Nancy Rudner: Tips to traveling in good health

Central Florida may be a “world class travel destination” but many of us are heading out to the wide world when we hear that mantra on the airport tram at OIA. Travelers come in all shapes, sizes, and reasons for travel, such as retirees taking long-planned trips to far-away lands, mission groups, religious travelers, site seekers, families finalizing adoptions, young backpackers, and families reuniting with relatives.

Whatever your reason or destination, start planning your travel health four to six weeks prior to departure so you have time to get any needed immunizations and medications. Check out the Centers for Disease Control at cdc.gov/travel for travel advice. Consult with one of the local travel health services. An assessment by a local physician who knows travel medicine, a travel health clinic, or the local health department can get you ready for your trip. The nurse practitioners in some of the convenient care clinics also provide the service.

What you need for travel depends on your overall health, where you are going, and your style of travel. City travel risks differ from rural risks. Backpacking presents different experiences but also different risks than staying in five-star resorts do.

If you have an ongoing health condition, consider how the changes in air pressure, altitudes, humidity, disrupted sleep patterns, and unusual foods may affect you. Plan how you will manage these changes while traveling.

If you are pregnant or traveling with young children who may be more vulnerable to infections, a travel health consult can identify additional precautions. For example, young children may need to have an altered immunization schedule and get some vaccines earlier that he or she would if not leaving the country.

Check to be sure you and everyone in your travel group are up-to-date on routine immunizations. Routine immunizations are those routinely recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, based on age and risk factors, regardless of travel plans. The current immunization schedule is updated annually. Visit cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules to see it.

Some travel immunizations, such as hepatitis A and typhoid, protect against illnesses from contaminated water or food. Mosquito bites can bring serious illness. Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory for travel to some countries. While the Gates Foundation and others are working on a malaria vaccine, we have medications that must be taken continuously before, during, and after travel. As the malaria continually mutates, anti-malaria medications must be carefully matched to the region of travel. These have side effects and may not be appropriate for everyone — another good reason for your pre-travel health consultation. You also want to be sure to get your malaria medication before you leave; bogus malaria medications have been a problem in some countries.

A few preparations can make the difference between a dream trip and a health nightmare.