Question

1. List and describe at least five health services that a travel medicine clinic can offer that a primary physician may not.

Answer 1

Travel medicine Clinic:

Travel medicine is a branch of medicine that focuses on preventing the spread of infectious diseases by travellers and also ensures the safety of an individual, when he travels to another country . Travel medicine Clinic offers the services of travel medicine and it is recommended to visit a travel medicine Clinic four to six wek weeks before the trip.

Health services that a Travel medicine Clinic can offer , that a primary physician may not :

i) Travel medicine Clinics offers the education on food and safety at the destination:

Each country is different in it's culture and cuisine. In certain countries one should not take the fresh vegetables or fruits due to the risk of infectious diseases that spreads through contaminated fruits and vegetables. For example: Dominician Republic and Haiti were reported to have the incidence of Cholera , that can be spread through contaminated food items.

ii) Current recommendations for immunization:

Vaccines offers the active immunity against the specific infectious diseases. Travel health practitioner can recommend regarding the vaccine that should be taken by the visirors of particular country. The vaccination can accept as a personal choice to protect own safety and also few countries required a vaccination certificate to enter the country. Routine diseases such as Measles, flu and all can be easily spread in closed spaces like airplanes and airports etc.  

iii) To prescribe medication to prevent and treat illness :

To equip the traveller with medications for altitude sickness , motion sickness , vomiting, diarrhoea etc and medications for bug bites, and insect repellent etc.

iv ) Ensure safe travel for individuals with specific medical conditions.

Travellers with certain medical conditions are at risk for injuries, infection etc. Elderly people , who are in medications for chronic condition , are at risk for falls or injury, pregnant women and children may easily get the infection. Precautions for high risk group like pregnant women, children, elderly can be best served by a Travel medicine Clinic.

v) Educate Safe travel habits :

Travel medicine Clinics offers the education regarding the Safe travel habits such as the avoidance of unprotected sex, walking alone at night in unfamiliar  places, over alcohol consumption etc.