When you are planning a trip – whether on vacation, business or study – you should always go beyond air tickets, hotels and tours. It is necessary to think about the health and well-being of the traveler.

In addition to buying the travel insurance, you can also make an appointment with a travel medicine specialist.

This is a medical specialty aimed specifically for the travelers. The doctor assesses the patient’s clinical condition and provides guidance according to the destination of the trip, consider the climate of the place, whether there are some outbreaks of contagious diseases, some typical foods of the region to avoid, in short, all conditions which can affect the health of the traveler. In this way, the doctor can indicate the necessary vaccines and advise any recommendations on hygiene care and medicines.

This service is recommended for anyone who will travel, especially the elderly, pregnant women and people with chronic diseases. However, it is more suitable for those planning to take longer trips (study abroad, for example) or visit more exotic destinations, such as some countries in Asia and Africa, which require additional care.

To have this type of assistance, one must go to specific establishments, as there will be a travel health specialist. In São Paulo, this type of service is provided at Hospital Emílio Ribas and Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein; in Rio de Janeiro, at the National Institute of Infectology Evandro Chagas (INI). To check more addresses, check here the list of accredited locations by Anvisa.

The consultation is free at public hospitals.

To be assisted, one must bring personal documents and a vaccination card. It is also advisable to schedule the appointment earlier in advance as the doctor can indicate any vaccine which should be taken up to 6 months before the trip.

The CDC (Center of Disease Control and Prevention) website has a specific sector for international travel  There, it is possible to consult the most common diseases in each country and the vaccines to be taken as prevention.

The most common tips you can get during the appointment are:

• Always stay hydrated.
• Clean your hands thoroughly before eating and after using public transportation and toilets.
• Always have alcohol gel in your bag.
• Avoid drinking tap water or from unknown source.
• Make sure that the food is well cooked, roasted or fried, avoiding raw foods. When trying some exotic food, eat moderately, without exaggeration.
• Avoid being too much exposed in the sun. Always use sun block.
• In places with many insects, always take repellent (must be applied after sun block).
• Take medicine for continuous use and others you are used to taking.
• Get more specific information about certain diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, typhoid, hepatitis A and hepatitis B.

Depending on the trip destination, you need to be alert to symptoms such as fever after returning home.

Whatever the destination, the important thing is to always travel with caution thus you avoid setbacks and enjoy every moment of your trip.