Travel Health

You Become Captain

EMBARK ON A JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME

Travel Health

New travelersExperienced travelersBest defense is offenseThink about risksPrevent as possibleDeal as problem arises

Travel Health

Knowledge key to successful travelExcellent web sites to get the latest updates on health information for countries:

cdc.gov/travel/index.htmltripprep.comwww.travel.state.gov

Travel HealthRisks60-70% some type illness

Minimal to severe

Specific risks dependent on 3 important questions:

Where are you going? Order of travel?How long will you be there?What will you be doing there?

• Tourist vs working with population

Use of prophylactic (anti-malarial)Various kinds, check country

Travel Health

Specific personal risksProtection against insectsVaccinationsRisk-taking behaviorHealth status

Travel Health

How Disease spreadsContact

• Air, blood and other fluids• Hygiene

Prevention• Hand washing• Caution with sexual relationships

Contaminated food and waterInsectsContaminated soil

Travel Health

Travel Health ConsiderationsPre-existing conditionsImmunizationsTravel-related illnesses

Travel Health

Pre-existing conditions (physical and mental)

Asthma, heart disease, immune compromising, blood diseases, diabetes, anxiety/depression (one of highest #’s of health problems), etc.

• Check Health Care provider• Copy medical history• Prescriptions plus full supply meds• Extra glasses and/or contacts plus script• Small First Aid kit – Travel Health Guide has contents

Travel Health

Choose Your Doctors wisely

Travel Health

Know exercise limitsHave a strategy of care, if neededList of medications• Prescription in place separate from med• Keep meds in original containers• Birth Control Pill for duration plus

prescription in case lost or stolen

Travel Health

Know insurance coverageBe aware of care facilities

Have list of facilitiesKnow who to contact if need doctor• American and Canadian Embassies• IAMAT(International Assoc for Med Assist

Travelers)417 Center St., Lewiston, NY, 14092

• Credit card companies –AE gold card

Travel Health

ImmunizationsUpdate basic

• Hep A definite, consider Hep B, Meningitis

Specific for Country• See Immun Clinic GCHD-893-0131• Travel Clinic – GCHD- 903-893-0131 Ext 245 appt

Travel plans• Area• Accommodations• Planned activities

Anti-malarial drugs if necessary

Travel Health

Travel relatedTraveler’s Diarrhea most common

• Affects up to 50%• Begins abruptly, lasts 3-4 days• Oral re-hydration solutions• Anti-microbial – if fever, n/v,cramping• Anti-motility – symptom relief• Pepto Bismol – 2 tabs 4x day not more than 1-2

weeks for prevention• Can reduce by 60 % but has high Aspirin content• Also can cause black tongue when taken long

term

Travel Health

Travel HealthPrevention

Careful of water and water products• Rural – boil• Canned or bottled – avoid uncapped• Ice may be contaminated

Avoid street vendorsCare in choice of restaurantsAll raw foods subject to contaminationAvoid raw meat, fish, shellfishAvoid cooked food which has been standing

Travel Health

SARS – Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

Virus – fever, headache, body aches, mild respiratory symptoms initiallySpread through droplet transmission (coughs or sneezes droplets - someone breathesAfter 2-7 days, dry cough, difficulty breathingTreated with antibiotics, antivirals, hospitalization for breathing assistance

Travel Health

Current recommendationsNo current recommendations per warnings against non essential travel.CDC has issued travel information related to potential for another outbreak.

Travel Health

SARS riskClose contact with infected person (household or health care worker)Immune compromised, chronic illness, elderly

Travel Health

Hepatitis AFood borne, liver diseaseSpread fecal/oral contaminationPrevention with immunization• Hep A – 1 and 1 6 mos - $40 each• Hep B – 1, 1 mo, 6 mos - $40 each

Travel Health

Wear Seat Belts

Travel Health

Concentrate on Where You’re Going

Travel Health

Accident related traumaNumber one reason for hospitalization during travelKnow rules of the roadAvoid taking chancesKnow that care in another country not as easy to obtain Again, prevention is best policy

Travel Health

Protect Yourself from the Mid-day Sun

Travel Health

Others Jet lag

• Best prevention still water 16oz,1 liter,increase for several days after

• Avoid increased alcohol – increases lag• Avoid coffee/tea – increases insomnia• Use Dramamine – drowsy side effect

Heat related illnessesAltitude sickness

• Gradual acclimatization, inc carbs, inc fluid,dec activity

Motion sickness• Antihistamine-type meds, drowsiness

Travel Health

Insect-Borne Disease• Anti-malarial prophylaxis• Deet 30-35% spray, cream, towelettes• Net for bed, protective clothing- spray • Dusk to dawn• Develops within 8 days of exposure

– Flu-like symptoms, fever, headache, chills, fever, aches and pains, malaise – treated with same med prevented with

Parasites • Wear shoes, care in where swim

Travel Health

RabiesBats, monkeys, dogs – not rabies shotsDON’T PET THE ANIMALSIf bitten or scratched, copious soap and waterContact health care worker in area immediately

Travel Health

TuberculosisUnderdeveloped countries-increased ratesRural areasClose living quarters 6 mo or longerRe check TB test 3 mos. after return or if any symptomsRisk information on cdc web site given earlier

Travel Health

Make Healthy Choices about Sexuality

Travel Health

Sexually Transmitted DiseasesEpidemic levels in certain areas of the world

• Not just HIV• 46% women who develop HPV do so first sexual encounter

Caution can’t be stressed enoughCondoms qualities not same as USAbstinence only 100%Many spread with contact, not always visible

• Herpes, HPV-Genital warts – Viral• Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphylis - Bacterial

Travel HealthHepatitis B – preventable with vaccineHIV/AIDS

No cure, killsGlobally distributed, risk behaviorContaminated needles – drugs, tattoo, acupuncture, medical/dental procedure, blood transfusions-some still not checking blood for HIV, Hep B and CSexual intercourse, vaginal, anal, oral/genital

BacterialChlamydia

• Silent epidemic – 75% women, no symptoms

Syphilis

Travel Health

Again, Prevention is best policyBe on the offense – be on the lookout for unusual occurrences or people acting in strange ways.Practice safe habits in travel

Travel with othersBlend in with locals, dress, actions, etcBe observant, clues from locals and experienced travelers Risk increases with travel

Travel Health

ATTENTION TO THESE DETAILS SHOULD ALLOW YOU TO REVIEW YOUR TRIP WITH JOYFUL MEMORIES