By Tim Reynolds MD

I had someone e-mail me about traveling to Honduras on a mission trip. They asked if I had any advice on a few things:

1) Overseas vaccinations,

2) Health precautions to observe while there, and

3) Medicines you might take as precautions.

She was hoping I could advise her from a medical perspective as well as from a frequent traveler perspective. Perhaps my advise could help you too.

In case you are wondering if I am qualified to answer these questions, I have traveled to 48 countries on six continents. In addition, my trips are more than just visiting “tourist destinations”, they also include living in Guatemala for over 15 months, running medical clinics in remote Thailand, diving the Galapagos Islands, treating kidney stones in Costa Rica and being the doctor for a Kilimanjaro Summit among others.

Overseas Vaccinations

The CDC has vaccination requirements and recommendations for all countries around the world. Requirements mean these vaccinations are required in order to enter your destination country. Recommendations consist of other medicines or vaccinations that are recommended by the CDC but not required to enter the country. The best way to get these vaccinations is to find a clinic that offers overseas immunizations. They should have a list of all the vaccinations you would need that are both required and recommended. This may also include prescriptions for malaria prevention if recommended.

Health Precautions

Health precautions for Honduras are similar in all third world countries. You must not drink non potable water. This is the most common way to get sick in a foreign country. This may seem obvious to some, but it is amazing how many people forget or ignore this advice. It is much easier advice to follow now because almost everywhere has bottled water available for purchase, just make sure it is from a reputable company. You can also accidently drink water if you are not cautious about things. For example, you need to brush your teeth with bottled water instead of tap water. You need to keep your mouth closed while showering. If you are like me, it is natural for me to stand under the shower with my mouth wide open, bad idea in a third world country.

You also need to be careful of fresh fruits and vegetables. While I generally promote fresh fruits and vegetables at home, remember that salads and other fruits and vegetables are washed with water before being served and much of that water can be retained in these items. So I would avoid any fruit or vegetable that cannot be peeled or washed with your own bottled water.

Food is probably the next most common source of illness. My best advice here is to exercise precaution. This is particularly true if you are a new international traveler. One of the great things about travel to foreign countries is the opportunity to try new cuisines and dishes. This romantic idea comes crashing down quickly if you spend the rest of your trip on the toilet with a bucket in front of you (been there, done that). It is so common that in Guatemala we used to say you hadn’t really been ‘in country’ until you had crapped in your bed.

Now don’t let the war stories scare you off, it is definitely well worth it. The way to avoid those unfortunate events is to make sure you eat in very reputable places, particularly those that commonly serve foreigners. They stay in business by keeping travelers healthy. If you need to eat at a local shop or someone’s house, make sure the food you eat is thoroughly cooked. Particularly avoid undercooked meats. As you gain more experience two things will happen. First you will become a better judge of what you can and cannot tolerate, and second your immune system will become stronger. If you were to travel with me today, you would swear I am a local, but this comes after many years of traveling to foreign countries and eating a wide variety of foods.

Medications
Prescription medicines and non-prescription medicines I normally take with me include:

Lomotil – an anti-diarrheal

Cipro- works great for treating travelers’ diarrhea or urinary infection

Zithromax- for respiratory or skin infections

Antibiotic ointment

Swimmers ear – if I am going diving or will be in the water a lot

Pain medication of some kind just in case

Tylenol and Advil

Scopolamine Patches – if you get motion sickness and will be on a boat

In addition don’t forget the following:

Extra eye glasses

Your normal daily medications

Sunglasses

Sunscreen

Female products

Mosquito repellent

Hopefully this is a good start to your list. You can add to it as your travels continue.

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