African Trypanosomiasis (African Sleeping Sickness) African Trypanosomiasis (African Sleeping Sickness) What is African trypanosomiasis (African sleeping sickness)? African trypanosomiasis, also called African sleeping sickness, is a systemic disease ...
After You Return After You Return Returning from travel abroad After routine travel for short amounts of time, a medical examination is usually not necessary once you return home. The CDC has no official guidelines f...
Air Travel Air Travel Healthy considerations during air travel Air travel has become so commonplace, that many people think of it as routine as taking the bus was in years past. However, particularly on longer ...
BSE ('Mad Cow Disease') and vCJD BSE ('Mad Cow Disease') and vCJD “Mad Cow Disease” actually refers to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), a disease first described in 1996 in cattle, which is related to a disease in humans call...
Cholera Cholera What is cholera? Cholera is an acute, infectious disease caused by the consumption of water or food contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae . Cholera is a public health concern in dev...
Common Health Problems Associated With Travel in Developing Countries Common Health Problems Associated With Travel in Developing Countries According to the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the following are some of the most...
Cruise Ships Cruise Ships How is sanitation on cruise ships monitored? Every ship that carries 13 or more passengers and has a foreign or international itinerary with United States ports is under the jurisdiction...
Cryptosporidiosis Cryptosporidiosis What is cryptosporidiosis? Cryptosporidiosis, sometimes referred to as "Crypto," is a diarrheal infection caused by the parasite Cryptosporidium . The parasite is most commonly acqu...
Dengue Fever Dengue Fever What is dengue fever? Dengue (pronounced den gee) is a viral disease transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes mainly in tropical and subtropical areas of the world, with the greatest risks occurr...
Diarrhea Diarrhea Click Image to Enlarge What is diarrhea? Diarrhea is defined either as watery stool, or increased frequency, or both, when compared to a normal amount. It is a common problem that may last a...
Diarrheal Diseases Diarrheal Diseases Several diarrheal diseases affect travelers abroad. Listed in the directory below are some of these diseases, for which we have provided a brief overview. Cryptosporidiosis Diarrhe...
Emerging Infectious Diseases Emerging Infectious Diseases What are emerging infectious diseases? According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, emerging infectious diseases are commonly defined as: Outbr...
Escherichia coli O157:H7 Escherichia coli O157:H7 What is E. coli O157:H7? Escherichia coli (or simply E. coli) is one of the many groups of bacteria that live in the intestines of healthy humans and most warm-blooded animal...
Fish Poisoning What is fish poisoning? At certain times of the year, various species of fish and shellfish contain poisonous biotoxins, even if well cooked. According to the CDC, it is considered an under-recognize...
Giardiasis Giardiasis What is giardiasis? Giardiasis is an infectious diarrheal disease caused by the parasite Giardia intestinalis (also known as Giardia lamblia or Giardia duodenalis ), which can be transmitt...
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High-Risk Diseases for Travelers High-Risk Diseases for Travelers Many diseases pose a high risk for travelers. Listed in the directory below are some of the diseases, for which we have provided a brief overview. African Trypanosomi...
HIV and AIDS HIV and AIDS What is AIDS? AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which kills or impairs cells of the immune system and progressively destroys...
Home Page - Travel Medicine Topic Index Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad Staying Healthy While You Travel Common Health Problems Associated With Travel in Developing Countries Safety While Traveling Abroad Wha...
Influenza (Flu) Influenza (Flu) What is influenza (flu)? Influenza (or flu) is a highly contagious viral respiratory tract infection. An estimated 5 to 20 percent of people in the U.S. get influenza each year. Influ...
Lyme Disease Lyme Disease What are the dangers of tick bites? While most tick bites are harmless, several species can transmit life-threatening diseases. Two of these well-known diseases are Rocky Mountain Spotte...
Malaria Malaria What is malaria? Malaria is a disease caused by a parasite that is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito. These mosquitoes are present in the tropics and subtrop...
Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad In case of illness, American citizens traveling abroad should be aware of the services that are offered by the U.S. embassies and consulates. U.S. c...
Meningitis Meningitis What is meningitis? Click Image to Enlarge Meningitis is a disease caused by an inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that surround the brain. The inflammation is usually caused by i...
Online Resources - Travel Medicine Online Resources - Travel Medicine This Web was compiled from a variety of sources including the online resources listed below, but is not intended to substitute or replace the professional medical a...
Planning To Travel Planning To Travel Planning to travel takes time and special preparation. Listed in the directory below are some considerations that will need to be made before you travel, for which we have provided...
Rabies Rabies What are the dangers of animal bites? Animal bites and scratches, even when they are minor, can become infected and spread bacteria to other parts of the body. Whether the bite is from a famil...
Routine Vaccination Recommendations Routine Vaccination Recommendations What vaccinations are routinely recommended for adults, adolescents, and children? According to the CDC, there are presently 16 diseases that have recommended vacc...
Safety While Traveling Abroad Safety While Traveling Abroad Millions of Americans travel abroad each year. Safety should be a prime consideration for anyone traveling outside the United States. There are certain precautions that ...
Salmonella Infections Salmonella Infections What are Salmonella infections? Salmonella infections are diarrheal infections caused by the bacteria Salmonella. The Salmonella germ is actually a group of bacteria that can ca...
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Click Image to Enlarge What is SARS? Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a rapidly spreading, potentially fatal infectious viral disease. According to...
Special Vaccination Requirements Special Vaccination Requirements Before traveling to any destination outside the United States, it is important to review your vaccination schedule with your doctor. This should be done as far in adv...
Staying Healthy While You Travel Staying Healthy While You Travel Preventing illness or injury is a big part of making your trip relaxing and enjoyable. Because some destinations have environments that may be very different from the...
Topic Index - Travel Medicine Topic Index - Travel Medicine Travel Medicine Home Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad Staying Healthy While You Travel Common Health Problems Associated With Travel in Developing Coun...
Traveler's Checklist Traveler's Checklist Before you travel, the following checklist will help you to prepare for a safe and healthy trip: Schedule an appointment with your doctor well in advance of your trip. Have neces...
Traveler's Diarrhea Traveler's Diarrhea What is traveler's diarrhea? Traveler's diarrhea (TD) is a term used to describe the diarrhea caused by infection with bacteria, protozoa, or viruses ingested by consuming food or...
Traveler's First-Aid Kit Traveler's First Aid Kit What should a traveler's first aid kit include? The American College of Emergency Physicians and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encourage travelers to pack a ...
Traveling While Pregnant or Breastfeeding Traveling While Pregnant or Breastfeeding Special considerations for traveling while pregnant Although traveling during pregnancy is normal and occurs rather frequently, it is important for pregnant ...
Traveling With Children Traveling With Children Traveling with children can bring great rewards as well as great challenges for parents. With worldwide travel becoming more and more common, many families are taking children...
Traveling with Chronic Conditions Traveling with Chronic Conditions Taking special care when traveling with chronic conditions Chronic conditions should not keep people from enjoying travel. As with other medical conditions, people s...
Traveling with Diabetes Traveling with Diabetes Planning ahead is the key to traveling with diabetes. People with diabetes can enjoy all kinds of recreational travel from a week at the beach, to camping in the Rockies, to s...
Traveling With HIV Traveling With HIV For people with HIV, travel can pose specific risks. According to the CDC, travel, especially to developing countries, can increase the risk of contracting opportunistic infections...
Traveling With Special Needs Traveling With Special Needs Traveling with special needs requires careful planning. Listed in the directory below are some considerations that will need to be made before traveling with special need...
Tuberculosis (TB) Tuberculosis (TB) Click Image to Enlarge What is tuberculosis? Tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic bacterial infection that usually infects the lungs, although other organs such as the kidneys, spine, or ...
Types of Arbovirus Encephalitis Types of Arbovirus Encephalitis What is encephalitis? Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain that is frequently caused by a viral infection. The viruses are called arboviruses and are transmitt...
Typhoid Fever Typhoid Fever What is typhoid fever? Typhoid fever is a life-threatening bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi ( S. typhi ). According to the CDC, typhoid fev...
Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers What are viral hemorrhagic fevers? Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHF) is a term that refers to a group of illnesses caused by several distinct families of viruses. While some typ...
What To Do If You Get Sick While Traveling What To Do If You Get Sick While Traveling Becoming ill while traveling in a foreign country can be frightening, so it is best to be prepared before you leave home. Taking the following measures can ...
Yellow Fever Yellow Fever What is yellow fever? Yellow fever is a viral disease that is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Although it is a rare disease, many countries require that visitors have the yell...