Travel Health Planning Article
Imagine yourself on an exotic tropical island in the South Pacific with miles of white sandy beaches, beautiful sunsets, and turquoise water as warm as a bathtub. Your friends are out snorkeling on the nearby coral reef and you are confined to your hotel room with vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and the nearest doctor is 30 miles away in the next village! This scenario, unfortunately, is not unusual when traveling especially in developing countries. Even though there is no guarantee against illness, there are precautions and treatments one can take to significantly reduce the risk of or even prevent disruption of your expensive vacation. So in-between arranging airplane and hotel reservations, take time to arrange an appointment for travel planning well in advance of departure to allow adequate time for the administration of preventive treatments.
UNM Student Health & Counseling (SHAC) can help you in our Travel and Immunization Clinic as well as with appointments for travel planning with any of our medical providers. During the travel consultation, we can customize a travel health plan for you. In addition, we will review and recommend updates on routine immunizations. Depending on the area of travel, we will recommend specific immunizations and determine if there are any required immunizations for the region. The UNM SHAC International Travel Clinic is an official yellow fever vaccination center. (For more info, see the SHAC Travel Clinic web page. Note: You will be asked to fill out the first page of the Travel Clinic Questionnaire before you meet with an SHAC provider.)
Make sure that ongoing medical and dental problems are addressed prior to departure. Plan to carry plenty of current medications, extra glasses or contacts, and if necessary a letter from your physician regarding any medical conditions. Have emergency contact numbers available to others as well as information about health insurance, and medical evacuation.
Common sense is the key for remaining healthy and safe while traveling, but there are several basic guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization, which can lessen the likelihood of illness or accident. Current and updated information on regional requirements is easily available through the CDC.
Protect yourself against illness from foods, water, and insects. Eat well-cooked foods and peel your own fruits and vegetables. Avoid eating raw foods especially shellfish, or eating from street vendors. Buy bottled water or purify your water, and avoid ice. Try to drink bottled or canned carbonated beverages. Malaria is a problem throughout the world and the malaria carrying mosquitoes bite between dusk and dawn. Dengue fever, also a mosquito-born illness, is prevalent in a large part of the world. Insect repellant containing DEET is recommended as well as the use of mosquito netting. Protective clothing such as long pants and sleeves and boots can also be a shield against mosquitos and other biting insects.
Carry medications for common problems such as travelers' diarrhea. You can take over-the-counter products, which are quite effective, such as Immodium, Pepto Bismol, and oral rehydration packets in case the diarrhea becomes severe. Antibiotics may be necessary and carrying a course is often recommended depending on the region traveled. During the travel consultation session, we can help you pack a medical kit appropriate for your particular trip. Aspirin, antihistamines, and wound care products may help with annoying but minor discomforts and may be difficult to find abroad or in areas visited away from the normal tourist routes. HIV and sexually transmitted diseases are a worldwide problem, so avoid engaging in unsafe sex, body piercing or tattooing, illicit drug use, or acupuncture. Use latex condoms for protection from HIV and sexually transmitted diseases. Avoid returning with unwanted souvenirs.
Personal safety is also a serious concern. Threat analysis and advance notice of possible problems from terrorism, crime, disease, and political upheaval are available from the CDC and the State Department. Updated information is published on their websites. Avoid troublesome areas and situations. Laws vary in countries as well as your legal rights. Keep a low profile, leave your expensive jewelry at home, and do not carry large amounts of cash, and dress inconspicuously. If possible, try not to travel alone especially after dark. The leading cause of death in travelers is motor vehicle accidents. Drowning causes 16% of deaths. Avoid overcrowded public vehicles and rural road travel after dark. Motorcycles are especially dangerous. Traffic laws are lenient and helmets and seat belts may not be available. Approach high-risk sports with caution. Standards are different and the equipment may not be properly maintained. Arrangements with reputable more expensive companies are sometimes worth the expense to ensure safety.
Despite the potential dangers from traveling, by using common sense, prevention, and education one can greatly reduce the risks of accident or illness. So do not be afraid to immerse yourself in other cultures and experience the world. For as Mark Twain put it so well: "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness—all foes to real understanding."
Bon Voyage!
