Doc: Acronym is easy way to ensure 'SAFE TRIP'

By Bradley Connor, M.D.

What are some of the health precautions that you suggest travelers take when visiting family and friends abroad?

A: In most cases, travelers visiting relatives and friends overseas should take the same health and safety precautions as those staying in hotels or inns.

However, these travelers are often more vulnerable to certain illnesses than their hosts because they have not been exposed to local diseases to which people in the community have developed immunity or tolerance.

The best way to prevent such illnesses is to ensure that travelers receive the recommended vaccinations for the country they will be visiting. A travel medicine specialist can provide vaccination recommendations on a country-by-country basis.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Web site also provides information on immunizations, destination-specific health risks and disease outbreaks worldwide.

Other good information sources for country-specific health information include MedicinePlanet, at www.medicineplanet.com, and Travel Health Online at www.tripprep.com.

In addition to the recommended immunizations, there's an acronym -- SAFE TRIP -- that may help travelers remember eight important areas of travel health.

SAFE TRIP stands for:

For those who will be spending time outdoors, especially during the midday hours, it is important to use a sunscreen with an SPF 15 or higher.

If visiting a tropical, equatorial or high-altitude climate, visitors have to get acclimated to the physical stresses associated with high temperatures, humidity and intense solar rays. To prevent heat exhaustion, drink plenty of fluids; wear cotton or other loose-fitting, porous fabrics and take breaks from the outdoor heat.

To help adjust to the new time zone, travelers should follow the same timetable as their hosts upon arrival. If it's morning, stay outdoors in the sunlight and keep active. If arrival is at night, go straight to bed to help the internal body clock adjust to the local timetable.

However, if the hosts live in an underdeveloped country or an area with questionable sanitary conditions, it is important to follow the same guidelines as other tourists, including avoiding raw or undercooked meats and seafood, salads and fruit you can't peel yourself and avoiding all street vendors and tap water. In some cases, although family and friends may be immune to diseases spread through contaminated food and water, the visitor may not be.

For example, the inexperienced wouldn't want to jump onto a moped or motorcycle on a busy street just because it's "the thing to do".

If consuming alcohol, don't forget to designate a driver, as alcohol remains a major factor in overseas motor vehicle accidents.

Even in the absence of contaminated food or water, adjusting to local cuisine can be difficult and often results in gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea.

There are prescription medications that may be used to prevent or treat travelers' diarrhea and over-the-counter products that can slow down and shorten the duration of the problem.

Of the two, malaria is the more serious and widespread. Worldwide, there are more than 300 million cases of malaria diagnosed each year, with 3 million deaths annually.

Prescription malaria pills can dramatically decrease the likelihood of contracting the disease. Further, anyone with exposure to mosquitoes should use insect repellent containing DEET; wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors at night, and use a mosquito net over the bed if the bedroom is not air-conditioned or screened.

With these measures in mind, travelers can minimize their risk of illness or injury and enjoy a safe and healthy visit with loved ones.

This column is designed to answer medical questions of general interest to the trade. Please address your questions to Dr. Connor at [email protected].