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Travel With Confidence This Summer…
HAVE YOU HAD YOUR SHOTS?
Kyler S. Knight, M.D.
Certified, American Board of Internal Medicine
Centuries ago, when settlers came to our shores from “across the pond,”
they brought with them germs and bacteria that were alien to the natives
who inhabited this country. The results were predictable: outbreaks
of infectious diseases, like measles and influenza, that were often fatal
to the  Indians
who came into contact with them for the first time. Today, when a
person can travel to virtually anyplace in the world within a day and a
half, the problem of encountering or transmitting unfamiliar organisms
and diseases remains a threat. We can travel faster than the incubation
period for many diseases. Thanks in part to the fact that Hollywood
has dramatized the specter of spreading a deadly virus or bacteria by chance
encounter with a traveler, many people are worried about protecting their
health when travelling outside the United States for the first time.
“It is true that travelers to undeveloped or tropical countries
have been known to contract some relatively rare or exotic diseases,” explained
Internist Kyler S. Knight, M.D. “The disease may not surface for
months  after
they return to this country and, when it does, it may be difficult to diagnose
because it is so uncommon. Now that we live in such a global community,
it is increasingly important for people who travel to research the destinations
they plan to visit and to be alert for any specific health warnings. Then,
it is up to them to get the necessary vaccines or immunizations and to
keep good records on where they have been -- and when – in the event they
should become ill after they return. Fortunately, this is not terribly
difficult to do.”
Corporate
Housing Houston There are also preventive measures travelers can take to stay healthy
and to minimize their risk of “catching” infectious diseases. Since
many serious diseases have been eradicated around the world thanks to persistent
immunization efforts, preparing for an international trip today is not
nearly as complicated as it would have been in the mid-1900’s. The
types of preventive measures and vaccinations depend on the destination,
the time of year in which the travel will take place, and how long the
visitor intends to stay.
 Obviously,
preparing for a backpacking excursion to South America would call for a
totally different medical intervention than would a train trip through
the United Kingdom. This is not to say that travelers do not become
ill while visiting other “civilized” countries, but the likelihood of encountering
the rare, and sometimes life-threatening kinds of diseases is generally
much less, and special immunizations are therefore not indicated or required.
“Many people tend to forget, however, that some of our routine immunizations
need to be updated periodically,” advised Dr. Knight. “including tetanus,
influenza and those for what people consider childhood illnesses – mumps
and measles. For some destinations, travelers should consider
having the hepatitis A shot. People who plan to visit the Pacific,
Africa, Southeast Asia or the Amazon Region of South America are likely
to need more aggressive preventive measures that may include inoculation
or prophylaxis against typhoid, yellow fever or malaria, hepatitis B, cholera,
or other bacteria or viruses.”
Dr. Knight points out that any time we disrupt our normal patterns of eating
and sleeping, we become more susceptible or vulnerable to disease or infection.
International travel, requiring long flights and time changes, can be particularly
exhausting for some people. In those cases, he says, it is important
to get rested up as soon as possible. Common sense tells us that
getting off an intercontinental flight and getting immediately behind the
wheel of a car for a long drive in unfamiliar territory is literally an
accident just waiting to happen. He suggests that there are many
things travelers can do to stay healthy on the road.
“Planning for a trip or vacation should involve a lot more than just
booking reservations for hotels and transportation,” Knight recommended,
“especially if you have any known medical problems. See your dentist
and get that aching tooth fixed. Arrange for refills of any
prescription medications so that you’ll have enough even if your trip is
unexpectedly extended. If you have any serious or chronic health
problems, it’s not a bad idea to take along key information about your
medical history, including medication dosages and allergies, as well as
anything else that might be helpful to medical personnel in an emergency.
If you wear glasses or contacts, be sure to take along an extra pair or
two, and don’t pack them all in the same place. If you rely on over-the-counter
medications – for headaches or diarrhea especially -- that might be difficult
to obtain where you are going, take a supply of those, too.”
Be sensible about what you eat and drink on foreign soil. Contaminated
food and water/ice are the major sources of stomach or intestinal illness  while
traveling, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Travelers’ Diarrhea” (TD) can turn an otherwise sensational vacation into
one spent within racing distance to the bathroom. The ailment may
not be life threatening, but after a day or two of abdominal cramps and
discomfort, some tourists have certainly wished they were dead. Any
uncooked food could be contaminated, especially in areas where sanitation
is not a local priority. Be especially wary of salads, fruits and
raw vegetables, dairy products, improperly prepared meats, and shellfish.
It’s best to rely on bottled water for brushing your teeth, and that or
canned beverages for drinking. Even if you don’t ‘drink the water’
that’s what the local ice is made from, and it can make you just as sick.
“Take the trip in your mind first,” suggests Dr. Knight. “Visualize
where you’ll be and anticipate what emergencies you might encounter – and
plan for them. If you’ll be spending a lot of time outside, be sure
to take along  plenty
of sunscreen and insect repellant if you’re visiting the warmer regions.
A compact first aid kit is another useful travelling companion, and be
sure to include all the minor remedies you are used to at home.”
“If youngsters will be traveling with you, arrange for their immunizations
to be updated as far in advance as possible, and pack a supply of their
medications, too. If your trip will be to an undeveloped country
or to a tropical location, schedule an appointment for a consultation about
any immunizations or vaccinations that are required for entry into those
places at least six weeks before your planned departure. This will
allow the immunity to develop before you leave and will help you be alert
to other health risks you might encounter at your destination. Whether
you will be traveling on business or for pleasure,” the doctor said, “the
last thing you’ll need in an unfamiliar environment is to be sick or in
pain, and careful planning can make all the difference – wherever you are
in the world.”
Dr. Knight is a designated provider of the Yellow Fever Vaccine.
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