Diarrhea when travelling! Not a good experience, but a very common one when travelling to foreign countries. We can help with advice on how to minimise this and other risks. In our travel consults, we focus on health promotion and prevention, including:
- Travel vaccinations are (only a small element of any travel consultation). And your medical history must be taken into account prior to any immunisations. We can vaccinate you for the following:
- Yellow fever – we are an accredited Yellow Fever clinic
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Typhoid
- Influenza
- Chicken pox
- Meningococcal disease
- Rabies
- Tetanus
- Up to date travel information to prevent illness/disease we cannot vaccinate against
- Malaria prevention
- Education and awareness of the local culture or region to help prevent accidents and injuries
Travel Vaccinations can be considered in three broad groups:
- Routine Childhood and Adult Vaccinations – MMR/ Hepatitis B/ Influenza, COVID 19, Tetanus and Meningococcus B. The risk is higher for these illnesses while travelling than is the risk for exotic tropical infections.
- Vaccinations required for crossing borders. (eg.Yellow Fever)
- Recommended vaccinations according to the risk of disease. (eg. Malaria, Rabies, Typhoid, Hepatitis A etc)
Jet Lag
In order to minimize jet lag, we encourage travellers to be well rested prior to travel and to eat light meals during travel, to remain well hydrated, and to limit alcohol and caffeine. Melatonin, a prescription medication, can be helpful to reset the body clock on arrival at your international destination.
DVT
- Deep Venous Thrombosis can occur as a result of prolonged immobility. The risk of DVT increases in flights greater than 4 hours and increases with the duration of travel. The risk increases in the presence of obesity, the use of the combined oral contraceptive pill and Hormone Replacement Therapy and with recent surgery or family history of DVT.
Exercising the calf muscles during flight can be helpful. Aspirin is not advised for prevention of DVT because of a clear lack of benefit.
Health Summary
Your doctor can print a copy of your health summary, medications, allergies and immunisations for you prior to international travel.
Medical Kit
- Useful contents of a medical kit would include antiseptic, bandage, simple dressings, scissors, eye drops, insect repellent, antihistamine, oral rehydration, simple analgesics, sunscreen, tweezers, steri-strips, usual medications, antibiotics for the most common infections a traveller might get, condoms, oral contraceptive pill, antibiotic ointment and anti-malarial medication if required.
Infectious Diseases
- Some diseases can be prevented by vaccination. The potential for exposure will depend on your travel destination, purpose of the trip, itinerary, standard of accommodation, hygiene, sanitation and behaviour.
Injuries
- Injuries are the most frequent cause of death amongst travellers and include traffic collisions and violence particularly in low and middle income countries where trauma systems may not be well developed. Injuries can occur in other settings including in recreational waters where swimming, diving and sailing take place. Developing an awareness of the dangers and taking appropriate precautions is recommended.
- For further information, please visit WHO website.
Remember to book an appointment well in advance of your trip 6 – 12 weeks before is ideal. You may need a number of doses of a particular vaccine and you might need time after immunisation for your body to develop full immunity.