| General Health Information | |
| Staying Healthy | Top  |
Staying healthy while you travel is really a function of knowledge, preparation and the willingness to stick to a regimen conducive to good health. What follows are general guidelines for maintaining your health as you travel. As a practical matter, many travelers will find it nearly impossible to follow each of the guidelines. Your itinerary, your activities, preferences and mere chance will no doubt conspire to make some or all of the precautions difficult to follow. However, the closer you can adhere to the advice that follows, the better your chances of staying healthy.
With that said, however, the vast majority of travelers never experience any ill effects except perhaps jet-lag or a mild case of diarrhea. Educated and disciplined travelers can usually control the degree to which they expose themselves to health risks.
What follows is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for sound medical advice. When you travel, seek real medical advice from a physician qualified in travel medicine. The more "off the beaten path" you intend to stray, the more important good medical advice becomes. Finally, observe at least the same precautions that you use when at home to preserve your health. The consequences of some activities, whether sun exposure, risky sexual behaviors or drunk driving are the same at home or while traveling and are not covered here.
Most travel related diseases and maladies can be avoided through the following:
- Pre-trip Medical Consultation
- Proper Immunization or Preventative Medication
- Food and Water Hygiene
- Minimizing Animal Contact
| Pre-trip Medical Consultation | Top |
Prior to traveling, it is advisable to consult with a physician experienced in travel medicine. Seek advice as soon as possible, as some vaccinations, if warranted, are given in a series of shots at timed intervals. Explain to your physician not only your destination, which is of key importance, but also your planned activities. For example, you will no doubt be prescribed differing sets of precautions depending on your accommodations (hotel or hut), your exposure to the local environment (indoor or outdoor), and your range of activity (business, humanitarian, leisure or adventure).
| Proper Immunization or Preventative Medication | Top |
Certain vaccinations are indispensable in all cases. Others are particular to a destination or activity. Everyone should have immunization for the following:
Most persons in the United States and Western Europe are immunized against these diseases during childhood, but booster shots are often necessary or recommended.
In addition to the above base-line vaccinations, however, travelers should consider other vaccinations or preventative medications based on their itinerary and plans. Frequent travelers might want to consider vaccination against *Hepatitis A as a base-line measure, consult your physician. Bottom line - consult a physician trained in travel medicine prior to your trip.
- Avoid raw or undercooked foods of every kind. Raw or undercooked meats, seafood and vegetables, even salted, smoked or pickled, can harbor any number of bacteria or parasites.
- Eat only foods that are still hot and freshly prepared. Foods that are exposed to the elements, or which have been left cooling are suspect.
- Contrary to popular advice, spices or chili peppers do not make foods safe.
- Eat only fruit that you have peeled yourself.
- Make sure all vegetables are cooked and avoid salads. Salads are always suspect, because the raw vegetables have almost certainly been exposed to untreated water in many cases. Especially problematic are fresh water vegetables.
- Avoid foods and beverages from street vendors.
- Unpasteurized milks and cheeses potentially carry a number of pathogens. Avoid them.
- Wash your hands well before eating.
- A simple rule of thumb is "Boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it. "
- Proper water discipline is important. If possible, drink only bottled or boiled (for 1 minute at sea level) water or carbonated (bubbly) drinks in cans or bottles. Do not drink fountain drinks or any drinks with ice cubes. Boiling is the safest method of ensuring water safety, as not all parasites and bacteria respond to chlorine and iodine.
- If boiled water is not possible, drink only water that you have treated with chlorine or iodine. Other safe beverages include tea and coffee made with boiled water and carbonated, bottled beverages with no ice. Filtration works with some, but not all water-born maladies.
- Recreational swimming can be problematic, particularly in subtropical and tropical areas. Even in pools, avoid swallowing water, and be aware of parasitic organisms that might be endemic to your destination.
- Use treated water for brushing teeth and, if possible, for bathing.
| Minimize Animal Contact | Top |
Mosquitoes and certain other parasites like fleas are living hypodermic needles, sometimes filled with very nasty substances. It is important to avoid insect bites the world over. Again, let common sense prevail, but the more contact that you will have with environments where insects and insect borne diseases are endemic, the more important the following advice:
- Stay indoors at dawn, dusk, and in the early evening, when mosquitoes are most active.
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants whenever you are outdoors. Watch for mosquitoes and do not be a passive target.
- Spray clothing with repellents containing permethrin or DEET since mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing.
- Sleep under repellent treated mosquito netting if mosquitoes or other insects are found indoors at your destination.
- Apply insect repellent sparingly to exposed skin. An effective repellent will contain 35% DEET. DEET in high concentrations (greater than 35%) provides no additional protection. Repellents may irritate the eyes and mouth, so avoid applying repellent to the hands of children. Whenever you use an insecticide or insect repellent, be sure to read and follow the manufacturer's DIRECTIONS FOR USE, as printed on the product.
Other Animals- Farm animals are host to any number of diseases and parasites capable of jumping to human hosts. Particularly if you are not accustomed to being around farm animals, be careful about hygienic measures such as washing hands and not accidentally ingesting materials that might carry disease.
- Wild animals also are reservoirs for particular endemic diseases. If your itinerary will involve a great deal of living outdoors, or if you will otherwise be in contact with animal habitats, inform your physician and ask about precautionary measures.