Texas Primary & Pediatric Care
Primary Care Provider & Pediatrician located in Las Colinas, Irving, TX
If you're going overseas as part of your job or for a hard-earned vacation, it's important to protect your health so you don't get sick during or after your trip. At Texas Primary & Pediatric Care in Irving, Texas, Amit Bajaj, MD, Bishwas Upadhyay, MD, and the team provide expert travel medicine services that ensure you have the vaccinations and other treatments you need to prevent travel-related health problems. Call Texas Primary & Pediatric Care today to schedule a consultation or book an appointment using the online form.
Travel Medicine Q&A
What is travel medicine?
Travel medicine is something you need to consider before taking a vacation or going on a business trip outside the United States.
Traveling for work and pleasure is something many people do, and visiting countries in other parts of the world can be immensely rewarding. However, travel does present the possibility of exposure to infections and diseases that wouldn't be a problem in the US.
Currently, few countries ask for proof of immunization before you can visit. It's still a good idea to protect yourself by getting the right vaccinations before you go overseas.
What conditions can travel medicine protect me from?
There are a great many conditions that are more common in other countries or aren't present in the US, including:
- Malaria
- Rabies
- Diphtheria
- Typhoid
- Yellow fever
- Japanese encephalitis
Conditions like malaria require prophylaxis, which means taking medicines before, during, and after your trip rather than having an injection. You should make sure your hepatitis A and B and tetanus jabs are up-to-date too.
There are additional measures you can take to help prevent the mosquito bites that cause diseases like malaria. These include applying insect repellent, wearing long sleeves and pants, and using an insecticide-treated mosquito net around your bed when on vacation.
Which vaccinations do I need?
The Texas Primary & Pediatric Care team can advise you which vaccinations you need. They review your immunization history and cross-reference it with the recommended vaccinations for the country you're visiting.
It's worth bearing in mind that certain immunization programs take several months to complete. Therefore it's important to arrange your travel medicine appointment well before you're due to go.
What else does travel medicine cover?
Before you take an international trip, it's a good idea to have a routine physical to ensure there are no underlying health issues that could cause a problem when you're away. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, and diabetes are serious health conditions that often cause no symptoms until they become serious.
The Texas Primary & Pediatric Care team can measure your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels with simple in-office tests and listen to your heart and lungs to make sure you're fit to travel. You should also check the US State Department and CDC travel websites for up-to-date information concerning potential health problems in the countries you're visiting.
Find out more about benefiting from the travel medicine services available at Texas Primary & Pediatric Care by calling them today or book an appointment online.
