Whether you’re heading to a tropical rain forest or African plains, the off-roading version of traveling may introduce you to new cultures and cuisines, but it can also expose you to a host of infections not found in the United States. Dr. Kathleen Gekowski, an infectious disease specialist at Capital Health, shares life-saving advice for travelers venturing overseas to developing countries.
Learn about your risks of infection…
The risk of unusual infections varies based on where you are traveling. Many people look at the CDC website and get travel information about vaccinations. In addition, I encourage patients to have a consultation with me because vaccinations alone may not protect you from the various exposure risks you may encounter in a developing country like Uganda. For example, you need to take a malaria-prevention pill if you’re going to Uganda. However, there are many other insect- and tick-born illnesses I can’t vaccinate against or prescribe a pill/medication that will protect against the infections that these insects can carry. It’s incumbent on the traveler to protect themselves against insect bites by taking the appropriate precautions—using repellant with DEET, wearing long pants and sleeves, sleeping with a net over your bed, knowing that the worst time for mosquito exposure is dusk to dawn.
Get up-to-date on your vaccines…
Citizens going abroad should be current with their routine vaccinations. Make sure your tetanus-diphtheria immunization is up-to-date: God forbid you have an accident that results in an open wound; you want to be protected. Get a flu shot, and if you’re older, a pneumonia vaccine. You should consider the Hepatitis A and the Typhoid vaccines—both infections are acquired from drinking or eating fresh fruit and vegetables washed with contaminated local water. Depending on the country that you will be visiting, it may be indicated to get an adult polio booster or the initial polio series if you were never vaccinated. Specialized vaccines (e.g. yellow fever) may also be indicated.
Don’t be last minute…
You should start talking with your doctor as soon as you can and get your vaccines at least four weeks before your trip. You want to give the vaccine time to take effect before you travel.
Be smart about medical conditions…
If you have a known allergy that causes throat swelling or trouble breathing, make sure you have an Epi-Pen with you. If you’re diabetic, you’ll need syringes and a letter from your doctor saying you can bring them into the country. You don’t want to risk being exposed to a needle that is not sterile.
Protect yourself against GI infections…
Don’t be fooled into thinking vaccinations will protect you from all acquired infections of the gastrointestinal tract. There are a variety of infections that can be acquired from drinking local water and eating fruits and vegetables washed in contaminated water. Make sure you drink bottled beverages with secure caps. Be wary of fresh salad—the cook could have used local water to wash the lettuce. You have to be proactive.
Dealing with GI infections…
I offer my patients a three-day supply of antibiotics, which can be taken if they develop severe watery diarrhea. Most of the time they developed the problem from something they ate or drank—this should treat most bacterial infections but not parasites. If the antibiotic doesn’t help, they’ll need to be evaluated at a medical facility located where they are traveling. Do not use anti-diarrheal medication alone to treat a diarrhea illness that did not respond to the antibiotic provided.
Know your health insurance…
Your health insurance may not cover the cost of the vaccines you need if you’re traveling to a developing country. I also remind patients to research their insurance and see if it covers problems that develop while they’re abroad. You may want to consider purchasing travel health insurance for your trip.
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