Travel medicine

Globalization and travel:
– Globalization spreads diseases and increases exposure to different health environments
– Key areas of travel medicine include global epidemiology, vaccinology, malaria prevention, and pre-travel counseling
– Approximately 80 million travelers annually go from developed to developing countries
– Travel medicine aims to maintain the health of international travelers
– Major concern is the health risks to travelers

Mortality and morbidity:
– Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death during travel (50–70%)
– Injury and accidents account for around 25% of travel-related deaths
– Infectious diseases cause about 2.8–4% of deaths during travel
– Nearly half of travelers from developed countries staying a month in developing countries get sick
– Traveler’s diarrhea is the most common issue encountered

Disciplines:
– Travel medicine covers epidemiology, infectious disease, public health, and various other disciplines
– Special itineraries include cruise ship travel, diving, mass gatherings, and wilderness/remote regions travel
– Divided into prevention, assistance, wilderness medicine, and access to healthcare
– Encompasses a wide range of medical specialties related to travel health
– Addresses health needs specific to various travel activities and locations

Focus:
– Travel medicine involves pre-travel consultation, contingency planning, and post-travel follow-up
– WHO provides health information for travelers in each country and specific risks of air travel
– CDC offers valuable and updated information for travelers
– Key considerations include vaccination and the “seven Is” (Insects, Ingestions, Indiscretion, Injuries, Immersion, Immunization, Insurance)
– Ensures travelers are prepared for health risks before, during, and after travel

Specific disease problems:
– Yellow fever is endemic in certain areas of Africa and South America
– Meningococcal meningitis is prevalent in the tropical meningococcal belt of Africa
– Malaria prevention involves mosquito exposure prevention and chemoprophylaxis
– Travelers should carry a medication kit with necessary medications
– Common medical problems for travelers include diarrhea, respiratory issues, wounds, and pain

Travel medicine (Wikipedia)

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Travel medicine or emporiatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the prevention and management of health problems of international travelers.