 How you prepare for foreign travel depends a lot on your destination, activities and accommodations. It’s best to check with your doctor at least six weeks before departure to allow time for any necessary vaccinations and to get prescriptions for drugs you should bring along to prevent or treat illness. Travelers to parts of Africa, South America, Central America, Mexico, and Asia may be at particular risk for infections.Ask your doctor whether you will need vaccinations to prevent diseases such as typhoid fever or hepatitis A. In areas where malaria is a problem, experts usually recommend taking medicines like chloroquine (brand name Aralen) or mefloquine (>Lariam) for prevention. Your doctor may also prescribe antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (>Cipro) or cotrimoxazole (>Bactrim DS or >Septra DS) to take with you in case you develop traveler's diarrhea. Motion sickness is a common problem when traveling, so you should also discuss motion sickness medicines with your doctor. The scopolamine patch (>Trans-derm Scop) is a prescription patch you place behind your ear for up to three days to prevent motion sickness. Over-the-counter medicines like dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) and meclizine (>Bonine) can also help prevent motion sickness, but may cause more drowsiness. If you’re visiting countries with poor sanitation, always use caution when eating and drinking. When in doubt, drink only boiled or bottled water, and don’t use ice. Avoid food from street vendors and undercooked food including meats. Also beware of salads and uncooked fruits and vegetables unless you’re sure they’re from a reliable, sanitary source. It’s a good policy only to eat uncooked fruits and vegetables that you can peel. You may have trouble obtaining your prescription medicines in foreign countries, so bring enough to last your entire trip. Store drugs in their original prescription vials in a carry-on bag to prevent any delays at customs. Be sure you check with the airports regarding what is allowed in your carry-on bags. You may want to bring a summary of your medical history in case you become ill abroad. Wherever you go—even to low-risk western European countries—it’s a good idea to bring a supply of over-the-counter medicines. Some products to consider taking with you: Pain relievers (>acetaminophen or >ibuprofen) Antacids (>Tums) Diarrhea medicines (>Imodium A-D or >Pepto-Bismol) Motion sickness aids (>Bonine) or (Dramamine) Insect repellant (>Off!)
Sunscreen >First aid kit For a wealth of useful information on foreign travel, check the section of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) web site that deals with travelers’ health, http://www.cdc.gov/travel. You can also request travel information from the CDC by calling its toll-free number, 877-FYI-TRIP. Sources:
Dick, Lew. “Travel Medicine: Helping Patients Prepare for Trips Abroad,” American Family Physician 58(1998).
Paynter, William. “Travel Medicine,” Clinician Reviews 10 (2000).
Center for Disease Control Travelers’ Health, http://www.cdc.gov/travel, accessed 12/2006.
The Merck Manual of Medical Information: Home Edition. Merck & Co., 2000.
This answer prepared 12/14/2000.
This information updated 2/6/2007.
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