How can I avoid getting sick while traveling?
If you plan to visit a developing or Third World country – almost any area except most of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan – see a health care provider, preferably four to six weeks before you leave. He or she will want to know your itinerary and the kinds of activities you are planning. These considerations are important:
– Whether you are planning a long or short stay
– Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure
– If you will be doing missionary or volunteer work
– Whether you will spend most of your time in urban or rural areas
– What type of living accommodations you have arranged
– Whether you plan to camp or hike
Will I need vaccinations?
That depends on the countries you plan to visit. Some countries require visitors to have certain vaccinations. For others, vaccinations and immunizations are not legally required, but health officials advise visitors to have them.
What else should I do?
It is at least as important to try to prevent travel-related illness while you are abroad as it is to have certain vaccinations. You may get more detailed advice, but these recommendations apply to all travelers to developing countries:
– Make sure your food and water are safe. Being careful of the food and water you consume is the best way to prevent diarrhea and illnesses like hepatitis and cholera. Do not buy food from street vendors. Avoid all raw food, including uncooked vegetables, salads, meats, fish, and shellfish. Don’t eat fruit unless it can be easily peeled, such as bananas. Make sure that the cooked food you eat is piping hot. Be certain that dairy products such as milk, cheese, and butter have been fully pasteurized and properly refrigerated. Avoid tap water. Drink only bottled water, soda, beer, and wine. Remember that fruit juice, mixed alcoholic beverages, and ice cubes may have been prepared with tap water, so avoid them, too. Brush your teeth with bottled or previously boiled water.
– Avoid insect and animal bites. Next to contaminated food and water, insect bites are the most common mode of disease transmission in developing countries. Do everything possible to avoid mosquito bites. Before you leave for your trip, make sure you have a good supply of insect repellent, both for your clothing and for your skin. Dress protectively in a mosquito environment – wear long sleeves and trousers. Don’t use perfume or wear bright colors. Take along insect netting if you plan to sleep outdoors or if your hotel is unlikely to have screens on the windows. Check behind pictures and under the mattress for insects. If you find them, spray the affected areas with an insecticide, and apply repellent to your skin before going to sleep. If you are camping, sleep as far as possible from places where insects are likely to be found – stagnant water, swampy areas, piles of rocks, or rotting wood. Don’t swim in fresh water – Schistosomiasis, a disease caused by parasites, is carried by freshwater snails in so many parts of the world that the risk is too great. Don’t walk barefoot.
If you are bitten by insects while overseas, see a health care provider when you get home. If you are bitten by an animal, especially a dog or a bat, wash the wound immediately, and seek medical help. Rabies is common in developing countries, even among pet dogs. If you cannot locate medical help, or if you feel medical authorities aren’t taking your situation seriously, return home and seek immediate help.
How can I avoid traveler’s diarrhea?
The easiest way is to choose your food and water carefully. If you are going someplace where diarrhea is common, you may want to take along some over-the-counter medication, like Pepto-Bismol along with Imodium AD. Sometimes an antibiotic may be prescribed. Tablets for water purification may also be a good idea.
Can I travel safely with health
problems?
Travel is safe for most people, even those with significant health problems. Work with your health care provider – they can make recommendations to make your trip safer and more enjoyable. They may also give you the names of qualified physicians in the places you plan to visit – and remember that most people are only a phone call away from almost anywhere in the world you plan to visit! It is generally not advisable to purchase medications overseas. If you are taking medicines, be sure you have a full supply when you leave home. Carry a list of your medications, with brand and generic names, and dosages. If possible, take a photocopy of the original prescription with you. Keep your medications and the prescription information with you at all times rather than in checked luggage. Depending on your situation, you may want to carry a summary of your medical records while on your trip. Also be sure to pack an extra pair of eyeglasses or contact lenses along with any needed cleaning and disinfectant solutions.
How can I get good medical help overseas?
The American consulate or embassy in your area is the best place to seek advise. If you are in an area without an American consulate, try any other English-language consulate. If you are in a remote area, try to locate a missionary or volunteer agency hospital.
For more travel information visit: www.cdc.gov and www.travel.state.gov
University Health Services offers travel appointments and most vaccines are available as well – come see us!