Staying Healthy Away From Home

If nausea, abdominal cramping and a high fever are not part of your travel itinerary, consider a yellow fever vaccination before visiting developing countries.

Protecting your health while traveling to these countries should be a priority and taking steps in advance of your trip is a must, says Debbie Amos, R.N., a travel medicine nurse at Methodist Health Care System's Institute for Preventive Medicine.

"Don't just pack your bags and go," she says. "International travelers need to know about potential health risks and how to prevent them to ensure a pleasant and safe trip."

Aside from serious diseases such as yellow fever, malaria, hepatitis and typhoid, travelers must also protect themselves against the more common diarrhea, insect bites and parasites.

Amos says it is important to find out which vaccinations or medicines are required or recommended for your particular destination. For example, malaria is one of the more common infectious diseases encountered while traveling. But the type of preventive medications needed to treat the disease varies depending on the traveler's destination.

"Infectious conditions change frequently and to stay updated with the necessary precautions, travelers should consult with an expert," says Dr. Benjamin Interiano, medical director of the IPM's Travel Medicine Program.

A traveler should plan about two months in advance for the vaccinations, because some are given in a series of shots over a short period of time. Some of the other commonly recommended vaccinations include Japanese Encephalitis, Pnemovax, rabies, tetanus, polio, and typhoid.

Traveler's diarrhea also is an acute illness that sometimes can be prevented.

Here are some of Amos' tips:

• Drink purified water; use it for brushing teeth also
• Eat thoroughly cooked foods
• Peel your own fruit
• Avoid salads with raw vegetables
• Do not use ice cubes
• Avoid shellfish
• Do not eat food from street vendors.

If you do get diarrhea, it is important to drink lots of water to avoid dehydration. Amos also recommends packing a medical kit that includes the following:

• Imodium-AD
• Large Band-Aids
• Tylenol, aspirin
• Swiss Army knife, tweezers
• Powdered Gatorade
• Insect repellent with at least 25 percent DEET.

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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