stroke is a medical emergency.

Heat exhaustion: heavy sweating, weakness, nausea, headache, dizziness. Body temp slightly elevated (under 39°C). Move to a cool place, drink fluids with electrolytes, lie down with feet elevated. Should improve in 20–30 minutes.

Heat stroke: confusion, possible loss of consciousness, hot dry skin (sweating may stop), body temp 40°C+. Call 112 immediately. Cool aggressively while waiting — wet cloths on neck/armpits/groin, fan, ice if available.

Jellyfish stings

Common in summer on the Spanish Mediterranean and increasingly the Atlantic. Beach flags and lifeguards usually post warnings when jellyfish are present.

Treatment:

1. Get out of the water.
2. Rinse with sea water. Critically: NOT fresh water — fresh water changes the osmotic pressure and triggers remaining stinging cells.
3. Remove visible tentacles with the edge of a credit card or tweezers, never bare hands.
4. Hot water immersion (40–45°C, as hot as you can tolerate) for 20–30 minutes. Heat deactivates the venom.
5. Oral antihistamine (cetirizine, loratadine) and ibuprofen for pain.
6. Watch for allergic reaction over the next few hours: widespread hives, breathing trouble, chest pain, swelling beyond the sting site.

Call 112 if: widespread reaction, breathing trouble, chest pain, sting in mouth or throat, sting wraps a child's torso/limb, or severe pain unresponsive to treatment.

Traveller's diarrhoea

Less common in Spain than in many destinations (Spanish food/water hygiene is high), but still happens — usually from a specific dodgy meal or travel-related stress.

Treatment:

• Aggressive rehydration: oral rehydration salts (Sueroral / Hidranova) from any pharmacy. Don't rely on plain water alone — you're losing electrolytes too.
• Bland diet: rice, toast, banana, plain pasta. Skip dairy, fried, spicy, alcohol, coffee for 24–48 hours.
• Loperamide (Imodium) controls symptoms — useful for travel days. Don't use if there's blood in stool or high fever.
• Probiotics (Saccharomyces boulardii, Lactobacillus) shorten duration somewhat.

See a doctor if: symptoms last more than 3 days, blood in stool, fever above 38.5°C, signs of severe dehydration (no urination for 6+ hours, dizziness on standing, sunken eyes), or symptoms in a young child / elderly traveller.

Mosquito bites

The summer Mediterranean has aggressive mosquitoes, especially around water (pools, gardens, terraces near canals). Tiger mosquitoes (Aedes albopictus) bite during the day and leave a more inflammatory bite than common mosquitoes.

Treatment:

• Don't scratch (easier said than done). Scratching breaks skin and invites infection.
• Antihistamine cream or hydrocortisone 1% cream from any pharmacy
• Oral antihistamine if many bites or large reaction (cetirizine 10 mg)
• Cold compress for the first hour to reduce swelling

See a doctor if: bite becomes hot, red, expanding (cellulitis), or you develop fever — that's an infected bite, not a normal reaction.

Sea-urchin spines

A classic Mediterranean injury — stepping on a sea urchin in shallow rocky water.

Treatment:

1. Hot water immersion (40–45°C) for 30 minutes — softens the skin and may help loosen the spines.
2. Visible spines: remove with tweezers, gently. Don't try to dig them out aggressively.
3. Deep or numerous spines: see a doctor. Leaving them in causes infection.
4. Wash thoroughly with soap and water afterwards.
5. Tetanus booster if you haven't had one in 10 years.

The spines that look black are usually pigment, not the actual barb — they often dissolve over a few days. Mark the area and watch for redness/swelling that doesn't improve.

Hangover and dehydration

Common reality in nightlife destinations (Ibiza, Mallorca, Marbella). Mostly self-limiting but unpleasant.

Treatment:

• Aggressive rehydration: oral rehydration salts beat plain water
• Paracetamol (NOT ibuprofen on an empty stomach with alcohol — gastric irritation risk)
• Light, salty food: toast, broth, bananas
• Sleep

See a doctor if: persistent vomiting, signs of severe dehydration, confusion, severe headache, fever, or you can't keep oral fluids down. Some clinics in Ibiza and Mallorca offer IV rehydration as a paid service — €100–200, restores function in 30–45 minutes.

When to skip the home remedies

Call a doctor (home-visit, private clinic, or 112 for serious cases) if:

• High fever (over 39°C in adults, 38.5°C in young children) lasting more than 24 hours
• Persistent vomiting or inability to keep fluids down
• Severe dehydration signs: no urination for 8+ hours, dizziness, confusion
• Severe pain anywhere unrelieved by paracetamol/ibuprofen
• Anything chest- or breathing-related
• Suspected infection (expanding redness, pus, fever after a wound or bite)
• Pregnancy with any concerning symptom
• Young child (under 2) with any of the above

Prevention beats treatment

• Sunscreen: SPF 30+ minimum, applied 20 minutes before sun exposure, reapplied every 2 hours and after swimming. Don't trust "all-day" claims.
• Hydration: 2.5–3 L of water per day in Spanish summer. More if active.
• Heat avoidance: midday (12:00–16:00) is dangerous. Locals nap. Foreigners visit hospitals. Be smart.
• Mosquito repellent: DEET 30%+ if you're going outdoors at dusk
• Beach awareness: check flags (red = no swim) and posted warnings (jellyfish icons)

A final thought

Most holiday ailments in Spain resolve in 24–48 hours with rest, hydration, and a pharmacy product. The hard part is recognising when something tips over into "needs medical attention" territory. The list above is your guide. When in doubt, a home-visit doctor is a calmer, faster, and similar-priced alternative to the public ER for non-life-threatening situations.