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August 08, 2007
Sue Pascoe , Staff Writer
Whether it is a first trip to the Great Wall of China, a safari to Africa or just a trip to London for scones and clotted cream, there are certain medical precautions travelers should take. The Palisadian-Post spoke to Dr. Julie Ma of the Pacific Palisades Medical Group for recommendations.
If one's dream trip is to travel to a third-world county, Ma recommends seeing the family physician or going to a travel clinic four to six weeks before travel, because some vaccinations, such as hepatitis A, require multi-doses. 'With the appropriate vaccinations and precautions, you're safe to travel anywhere,' Ma said.
Depending on the destination, there are three different types of vaccinations a traveler needs to consider: required, routine and recommended.
If one is traveling to parts of Africa and South America, a yellow fever vaccination is required and the traveler must have a certificate verifying he has had the shot. Another required vaccination is for meningococcal bacteria disease, which is spread by direct close contact with nose or throat discharges of an infected person. Surprisingly, the disease has also been a problem in U.S. college dormitories, so the shot is recommended for college-bound students.
The next set of travel vaccinations are those routinely given to United States citizens and may need to be updated, like MMR (measles, mumps and rubella), since those diseases are still prevalent in third-world countries.
If one has not had a tetanus shot or booster in the last 10 years, it should be on the routine list of shots to have before because tetanus, which is caused by bacteria, is still a global health problem. Whooping cough, a highly contagious bacterial disease, has not been eradicated world-wide and is starting to reappear in the United States, so many doctors prescribe a pertussis booster as an additional routine vaccination.
The third category of inoculations are the recommended, which include typhoid and hepatitis A. Vaccines for typhoid fever are available and are advised for persons traveling in certain areas of Asia, Africa and Latin America because the bacteria is becoming resistant to antibiotics used in treating the disease.
The hepatitis A virus causes a liver disease and is spread primarily through food or water contaminated by stool from an infected person. You can also get the virus from drinking contaminated water or eating food prepared by someone who has the virus and did not wash his or her hands after using the bathroom.
The disease is a problem in Mexico, Africa, South America and Southeast Asia and can be contacted in the ocean. Surprisingly, it is also common in Southern California because of hygiene problems in restaurants.
Although many children are now being vaccinated for the virus during regular check-ups, adults are not, so Ma recommends they get this shot.
If a trip to Africa or Southeast Asia is planned during the time when mosquitoes are abundant, an anti-malarial medication should be considered. The medicine is taken the day before travel, during the vacation and one week after returning.
In addition to packing a suitcase, Ma also recommends packing a travel medication kit, which could include an anti-diarrheal agent, a basic insect repellent that includes Deet (which can protect against West Nile virus), sunblock, a pain reliever like aspirin or ibuprofen, a topical antibiotic ointment, bandages and an antibacterial hand rub. 'The best way to prevent an infection while traveling is to wash your hands,' Ma said. 'The kit is nice to have in your car or in a backpack while traveling.'
With any long trip, there is usually air travel and jet lag, which leads Ma to make another recommendation, 'No alcohol on the plane.' And once you are in another country, eat smaller meals until you've adapted to the time change. 'It's better for your body if you don't go to extremes,' Ma said. She also notes there are sleep agents available, which help some people to acclimate easier to new time zones.
Since Pacific Palisades is located at sea level, any travel to the mountains might cause altitude sickness in the first 24 to 28 hours. Once again Ma recommends maintaining good hydration, avoiding alcohol and eating smaller meals.
At airport security checkpoints, Ma reminds travelers that liquids like water or sunblock that contain 3.5 oz. or more will be confiscated. She suggests that if you carry a prescription, you also carry a note from your doctor. 'If you have a doctor's note, there's a better likelihood they'll let you keep the medication,' Ma said.
Although many travelers take all of the precautions necessary for safe travel, they fail to do it at home. 'The serious issues in terms of health risks and potential hazards are greater here than abroad,' Ma said. 'Make sure kids have seat belts on, safety gear like helmets for razors and bikes, and if you have a swimming pool, make sure it is fenced in and children are always supervised.'
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