Don't Let a Sick Day Ruin Your Vacation: A Doctor's Guide to Travel Health
Summer is here, and if you're like a lot of my patients, you've been dreaming about this trip for months. Whether you're heading to the beach, hiking through national parks, or flying overseas, the last thing anyone wants is to spend a vacation in bed — or worse, in a foreign urgent care clinic.
The good news: most travel-related illness is preventable with a little planning. Here's what I tell my own patients before they head out the door.
Start Here: The Pre-Travel Visit
If you're traveling internationally — or domestically to a remote area — a pre-travel consultation at least 4–6 weeks before departure is worth its weight in gold. This is one of the real advantages of having a DPC physician: you can actually get an appointment before your trip without navigating a 3-week scheduling queue.
At a pre-travel visit, we review:
Recommended or required vaccinations for your destination
Malaria prophylaxis (if applicable)
Altitude sickness prevention for mountain destinations
Traveler's diarrhea management and medications
Any chronic conditions that need extra attention while away
Vaccines: Know Before You Go
Routine vaccines should be up to date regardless of where you're traveling — things like Tdap, MMR, flu, and COVID. But certain destinations require or strongly recommend additional protection:
Hepatitis A and B (most international travel)
Typhoid (South Asia, Central America, Africa)
Yellow Fever (required for entry to some countries)
Japanese Encephalitis (rural Asia, extended stays)
Rabies pre-exposure (adventure travel, animal exposure risk)
The CDC Traveler's Health website (wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel) is a solid resource for destination-specific recommendations, but nothing replaces a conversation with your physician who knows your health history.
Traveler's Diarrhea: Be Prepared, Not Scared
Traveler's diarrhea (TD) affects up to 40–60% of international travelers and is the most common travel-related illness. It's usually caused by bacterial contamination of food or water — not an exotic bug, just unfamiliar gut flora.
Prevention basics:
"Boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it" — the old rule still holds
Stick to bottled or purified water, including for brushing teeth in high-risk areas
Avoid ice, raw vegetables, and street food in high-risk destinations
Wash hands frequently; carry hand sanitizer
Treatment: Ask your doctor ahead of time about carrying a course of antibiotics (like azithromycin or rifaximin) for self-treatment if TD strikes. Loperamide (Imodium) is helpful for symptom control but doesn't treat the underlying infection. Staying hydrated is the most important thing you can do.
Sun, Heat, and Altitude
These three cause more travel illness than most people realize — and they're entirely preventable
Sun and heat:
Apply broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen every 2 hours when outdoors
Stay hydrated — aim for more water than you think you need
Recognize heat exhaustion symptoms: heavy sweating, weakness, cool/pale skin, nausea
Heat stroke (hot skin, confusion, no sweating) is an emergency — call for help
Altitude sickness (above 8,000 feet):
Ascend gradually — don't fly into a high-altitude destination and immediately hike
Symptoms: headache, fatigue, nausea, dizziness — usually within 12–24 hours
Acetazolamide (Diamox) can be prescribed preventively — ask your doctor
Descend immediately if symptoms worsen or you develop confusion or shortness of rest
Managing Chronic Conditions While Traveling
If you have diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, asthma, or any ongoing condition, travel takes a bit more preparation:
Carry all medications in your carry-on — never check them
Bring more medication than you think you'll need (delays happen)
Pack a letter from your doctor listing diagnoses and medications, especially for injectable medications
Know where the nearest hospital or urgent care is at your destination
If you're crossing time zones with insulin or time-sensitive medications, talk to your doctor about timing adjustments
As a Firebird DPC member, you can message me directly if something comes up mid-trip. That's the whole point.
Travel Insurance: Yes, You Need It
This isn't medical advice, it's common sense: travel medical insurance is cheap compared to an emergency room visit abroad or an emergency medical evacuation (which can cost $50,000–$100,000+). Make sure your policy covers emergency evacuation, not just treatment costs.
Also worth noting: most standard health insurance plans, including many ACA marketplace plans, offer very limited coverage outside the US.
The Traveler's Health Kit
A few essentials worth packing for any trip:
Your prescription medications (plus extras)
Ibuprofen or acetaminophen
Antidiarrheal medication (loperamide)
Oral rehydration salts (ORS packets)
Antihistamine (diphenhydramine or cetirizine)
Antibacterial ointment and bandages
Sunscreen and insect repellent (DEET-based for malaria-risk areas)
Altitude sickness medication if prescribed
A copy of your medical history and medication list
When to Seek Care During Travel
Some symptoms warrant prompt medical attention, even on vacation:
Fever above 103°F, especially with rash
Severe or persistent abdominal pain
Signs of dehydration (no urination, extreme dizziness, confusion)
Chest pain or shortness of breath
Neurological symptoms — sudden severe headache, vision changes, weakness
Animal bites (seek care immediately regardless of severity)
For Firebird members: send me a message. Depending on the situation, we may be able to help you navigate care remotely or help you find appropriate local resources.
Travel is one of life's great joys, and a little preparation goes a long way toward keeping it that way. If you have an upcoming trip and want to talk through your health before you leave, Firebird members can schedule an appointment or send a message anytime.
Safe travels.
— Dr. Mark P. Hagen, D.O.
Firebird Direct Primary Care | Worthington, OH | firebirddpc.com
