Medical expert has suggestions for staying healthy while traveling

If you’re traveling, is it more important than ever this year to get a flu shot? And do those strange-looking masks help make you safer from germs while visiting, say, a remote Asian village?

The answers to those and other questions come from by Dr. Robert Wheeler, an expert on the subject and In-house Medical Director at On Call International, during a question and answer interview with TravelMole:

 Q: Every year we hear about new strains of flu, etc. What are some tips to avoid the various diseases going around while traveling?

A: The best way to avoid getting the seasonal influenza is to receive the flu vaccine (via injection or nasal spray) in the early fall.  The annual vaccine can be up to 80 percent effective in protecting an individual from contracting the flu.  Frequent hand washing and/or use of alcohol based hand sanitizers may help to prevent the introduction of the flu virus into the body (via hand contact to eyes, nose, mouth) from contaminated environmental surfaces. In an epidemic event, a face mask may help to decrease your respiratory exposure to the influenza virus. Anti-viral medications (oseltamivir – Tamiflu and zanamivir – Relenza) may be taken daily as prophylaxis for the flu .

Q: Are there shots you should take?

A: The seasonal flu vaccine (for the 2011-2012 flu season, consists of #2 influenza A strains and #1 B strain) should be obtained in the early fall.

Q: Who should get shots or who is most at risk?

It is recommend that everyone six months of age and older receive an annual flu shot (except for those people who have an egg allergy or have  had a prior adverse reaction to the vaccine, or have a history of Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a paralytic illness). Infants, children less than 5 years of age, the elderly, pregnant women, people with asthma, diabetes, heart/lung/liver/kidney disease and other chronic medical conditions are all at higher risk for potential complications (especially pneumonia and respiratory failure) from the flu.

Q: Does wearing a mask help deter disease?

A: A properly fitted N95 mask may help to decrease your respiratory exposure to the flu, particularly in an epidemic event.  For people who have the flu and must travel in public, a mask may help to prevent transmission of the flu to other people.

Q: If you do get sick, what do you do?  Do you have some tips on finding a doctor or someone else to help you when you are becoming ill?

A: Flu symptoms include fever/chill, headache, body aches, cough, sore throat, runny/stuffy nose, headache and fatigue.  These typically can be treated with rest, fluids and over-the-counter medications, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil), aspirin, decongestants, antihistamines.  Anti-viral medication (such as oseltamivir – Tamiflu and zanamivir – Relenza), taken for 5 days, can also be used to lessen the duration of the illness and contagious period.  If traveling, local doctors, hospitals, nurse/flu helplines or your medical assistance company can provide recommendations for treatment of the flu and its symptoms.

Q: What’s the best tip for staying healthy while traveling?

A: Be aware of potential health risks (such as unsafe food/water, dangerous transportation, traveler’s diarrhea, cholera, malaria, Yellow fever, dengue, hepatitis, rabies, Legionnaire’s disease, TB, Lyme disease, altitude sickness) in your destination country.  This information can be obtained from the CDC and WHO web sites.  The CDC also has a free iPhone app called Smart Traveler that provides related information.  Frequently wash your hands and/or use alcohol based hand sanitizers. 

Q: What if you already have health problems and plan to travel?

A: If you have chronic medical conditions, plan a pre-trip evaluation by your doctor to make sure that you are fit and healthy enough for your trip.  If traveling to a developing country, consider an appointment with a travel medicine specialist to discuss recommendations for appropriate vaccines (such as for hepatitis, Yellow fever,  cholera, typhoid, rabies, and country specific medication, such as for malaria prophylaxis). Take an adequate supply of your daily medications as well as a first aid kit with other OTC medications and medical supplies.

Q: Are you more likely to get sick while traveling or staying at home?

A: It depends on your destination and activity.  In addition to the destination health risks noted above, other medical conditions often associated with travel include upper respiratory infections (“Traveler’s Respiratory Syndrome”), skin rashes and infections, motion/sea sickness, jet lag.
 

Q: Why are you more likely to get sick while traveling than while staying home?

A: You are often being exposed to different activities, environments and infectious pathogens/”bugs” compared to those at home.

By David Wilkening