Planning an international trip? Wondering when or if you should see a travel doctor? Read more for more information about when and why you should see a doctor that specializes in travel medicine.
This post is NOT to start a debate around vaccines, risks, side effects, or personal or religious beliefs… You have to do what is right for you and your body. This post is only to share the information I have learned over the years while traveling.
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My First Time…
My first experience with a travel doctor was when I was planning a trip to Peru. Diseases like Malaria, Yellow Fever, Typhoid Fever, Cholera, etc. are thankfully not something we need to worry about in the US but in many parts of the world, these are not only unpleasant but also possibly deadly.
The flight and accommodations were already booked when someone asked me, “Do you need any kind of vaccines to travel to Peru?” Sadly, I had not thought about it. I had traveled internationally before but never anywhere that I would think about needing a special vaccine.
I figured I’d better do some research and fast. Nothing will ruin a trip quicker than getting to the foreign country’s customs and immigration only to find out some vaccines are required before entry.
What does a travel doctor do?
A travel doctor is like any doctor they treat illnesses and diseases. The difference is travel doctors not only understand infectious diseases that are not prevalent or even found in the US, but they also stay educated on worldwide medical trends.
I’m not saying a primary doctor does not know what all of these diseases are but it’s like anything you do only once in a while. It’s harder to remember or know how to treat or manage a disease they see once every few years, than if it’s something they see and do every day.
Seeing a travel doctor is not just about infectious disease. They also are a wealth of knowledge about keeping yourself healthy while on vacation.
From personal experience, I can tell you when you are traveling somewhere that says the water is NOT safe to drink, you may still stumble on some water that makes you sick. A travel doctor can give you a prescription to help with travel stomach issues, advice on what over-the-counter medicine to bring with you, and even prevention tips to make sure you have the best time on your trip.
When should you see a travel doctor?
Some people would say you should see a travel doctor every time you travel outside the US. That however may not be necessary. You should for sure see a travel doctor when you are traveling to a country designated as a third-world country. I hate this term but that is common language so I will use it here. If you plan a trip anywhere that says the water is not potable, or unsafe to drink, you should see a travel doctor.
You should also check the United States CDC Website for up-to-date requirements and recommendations.
Why is it necessary to consult a travel medicine clinic?
As I mentioned before, travel doctor spends their time continuing their education on international infectious diseases but they also may be the only location with access to the “good stuff.” And by “good stuff” I mean unusual and potentially scarce vaccines.
When dealing with uncommon or never seen in the US diseases, not every hospital or clinic needs to keep a supply of vaccines for things like yellow fever. These are reserved for centralized locations. I, for example, don’t see a travel doctor in my normal clinic. I need to travel to one of two locations in the Minneapolis/St Paul area.
If you don’t live in a larger metropolitan area, check with your primary physician to see if they can get access to the vaccines or if you will need to schedule an appointment in a larger city.
The biggest reason to consult a travel doctor is they will know what vaccines are required for entry into the country. Some countries have a zero-tolerance policy and don’t may any exceptions, if they require a specific vaccine you will need to prove you had the vaccine or they will put your behind on the next airplane back to the US.
How far in advance should you see a travel doctor?
The Mayo Clinic website (and my local Health Partners travel clinic) recommend scheduling an appointment four to eight weeks before your departure. The reason is some vaccines need a couple of weeks before they are considered fully effective. If you get one of these vaccines too late, it will not protect you.
You also have enough other things to worry about the last week before you go, like do you have enough clothes…you don’t need to worry about if a vaccine will be fully effective in time.
Six reasons to see a travel doctor in summary
- Give you tips, advice, and medications to make your trip more enjoyable. Think about things like options to treat traveler’s diarrhea, medications for motion sickness, or altitude sickness. Trust me, traveler’s diarrhea is a common reason a trip is ruined, take the prescription with you, just in case.
- They know what vaccines are required, recommended, or suggested and can explain the pros and cons of each.
- Travel doctors are super smart. At least my travel doctor is super smart. She has some of the best tips and advice for travel. Do you ever take some duct tape wrapped around a pen or pencil with you on a trip? My travel doctor told me about this one. I thought she was nuts until a friend had her suitcase rip mid-trip and we had to spend the afternoon trying to find a new suitcase…if we had just brought some duct tape…
- Reduce the likelihood of getting sick on your trip. Unless you are wealthy or won a trip, you likely spend a lot of money on your trip. You don’t want to spend the whole time in the room sick.
- Reduce the impact of sickness you may get on your trip. Some countries have awesome health systems. Other…not so much. While you may not think you will be super sick from something like malaria, but if you do get super sick or even kind of sick, and you are in a country where quality medical care is hundreds of miles away… you will be thankful you saw the travel doctor who give you the medication to make it tolerable.
- If you are new to international travel, the travel doctor will give you peace of mind. They will give you information and advice on everything from what foods to avoid, how to ensure you don’t drink bad water, and even tips like bringing insect repellant in wipe form.
Additional Travel Doctor Resources:
United States Center for Disease Control – Travel
International Society for Travelers Medicine
World Health Organization – Vaccines
I am not a professional in any of the topics discussed on Adventures at Home and Away. All content on Adventures at Home and Away is for informational and educational purposes only. All comments made are my personal opinion and should not be used as professional advice.
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