Whispers
Online Magazine for Women
210 Circle Inn #82
Chubbuck, Idaho 83202
208 637 1803
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Dr. Stephen Blythe is a Board-Certified family physician in practice in Melbourne, Florida. His practice for fourteen years has included individual and corporate consultation for travelers, a subject in which he became interested while suffering from typhoid fever
in Guatemala the summer prior to medical school...; his experience also includes working with Guatemalan refugees in Chiapas, Mexico, and a human rights delegation to Guatemala.He has traveled many
times to developing countries, including several corporate site visits to the
Philippines.
In addition to an interest in travel medicine, Dr. Blythe has an active interest in alternative medicine and nutrition -"I became a
nutritionist before going to medical school (two years in grad school at Penn State and a
year of clinical nutrition research, including field work with the White Mountain Apache
in Arizona). I also have a Master's Degree in Health Administration."
Pre-Travel Checklists and Reminders
I would like to remind travelers that most illnesses and injuries are not such things
as Ebola virus but the routine things which can affect us at home. The major cause of
deaths and injuries requiring evacuation is automobile accidents.
Another huge cause of travel-related fatalities is drowning while participating in water
sports after drinking! Wearing seatbelts, avoiding rural roadways at night, and
using common sense with alcohol can make all the difference!
The lists below are just collections of items to think about packing and pre-trip
immunizations and medical supplies you may want to bring along.
General Checklist
Water Treatment (consider one or more of the following if you will be where bottled
water might not be available):
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heater - gas or electric (may need plug adaptor) |
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filter (appropriate type) |
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purifying tablets |
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water bottle |
Diarrhea Treatment:
| "Immodium" (loperamide) |
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appropriate antibiotic (prescription) |
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"Pepto Bismol" |
Insect Repellents:
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DEET for skin - appropriate for age |
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Permethrin for clothing |
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bednets, head-nets for high-risk area/travelers |
Malaria Preventive (one
or none of the following, as needed, chosen with the help of a travel physician):
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chloroquine (prescription - "Aralen") |
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mefloquine (prescription - "Lariam") |
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doxycycline (prescription - various trade names) |
Miscellaneous:
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sunscreen |
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first aid kit |
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pocketknife |
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list of prescriptions, eyeglass prescription, extras |
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personal hygiene/medical supplies |
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contraceptives - not always available |
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acetazolamide (prescription - "Diamox") for altitude headaches
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photocopies of travel documents - passport, tickets, immunization certificate |
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security aids - door stops, alarm, money pouch or belt |
Health and Immunization Checklist
For Any Country:
"Routine" Immunizations:
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diphtheria-tetanus within past ten years |
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polio - oral or injectable once as adult - especially if going to Africa or Asia - polio
has been eradicated in the Western Hemisphere |
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measles-mumps-rubella - one booster as adult if born later than 1956 |
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flu and pneumonia shots up-to-date if at risk (over 60, pre-existing illness) |
Suggested for Travel to Most Underdeveloped Countries:
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Hepatitis A - very important: get this two-shot series if you will be spending three
weeks or more in any underdeveloped country over the next ten years or for any adventurous
trip (off the beaten track, eating in small cafes and the marketplace, etc.). Not needed
if you have ever had hepatitis A ("infectious hepatitis"). |
| Typhoid - if you will be spending four weeks or more in an underdeveloped country over
the next four years or for any adventurous trip to areas of poor hygiene. |
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Hepatitis B - if you will be spending six months or more (ever) in underdeveloped
countries or if you will be exposed to body fluids through health care work, unsafe sex
practices, tattoos, shared needles, etc. Minimum two months for series. |
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Rabies - a serious problem in most underdeveloped countries - generally you do not need
this vaccine for short trips without planned exposure to animals. Those who will have
animal exposure, spelunkers (cave explorers), or those planning on residing for six months
or longer might consider the pre-exposure series. Bicycling would be a high-risk activity,
given the tendency of dogs to bite the ankles of cyclists... |
For Specific Countries:
See country-specific listing or consult your travel physician for these:
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Yellow fever - international certificate often required for entry, even if travel does
not include countries with active disease. Some countries require this even if coming
directly from the US. Affected areas are in the tropical parts of South America and
Africa. |
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Japanese encephalitis - depends on specific country, area of country, season, length of
stay, and planned activities. Expensive. Three shots require one month. Affected areas
include parts of Japan, Asia, and the Indonesian archipelago. |
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Cholera - required only for Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca, recommended only for very
high-risk activities (e.g., refugee work). |
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Meningitis - for travel to India, Nepal, and to the "meningitis belt" of
sub-saharan Africa during the dry season (generally January through June). Also needed for
Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. |
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Malaria - In many tropical areas. No vaccine exists yet - must be prevented by avoidance
of mosquito bites and use of anti-malarials if you will be at exposed - best
determined by consultation with an experienced travel health professional. |
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Other insect-borne diseases - vary from region to region. In general, insect bites
should be avoided with careful selection of clothing and use of repellants. |
Fresh water hazards in the tropics inlcude leptospirosis and schistosomiasis.
Leptospirosis is a bacteria spread by animal urine which can enter through mucous
membranes and make you sick. Schistosomiasis is a parasite which enters through your skin
and cause serious and chronic illness. Leptospirosis occurs throughout the tropics (even a
big problem in Hawaii), schistosomiasis occurs in many areas of Africa and certain parts
of Asia, South America, and the Carribean. Basically it is a good idea to check with
knowledgeable locals before jumping into a fresh-water pool or stream.
© Dr. Stephen Blythe, Travel Health Information Service
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