Thoughts of family, fun and sun, or sometimes business, transcend health and safety concerns when traveling internationally. However, it is never too early or too late to review the valuable tips below when traveling far from home. Many of the suggestions have come from travelers like you. Most of the tips are covered in more detail in Dr. Richard F. Thompson's book, Well on the Road - A Practical Guide for the International Traveler, 2008. Please feel free to contact any of the physicians at the Camino Medical Group International Travel Clinic for an explanation of the tips.

  1. If you need to see a travel medicine professional before your journey, the earlier you visit the travel clinic, the better!
  2. Review the US State Department, Bureau of Consular Affairs travel warnings regarding your destination countries at http://travel.state.gov. This site covers multiple issues for the international traveler. Always review it a second time just before departure!
  3. Review our destinations section for country-specific information regarding health and safety issues.
  4. Carry your yellow International Certificate of Vaccination with you at all times. Most travelers carry it with their passport.
  5. Make a copy of your personal records (airline ticket, passport ID, driver's license, credit cards, and serial numbers of your traveler's checks). Leave one copy at home and take one with you.
  6. Be certain your medical and dental health is stable. Know your personal medications and your medical history.
  7. Consider placing your medical records on the internet. Sites such as WebMd.com, "My Health Record," offer free personal health record storage capabilities and the ability to access the records from remote locations.
  8. Carry appropriate medications, e.g., antibiotics for traveler's diarrhea, respiratory infections, bladder infections or any other infection you suspect.
  9. Carry sterile medical needles and syringes when traveling to developing countries where medical care is minimal. An appropriate letter from your health care provider should always accompany these medical items.
  10. Carry an extra pair of prescription glasses and extra contact lenses. It is a good idea to carry your eyewear prescription with you.
  11. Update all routine immunizations including tetanus (Tdap), MMR, chickenpox, influenza, and pneumonia (for adults over age 65).
  12. The most common travel-related vaccines are hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, and tetanus (Tdap). Depending on the itinerary, all travelers should consider these vaccines.
  13. Review your private medical insurance and call the insurer to discuss how medical costs will be covered abroad.
  14. Consider additional trip interruption and/or trip cancellation insurance and/or medical evacuation insurance.
  15. Buy (or create) your own first-aid kit.
  16. Carry nutritional food bars, such as PowerBar®, CLIF® Bars, or BALANCE® Bars. These are an excellent supplement or food source when you are fighting travelers' diarrhea or travel-related stomach problems.
  17. Carry packets of electrolytes (called oral replacement therapy or ORT) with you. Have enough to last 24 hours. This is particularly important for children!
  18. Know the basic rules of food and water precautions/sanitation.
  19. Avoid uncooked foods, non-bottled beverages, and unpasteurized dairy products.
  20. Avoid food from street vendors.
  21. If you have travelers' diarrhea that is worsening with any combination of increasing dehydration, fever, weakness, bloody stools and inability to replace fluids, seek treatment as soon as possible.
  22. Don't underestimate the hazards of too much sun in the tropics: carry two varieties of sun block. Avoid sunburn, especially in infants and children under 15 years of age. It is best to use a SPF between 15 and 30.
  23. Take along sun-protective clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat. An excellent SPF hat with a back flap is available at www.sundayafternoons.com.
  24. Check for ticks immediately after outdoor activity.
  25. Avoid mosquitoes! They transmit serious diseases (e.g., dengue, malaria, Japanese encephalitis, and yellow fever).
  26. Carry DEET-containing insect repellent of approximately 30% (use products with less than 30% DEET for children). The best insect repellent, in our opinion, Ultrathon®, is only available at www.travmed.com.
  27. Antimalarial medications (Mefloquine, Chloroquine, Malarone® and Doxycycline) all have potential adverse reactions. Be familiar with the dosage, contraindications, precautions and side effects of the anti-malarial drug you are taking.
  28. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that pregnant women, babies, and young children should avoid traveling to areas where transmission of chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum malaria occurs. Malaria is a more serious disease, and more difficult to treat, in these categories!
  29. Be aware that no anti-malaria medication or personal protective measure gives complete protection.
  30. Store all anti-malaria medication in childproof containers out of reach of children.
  31. If you have any symptoms (e.g., fever, muscle pain, nausea, headache, fatigue, chills, and/or sweats) of malaria, seek medical attention as soon as possible.
  32. Any fever for several months after you return from a malaria area should be investigated, even if you took anti-malaria medication. A persistent headache, muscular aching and weakness, vomiting, or diarrhea are suspect.
  33. Avoid risky activities - especially when combined with alcohol. Avoid activities such as diving in unknown waters, driving or swimming at night, traveling alone at night, flying unscheduled airplanes, riding motorcycles. Avoid bicycles, motorcycles, mopeds, and overcrowded public transportation.
  34. Avoid swimming in fresh water.
  35. Don't go barefoot in the tropics.
  36. Avoid politically unstable areas, including local demonstrations.
  37. Do not feed, pet, or play with dogs. Be especially wary of strange dogs that appear ill.
  38. Avoid casual sex encounters. If you must indulge, practice safe-sex precautions.
  39. Avoid acupuncture, tattooing, blood drawing or IV drug use.
  40. Avoid leg blood clotting from prolonged air travel by exercising, drinking lots of fluids, taking aspirin before the flight, minimizing your alcohol intake, and wearing support hose. If your risk is particularly high (e.g., prior clotting problems, older age, recent orthopedic surgery), consider upgrading your flight status. Consider using a diuretic.
  41. After you return, if you have fever, diarrhea, vomiting, jaundice, urinary symptoms, or skin or genital infections, see your health care provider.

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