Overview of Travel Health and Safety
- Introduction
- Vaccines
- General Health and Safety Concerns
- Water Precautions
- Food Precautions
- Illnesses from Food and Water
- Insect Precautions
- Illnesses from Insects
- Respiratory Precautions
- Respiratory Illnesses
- Problems from Physical Contact
- Additional Illnesses
- Pests
- Upon Return
- Special Medical Concerns
- Medical History Form
- Vaccination Status Record
- Useful Items to Pack
- Index
Special Medical Concerns
Many people with medical concerns continue to travel. Whether they have a temporary medical condition, such as pregnancy, or an ongoing health concern, such as diabetes, travelers should consult their health care providers about their trips and plan for any specific needs.
| Condition | ||||||
| Considerations | Diabetes |
Heart Disease |
Pregnancy |
Pulmonary Problem |
Stomach Disorder |
Immune Deficiency |
| Consult health care provider for advice in planning. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Carry letter from health care provider stating condition, medications, and treatments. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | * |
| Wear medical alert tags (stating condition and drug allergies) at all times. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | * |
| Inform airlines, cruise lines, and hotels about special needs. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | * |
| Keep insulin in insulator pack; adjust doses to time zones; bring supply of needles and syringes. | ✔ | |||||
| Delay trip if condition is currently unstable. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Some live vaccines may be inadvisable. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Take extra precautions in areas with high risk of infection. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Observe strict food and water precautions. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Avoid physical extremes, high altitudes, and overexertion. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Check availability of oxygen at each destination. | ✔ | ✔ | ||||
| Avoid areas of extreme air pollution or high humidity. | ✔ | ✔ | ||||
* Discuss with a health care provider because immunodeficiency due to HIV infection can cause entry problems in some countries.
