//fpnotebook.com/
Travel Preparation
Aka: Travel Preparation, Pretravel Consultation, Travel Medicine, Traveler's Health, Traveling with Medications
- See Also
- Travel Resources
- Air Travel Restriction
- Travel Immunization
- See International Medical Concerns
- Precautions
- Review specific risks and preparation (e.g. Immunizations) at least 6 weeks before travel
- See International Medical Concerns
- See Travel Immunization
- See Waterborne Illness Prevention
- See Foodborne Illness Prevention
- See Prevention of Vector-borne Infection
- See Malaria Prophylaxis
- Avoid excessive risks associated with death
- Motor Vehicle Accidents (account for >18% of all deaths in travelers)
- Use Seat Belts and Car Seats
- Wear Bicycle helmets
- Avoid night driving
- Avoid riding in open back of pick-up truck (or open bus top)
- Avoid motorcycles and mopeds
- Drowning
- Violence
- Avoid other risks
- Tattoos or piercing (risk of HIV, Hepatitis C)
- Avoid filling medications in low-income nations (risk of adulterated medications)
- Protect yourself
- See Sun Exposure
- See High Altitude Sickness
- See DVT Prevention in Travelers
- Practice safe sex (Condoms and Contraception)
- Consider travel insurance with emergency medical evacuation coverage
- Especially for high risk activities (e.g. mountain climbing)
- Comorbid Conditions
- See Air Travel Restriction
- Carry documentation of medical history
- Active medical conditions
- Medication allergies
- Medications
- Carry prescribed medications in their original containers when possible
- Also bring a list of the medications with both trade and generic names, along with indications
- Ideally, have list addended with names in destination language
- Bring enough medication supply to cover for extra emergency days of travel (in carry-on luggage)
- If medication must be purchased in destination country, review with pharmacist to verify equivalence
- Declare potentially suspect medications
- Liquid medications >3.4 ounces
- Syringes
- Inquire about controlled substances and banned substances in destination country prior to travel
- Adderall is banned in Japan
- Pseudophedrine is banned in Mexico
- References
- (2022) Presc Lett 29(5): 28
- Risk factors: Travel related illness
- Backpacking trek or adventure travel
- Age over 65 years
- Immunocompromised state
- U.S. Immigrant returning to country of origin
- Long-term travel
- Pregnancy
- Uncontrolled comorbidity
- Congestive Heart Failure
- Hypertension
- Seizure Disorder
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Mental illness
- Coronary Artery Disease (Recent Myocardial Infarction or CABG)
- See Contraindications to Air Travel
- Contraindications: Travel Restrictions
- See Contraindications to Air Travel
- Management: Emergency care while traveling
- See First Aid Kit
- See Traveler's Diarrhea Prophylaxis
- See Travel Resources
- Management: Returning Travelers
- See Fever in the Returning Traveler
- See GI Conditions in Febrile Returning Traveler
- See Lymphadenopathy in the Febrile Returning Traveler
- Prevention
- See Travel Immunization
- See Waterborne Illness Prevention
- See Foodborne Illness Prevention
- See Prevention of Vector-borne Infection
- See Malaria Prophylaxis
- See Sleep Disturbance in Travel
- See High Altitude Sickness
- See Sun Exposure
- See DVT Prevention in Travelers
- See Motion Sickness
- Resources
- See Travel Resources
- CDC Travel
- http://www.cdc.gov/travel
- References
- Bazemore (2009) Am Fam Physician 80(6): 583-90 [PubMed]
- Powell-Dunford (2021) Am Fam Physician 104(4): 403-10 [PubMed]
- Sanford (2016) Am Fam Physician 94(8): 620-7 [PubMed]