Travel medicine, also known as emporiatrics, is a practice and type of medicine practice that deals with the prevention and management of health problems that international travelers may face.
Today, with the aid of newly-formed advanced technology globalization has had a rapid increase making the spread of information and transportation quick and easy. But with globalization however, comes new risks. Physicians warn about the way traveling can facilitate the spread of disease as travelers are exposed to a wide range of different health environments. Travel medicine was developed with this notion in mind.
Physicians estimate that death due to cardiovascular disease accounts for 50 to 70 percent of deaths to travelers. Accident and injury accounts for about 25 percent, while infectious disease is the cause of about 3% of deaths.
Physicians estimate that very year, 80 million travelers move from developed countries to developing countries Of those travelers staying about one month in developing nations, half will become sick. Physicians conclude that traveler’s diarrhea is the most common sickness encountered.
1. What encompasses travel medicine?
Areas of travel medicine physicians specialize in include the global epidemiology of health risks, vaccinology, malaria prevention, and pre-travel counseling used to inform travelers what the health risks involve. Physicians practice disciplines in epidemiology, infectious disease, public health, tropical medicine, high altitude physiology, travel related obstetrics, psychiatry, occupational medicine, military and migration medicine, and environmental health.
Physicians in travel medicine study travel through cruise ships, diving, mass gatherings, and wilderness travel. Travel medicine can be divided into four main categories:
a. Prevention of disease: This area includes vaccinations and immunization as well as travel advice to avoid sickness.
b. Assistance medicine: This occurs when a traveler is treated for a condition.
c. Wilderness medicine: This area includes high-altitude medicine, cruise ship medicine, expedition medicine, etc.
d. Insurance medicine: Physicians who work within the fields of life, health, disability care insurance of travelers.
2. What is the central focuses of travel medicine?
Travel medicine provides a strict emphasis on pre-travel consultation and evaluation for prevention of sickness. Planning is important because it will ensure preparation for avoiding disease and give travelers options for what to do if they contract a disease. Post-travel follow-up care is also a prime focus.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is an organization of physicians and researchers. WHO provides traveling information about countries and what risks are involved with traveling to those certain countries.
Physicians first and foremost recommend vaccination when traveling to a high-risk nation. Also the “six I’s” should also be considered:
a. Insects: prevented by repellents and medication
b. Ingestions: clean water and food
c. Indiscretion: prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases
d. Injuries: insuring the safety of the traveler
e. Immersion: schistosomiasis
f. Insurance: coverage and services during travel and easy access to medical care.
3. Physicians recommend the use of medication kits. A kit usually includes malaria prophylaxis, condoms, and medication to help treat diarrhea. It also usually contains a basic first-aid kit. The medication kit helps prevent the main medical problems that travelers face; diarrhea or gut problems, respiratory problems, wounds and pain.