Travel Health

Pro Pharma Talks

Travel Health:

1. What are the most common health issues travelers may encounter?

a. Travelers diarrhea

b. In terms of “things that will kill you”, most travelers die from pre-existing medical conditions (MI) or accidents (specifically MVA)

2. Mentioned vaccines, are there other vaccines people will need to consider besides those for GI bugs?

a. Yellow fever… basically a mosquito-borne disease that destroys your liver and has a very high fatality rate. Found in South America (Amazon) and Sub-Saharan Africa. Mosquitoes bite during the day and can also carry dengue, chikungunya and zika… so still have to prevent mosquito bites.

b. Japanese encephalitis… similar to West Nile, it causes neurological symptoms. Found in Southeast Asia, mostly in rural parts. Need to have a travel health advisor assess whether or not you should get it.

c. Rabies… fairly expensive, but lifesaving if bit by a rabid animal.

d. All the routine vaccines you thought you didn’t need… Tdap, meningitis, polio, MMRV and FLU! (because it looks like malaria and you will be treated as such in tropical countries)

3. What about malaria?

a. Parasitic disease that lays dormant for weeks to months and can result in death in 24-48 hours without treatment

b. Mosquitos bite at night so need modern housing or a bed net

c. Medication are typically taken before travel, while traveling and up to one month after

4. Anything else?

a. Lots of other things to consider… altitude sickness, other parasites (even those you can get from bathing in contaminated water like lakes and rivers), jet lag, etc.

b. Best to consult someone certified in travel health or tropical medicine… so they will have passed a competency exam

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