International Travel

Travelers who plan to visit developing or tropical countries should take a number of precautions. Do you know which items you should take with you on your travel? If you don’t then you might want to review the list below before you leave for your trip abroad.

· Obtain a brief summary of your medical history to take with you, including the results of abnormal tests or EKGs and a list of drug allergies

· Long-sleeved shirt, long pants, and a hat to wear whenever possible while outside, to prevent illnesses carried by insects

· Insect repellent containing DEET

· Flying-insect spray to help clear rooms of mosquitoes. The product should contain a pyrethroid insecticide; these insecticides quickly kill flying insects, including mosquitoes

· Lodine tablets and portable water filters to purify water if bottled water is not available

· Sun-block, sunglasses, and a hat for protection from harmful effects of UV sun rays

· Contact lens wearers should consider taking ocular antibiotics if traveling to remote countries

· Prescription medications make sure you have enough to last during your trip, as well as a copy of the prescription(s) or letter from your health-care provider on office stationery explaining that the medication has been prescribed for you

· Always carry medications in their original containers, in your carry-on luggage

· Be sure to bring along over-the-counter antidiarrheal medication and an antibiotic prescribed by your doctor to self-treat moderate to severe diarrhea

· Small portable water filters remove parasites and clear murky water without leaving the chemical taste. They are particularly beneficial for pregnant women and people who cannot take iodine. When purchasing a filter, the phrase “EPA Registration”; should be printed on the label, indicating that the Environmental Protection Agency has guaranteed its effectiveness

· Travelers might also consider buying an electric heating coil to boil and purify tap water. Plug adapters and voltage converters may be required

· Antifungal foot powder

· Travelers should remember to check what coverage their health insurance company offers for policyholders abroad. Medicare does not provide coverage outside the United States but other insurers offer limited coverage overseas. Individual supplementary health insurance policies should cost no more than a few dollars a day for international travelers

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