Travel to Developing Countries - Highlights

Highlights

• More than 50 million people from industrialized nations travel to developing countries each year.
• Since many doctors find it hard to keep abreast of medical trends in foreign countries, a local travel clinic may be especially helpful to prepare you for travel to developing countries.
• Travelers to developing countries should have a thorough checkup and prepare for any health situation at least 4 - 6 weeks before the trip. Be sure to get a checkup, even if this much advance time is not available.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintains a Traveler's Health web site (wwwn.cdc.gov/travel). The site carries news about dangerous disease outbreaks around the world, safety guidelines, and detailed disease information about diseases of particular concerns to travelers.
• Immunocompromised patients may need to take extra precautions in addition to the recommendations in this report. Patients with impaired immune systems should discuss their travel plans with their physicians.
• If you develop any symptoms of illness upon your return to the United States, be sure to contact your doctor immediately. Let your doctor know where you have been, in addition to what symptoms you are experiencing.
• Take a brief summary of your medical history with you on your trip. This summary should include results of abnormal tests or electrocardiograms (EKGs) and a list of any drug allergies you have.
• Take along a list of medications you normally use, noting all trade and generic names as well as dosages. In addition, the doctor should give you a letter authorizing any necessary medications; this precaution will facilitate customs and security checks.
• Travelers should check what coverage their health insurance provides for international medical care.

Review Date: 01/30/2011
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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