Guest Author - Denise Washington
Traveling overseas is an exciting adventure as you experience new cultures, languages, foods, and historical sites. But, what do you do if you get sick abroad? Here are some tips that will help you be prepared if illness happens.
Prepare before you leave
Based on the country you will visit, find out what vaccinations you will need. For example, when traveling to countries like Kenya, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia, the prominent diseases are malaria and yellow fever. For those diseases, the vaccinations are typhoid, hepatitis A and B, anti-malarial, and rabies. Your doctor will advise you on which ones to get. If they are not available through your doctor, you may be referred to a travel medicine clinic or your local and state health department. Be aware that these vaccinations may be expensive and you may need to get them several months before your trip so they can enter your system. Plus, there may be side effects.
Center for Disease Control
Check out the website for the Center for Disease Control. The site has an extensive section on international travel. They produce the �Yellow Book: Health Information for International Travel, 2005-2006� which you can purchase online. The comprehensive book is updated every two years and provides a lot of answers to the questions you may have.
The site also lists information on creating an international travel kit. According to the CDC, you should take decongestant, anti-diarrhea medicine, antihistamine, hydrocortisone cream, antacids, cough drops and syrup, and laxatives. Check the site for the complete list. The CDC also has information about getting blood transfusions, health seeking travel like drinking holy or mineral water for healing and other natural therapies, being aware of the quality of medical care in other countries, and how to work with the U.S. consulate or embassy on payment issues for medical treatments.
Travel insurance
Your health insurance may not cover certain illness and injuries that may occur overseas. Check with your company first to see what they will cover. Otherwise, you may have to get travel insurance. The U.S. State Department has a listing on their site of various companies. Leave copies of insurance documents with friends or family.
Be preventative
Be careful when eating perishable food in areas where proper sanitation is lacking. Err on the side of caution. Also, don�t take chances with water and ice. It is best to get bottled water. Use it also to brush your teeth. If you are staying a long period of time, consider getting a portable water filter. Or learn how to purify water through boiling and using iodine.
The key is being prepared before you leave. Do your research ahead of time so you will know what to do when illness strikes. Also, be preventative when you get there so you can remain healthy on your trip.
