Travel Health
Travel Guide Travel Health
Introduction
UW Travel Clinic - 6.12.09 022
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The Travellerspoint website is dedicated to those who have chosen to travel. Whether it is a short or long term adventure, a serious illness is the last thing anyone wants to encounter. Most know how to deal with the cold and/or influenza viruses, but malaria, dengue fever and a host of other diseases should be treated immediately. Most, if not all, are avoidable when proper precautions are followed.
Before embarking on any trip, contact your personal general practitioner or local travel health organization. Make this #1 on your list of travel preparations as it can take time to arrange an appointment. Depending on your destination, some immunizations are given as a series and can take up to 6 months to complete - Hepatitis A & B are good examples. Some anti-malarial medications should also be started prior to your departure.
As a traveler, only YOU are responsible for your OWN health care. Be extremely proactive in this process. Regardless of your age, no one is immortal and certain diseases/conditions aren't picky about the recipient when they decide to strike. So, plan ahead and travel safely.
Travel Health Websites
Although most countries have their own websites regarding travel health, here are a few general websites which are of significant use to all travellers:
Diseases
Below are lists of diseases and conditions that one can contract/develop when traveling:
Bacterial In Origin
- Cholera
- Diphtheria
- Lyme Disease
- Tetanus (Lockjaw)
- Typhoid Fever
- Tuberculosis
Viral In Origin
- Barmah Forest Virus
- Dengue Fever
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- Influenza & Avian Influenza
- Japanese Encephalitis
- Polio
- Rabies
- Ross River Virus
- West Nile Virus
- Yellow Fever
Parasitic in Origin
- Dystentery
- Giardia
- Malaria
- Schistosomiasis (Bilharziosis)
Multiple Origins And Other
- Meningitis
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
- Skin Cancer
- Fungal Infections
Conditions
- Altitude Sickness
- Deep-Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
- Dehydration
- Hyperthermia (Heat Exhaustion/Heat Stroke)
- Hypothermia & Frostbite
- Motion Sickness
Travelling with a Health Condition
- Diabetes
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Pregnancy
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Sleep Apnea
Travel Sports - Conditions and Injuries
SCUBA Diving
- Nitrogen Narcosis
- Decompression Sickness (Caisson Disease)
- Arterial Air Embolism
- Squeezes
PeterTravel Health Travel Helpers
Isadora
Ask Isadora a question about Travel HealthI have very extensive backgrounds in the pharmaceutical, biomedical and medical fields. I have also contributed most of the information found in the Travel Health section of the Travel Guide. I am able to answer questions about diseases, vaccinations, anti-malarials and other medically-related topics.
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