Travel Medicine: Know Before You Go

Traveling abroad is a great way to make unforgettable memories. While traveling is fun, getting sick in the middle of your trip isn’t, especially if you’re not prepared. When people plan a trip, they have an itinerary full of hotel stays, places to eat and attractions to visit, but they often lack a proper travel medicine plan.

Immunizations

Once you begin planning an international trip, it’s important to contact your health care provider to discuss your destination and any recommended immunizations or health precautions. Immunizations should ideally be received four to six weeks before travel to ensure the vaccines are fully effective.

Recommendations vary by country, so for the most accurate and up-to-date information, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) websites. Common pre-travel vaccinations include:

• Hepatitis A and B
• Typhoid
• Yellow fever

To learn more about the importance of immunization, read the Prevention Plus article, Immunization: Protecting Yourself and Your Family.

Medications and Emergency Plans

When packing your carry-on luggage, remember to pack your prescription medicine (in their original containers) and copies of your medication just in case you lose your medication or your trip is longer than expected. It’s also good to pack non-prescription medicine, for example pain and nausea medications; you could be traveling to a place where your medications are not readily available over the counter. You’ll also want to familiarize yourself with the local emergency health services available at your destination should you run out of medications and/or need to see a doctor. In some cases, purchasing travel health/evacuation insurance can save you time and money. Benefits to having travel insurance include:

• Many U.S. health plans don’t cover international care or they reimburse very little. Travel health insurance can help cover some of the costs.
• Most travel insurance plans include 24/7 assistance services that help you find reputable hospitals, English-speaking physicians and specialists without you having to research while sick or stressed.
• Knowing you’re covered lets you focus on enjoying your trip instead of worrying about worst-case scenarios.

Avoiding Travel-related Illnesses

When traveling, it’s important to be mindful of germs, potential contaminants and other factors—such as insect bites and altitude changes—that can cause illness.  Contaminated food and water are two main causes of sickness while traveling. Below are precautions to consider:

Water precautions:

• Use bottled water with an unbroken seal for drinking and brushing your teeth.

• Travel with your own water purification products.

• Drink sodas or sports drinks from sealed cans and bottles.

• Use ice made from bottled water only.

• Drink hot coffee and tea made with boiled water.

Food precautions:

• Avoid purchasing food from street vendors.

• Avoid restaurants with poor sanitation or hygiene practices.

• Eat food that is cooked and still hot, not raw or at room temperature.

• Eat food from sealed packages.

• Eat hard-cooked eggs, not runny eggs.

• Eat fruits and vegetables you can peel yourself or wash with safe water.

• Consume pasteurized dairy products.

Monitoring Health Upon Return

After returning from vacation— even if you avoid illness during your trip—it’s still important to monitor your health. Some travel-related illnesses can appear weeks or even months after you return, potentially putting you and others at risk. Watch for symptoms such as:

• Fever or night sweats

• Diarrhea, blood in your stool or changes in bowel habits

• Cough, rash or jaundice (yellow skin)

• Fatigue or weight loss

If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to meet with your doctor and avoid contact with those who are immunocompromised. 

Planning ahead and taking recommended precautions can help you stay healthy and make the most of your travels. Cooper Clinic offers travel medicine services, including consultations and immunizations, so you can explore the world with confidence and peace of mind. Visit Cooper Clinic’s Travel Medicine web page to learn more. To make a Travel Medicine appointment, call 972.560.2667 or email travelmedicine@cooper-clinic.com.

Article written by Mita Patel, PA, Cooper Clinic Physician Assistant.