In recent years there has been a large increase in the number of people traveling the world, even to exotic countries or tropical paradises. This considerable increase in the volume of international travelers means that many people are in contact with infectious diseases different from those in their usual environment or suffer complications from previous ailments. These medical travel tips are intended to provide practical assistance and do not replace or in any way modify the advice of your personal physician.
Emerging diseases can pose a significant health risk, and of course the conditions you suffer from are likely to cause problems. For this reason, the traveler must be aware of the risks they face in order to adopt the appropriate preventive measures. Health recommendations must be made on an individual basis because the risk of acquiring diseases varies, among many other factors, from one country to another, the area visited, the time of year and the the duration and type of trip, as well as the like every traveler.
The suggestions mentioned should begin before you depart, during the flight to your chosen destination, and the site(s) you plan to visit.
Pre-trip…
A visit to the doctor is highly recommended in the case of suffering from any disease, taking medication or allergies, for a general examination, and in the case of chronic conditions, take a supply of medication sufficient for the duration. It will be packed in the suitcase and handbag, and it is also very important to be able to take with you a brief report of your personal medical history, which could be very useful in case of health problems. All medications, especially those that require a prescription, must be kept in the handbag, in their original containers and with visible labels.
This is critically important with elderly travelers or children. Both require special precautions, such as protection from the sun, heat, and dehydration. Elderly travelers should know, for example, what postural exercises they should perform on flights or long-term transfers (the different airlines carry videos with examples of these exercises on board). Children, although they are more adaptable to changes in diet and schedules or weather, are susceptible to acute dehydration in a short period of time that can become a significant risk.
It is essential to take into account the choice of clothing and footwear suitable for the climate of the places that you plan to visit. It is advisable for people with allergic problems to be aware of the seasonality of the country or countries of destination, to avoid, as far as possible, crises during the trip. The same can be said of uncontrolled exposure to the sun, which can cause serious damage and burns, especially in fair-skinned people.
Taking into account the airline regulations on hand luggage, it is advisable to carry an elementary first-aid kit for minor symptoms, which includes, for example: sunscreen creams, some anti-diarrheal, anti-allergy and analgesic. Physician advised by the family doctor. If you take medications that must be consumed during the flight, it is advisable to carry the corresponding medical prescription so as not to suffer inconveniences when boarding the flight. (Take into account the elements that are prohibited from transporting, for security reasons, by the airlines in hand luggage, so as not to have problems with this, it is advisable to consult the web page of the same in advance, to avoid surprises in shipment).
Finding out sufficiently in advance the need to be immunized or not, with the mandatory, universal or specific vaccine(s) for the prevention of certain diseases when entering certain geographical areas is a separate paragraph. with endemic problems (yellow fever, malaria, etc). This suggestion can be consulted in Specialized Centers.
During the Trip…
We recommend you read our note on “Traveller Illnesses and Illnesses” See for complete information on: Jet Lag, Altitude, Traveler's Diarrhea, Constipation, Passengers with chronic conditions such as diabetes, allergies, cardiovascular or respiratory conditions and much more.
After the Trip…
Some tropical illnesses do not manifest immediately, and may occur long after return. In case of going to the doctor, it will be It is convenient to inform him that you have made a trip in the last few months to a tropical area or developing countries.
It is absolutely impossible to summarize in these suggestions all the inconveniences and/or inconveniences that may occur to the traveler during his journey, but we are convinced that taking these suggestions into account, you will be able to improve your experience. enjoy calm during the trip, so…¡ Have a good trip!... and keep these suggestions in mind for future trips!
(A contribution from Dr. Alberto Imposti)