Take these common sense tips before taking a trip outside the country
Traveling is one of the most rewarding things to do, and when it’s done with care and preparation, you can have the time of your life—safely. Christian Engell, MD, an infectious disease specialist at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center (NBI) explains what people should know about the possibility of getting sick while traveling abroad.
What are the main health concerns when traveling abroad?
People are always worried about infectious illnesses, and they should be. But remember that the dangers you live with at home exist in foreign countries, so you still need to take everyday safety precautions. For example, about a fourth of the people who die abroad, die in car accidents. Exposure to sun is a risk in many parts of the world, but when people travel they often forget to take the usual precautions because they are on vacation.
What are some common illnesses people encounter in foreign countries?
One of the most common food- or waterborne illnesses is traveler’s diarrhea. Hepatitis A and typhoid are also very serious food- and water-borne illnesses that you can contract. They both spread via contaminated food and water or via the hands of those who have it. Insect-borne illnesses can also be a risk. Mosquitoes can spread malaria and viral illnesses. A tick bite can lead to Lyme disease, cause skin rashes or induce tick paralysis.
How do you prepare for those risks?
Before visiting many developing countries, the typical traveler will probably need to be vaccinated for Hepatitis A and typhoid. Additionally, medications to protect against malaria and travelers’ diarrhea can be prescribed. From region to region, additional vaccines and treatments may be required, including those for yellow fever or meningitis. Also, if you’re pregnant, you should know where the Zika virus remains endemic.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides up-to-date information on risks and precautions around the world. (For more information, visit wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel.) The CDC recommends that you see a travel medicine specialist four to six weeks before you travel. That allows time to get the vaccines you need and develop an antibody response.
Do we need to worry about taking a Caribbean cruise?
Yes. If you’re not up to date with your routine vaccines—shingles, measles, mumps, rubella—you can be at risk of getting sick on the ship because of the confined space, and at the port city, where you may become exposed to local diseases. When taking a cruise, you should also consult a travel medicine specialist on the risk of contracting viral gastroenteritis, an intestinal infection whose symptoms include diarrhea and nausea, which is common on
cruise ships.
What if I don’t like needles, or am just plain scared of getting sick abroad?
The vast majority of vaccines have very, very few side effects. Getting a vaccine is a small price to pay for having the opportunity to enjoy your trip to the fullest.
To learn more about travel medicine services at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, call the TRIP (Travel-Related Immunization Program) Center at 888.701.TRIP (8747).