Preventing Medical Issues on Volunteer Vacations
Preventative Steps That Help International Volunteers Stay Healthy
Jun 12, 2009
Traveling to a deveoloping country for a volunteer vacation or a long-term homestay can be the experience of a lifetime, but staying healthy in a remote region is not always easy. Before leaving their home countries, volunteers can take several steps to help prevent problems once they arrive at their destinations.
The first step is to start in good shape. A healthy, fit traveler is far better able to fend off germs and illnesses than someone whose health is marginal. Beyond that, research the destination, and as soon as possible, make a doctor's appointment to discuss general health issues and specific immunizations for the trip.
Medical Concerns to Discuss with a Doctor Before a Volunteer Vacation
- Review current medical issues and treatment. Be sure to have an adequate supply of any necessary prescription medications.
- Discuss having a stash of "just-in-case" medications. Some doctors are willing to prescribe a broad-spectrum antibiotic for traveler's diarrhea and other infections, or medicine to treat Giardia (a common waterborne illness).
- Pack plenty of vitamins. Diets in some developing countries can be monotonous and nutritionally deficient. Take a good multi-vitamin, and ask a doctor for recommendations for supplements. Travelers with food allergies and intolerances should be aware that in some regions, choices of foods are very limited.
- Pack over-the-counter medications, including pain pills, antibiotic ointments, anti-itch ointments (for rashes and bug bites), and an oral rehydration treatment (for dehydration).
Immunizations and Prophylactic Medications for International Volunteers
- Childhood vaccinations don't last forever. Travelers (and everyone else, for that matter) should be sure all recommended standard immunizations such as measles, mumps, and rubella; tetanus; and polio are up to date. (A complete list of recommendations is available from the Centers for Disease Control). Many vaccines need boosters, depending on when and with what treatment a person was first vaccinated.
- In addition to standard vaccinations, additional vaccines or prophylaxis may be required (either medically, legally, or both) for certain illnesses in certain destinations. Examples include malaria, typhoid, cholera, and yellow fever, in addition to seasonal and periodic diseases such as the 2009 swine flu outbreak (if and when vaccinations become available). Doctors in a domestic family practice are not necessarily aware of the latest disease outbreaks and treatment protocols around the world. Volunteers planning long-term stays usually receive information from their hosting agencies, but independent travelers going to remote regions should consider visiting a tropical disease specialist for information on recommended immunizations.
- Plan visits for immunizations as possible, because some vaccines must be given over a course of several weeks, some cannot be given simultaneously with others, and some need time to take effect.
- Be aware that recommendations for immunizations vary from region to region, country to country, and year to year, and even from place to place within a country. The prophylactic drugs recommended for malaria in Kenya in 2009 are unlikely to be the same as the malaria drugs a traveler may have taken several years ago when traveling to Peru.
- Also be aware that some prophylactic drugs are not suitable for long-term use, so travelers planning a multi-month trip may need to take alternate drugs, or follow alternate instructions for avoiding diseases such as malaria.
- Double check all information. The Centers for Disease Control website provides extensive information about current outbreaks around the world, and has up-to-date recommendations for vaccinations and prophylaxis.
By paying attention to issues of preventative care before a trip, volunteers can travel with peace of mind, knowing that they've done their best to avoid preventable problems, and enjoy their experience in good health
Source: Centers for Disease Control.
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