Preparing for International Travel and Global Medical Care

Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2017 May;35(2):465-484. doi: 10.1016/j.emc.2017.01.006.

Abstract

Thorough pretravel preparation and medical consultation can mitigate avoidable health and safety risks. A comprehensive pretravel medical consultation should include an individualized risk assessment, immunization review, and discussion of arthropod protective measures, malaria prophylaxis, traveler's diarrhea, and injury prevention. Travel with children and jet lag reduction require additional planning and prevention strategies; travel and evacuation insurance may prove essential when traveling to less resourced countries. Consideration should also be given to other high-risk travel scenarios, including the provision of health care overseas, adventure and extreme sports, water environments and diving, high altitude, and terrorism/unstable political situations.

Keywords: Immunization; Malaria prophylaxis; Preparation; Travel; Travel medical kits; Vaccination.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Child
  • Diarrhea / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Immunization
  • Insurance, Health
  • Jet Lag Syndrome / prevention & control
  • Malaria / prevention & control
  • Patient Education as Topic
  • Referral and Consultation*
  • Risk Assessment
  • Travel*
  • Wounds and Injuries / prevention & control