Travel Medicine

The first step to staying safe while traveling abroad is acquiring travel medicine in its various forms. Most corporations and schools provide basic vaccinations for travelers who are heading to foreign destinations. Individuals need to look beyond shots for MMR, tetanus and yellow fever when looking at available travel medicines.

Looking at Travel Medicine from Multiple Perspectives

A travel health consultation with a MD or nurse reveals plenty of travel medicines beyond the basic recommendations of family physicians. Residents from American cities like Long Island do not have built-up immunity to strange diseases like Japanese encephalitis or pertussis. The best move for most travelers is acquiring as many shots as possible within the limits set by past history and current prescriptions.

There is a number of over-the-counter medicines that can fight off disease in foreign places. The use of melatonin pills helps travelers get sufficient sleep during long fights to gird immune systems against diseases. Anti-toxin and anti-venom serums are able to neutralize the effects of lethal stings, as long as the stingers are removed quickly.

The purchase of travel supplies like mosquito nets and surgical masks provide a final barrier against disease. Mosquito nets are installed on tents and in hotel rooms in tropical locations to fend off the threat of malaria from infected insects. Every traveler should carry at least one surgical mask to filter out airborne toxins that can lead to influenza.

Travelers from Long Island can learn about medical issues during travel through Passport Health. This company works with businesses and schools to supply immunizations that protect against foreign health hazards like meningitis and encephalitis. An immunization appointment with a MD can be made with a call to Passport Health's Roslyn office at (516) 626-2004 or Manhattan office at (212) 403-2823.