Traveler's Health
About 30% of people who travel abroad can develop a travel-related illness, such as diarrhea or upper respiratory infection. Depending on the destination and the type of activity, there can be other risks associated with specific exposures such as insects, animals, or altitudes.
Ideally, it’s best to talk to your doctor at least 6 weeks before your trip to allow for sufficient time for vaccine regimens.
Which country are you traveling to?
The CDC has a great resource where you can check the recommended health precautions by specific destination.
Your Personal Assessment
At your travel consultation, we will evaluate your past medical history, allergy history, past vaccination records, and medication list.
We will review all the places you plan to visit, the duration of the stay, and the type of activities you are planning.
Common Travel Advice
Traveler's Diarrhea
- “Boil it, Cook it, Peel it or Forget it”
- Take caution with reheated foods
- Take caution with contaminated water
Insects
- Insects, often Mosquitoes and Ticks, can transmit many diseases such as Malaria, Yellow Fever, Dengue, Chikungunya, Lyme, Tick borne encephalitis
- Use effective insect repellant. DEET is the most effective but take care to apply only to exposed skin and wash off as soon as exposure ceases.
- Bed nets and/or permethrin coated clothing/items can provide additional protection
- There are medications travelers can take to prevent malaria
Contact Risks
- Crowded transportation hubs and vehicles can expose respiratory viruses through air or droplets. Frequent hand hygiene and wearing masks can decrease your risk.
- Sunscreen – at least SPF 30 – should be applied and re-applied as per instructions
- Take precautions if encountering new intimate partners
Vaccines
- Routine vaccinations should be up-to-date such as:
- Childhood vaccines: MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella), Polio, Varicella (chickenpox), HPV vaccine
- Tetanus
- Influenza
- Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B
- Immunocompromised or Seniors: Pneumococcal, Varicella (Shingles)
- Travel Vaccines to consider
- Rabies vaccine
- Typhoid vaccine
- Yellow Fever vaccine
- Japanese B Encephalitis vaccine
- Meningococcal vaccine