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Dr. Rankin's Travel Tips
| Question: Which is the safest to eat in a third world country—fried worms or a lettuce salad? |
| Answer: The Worms are Safer to Eat!! |
| Straight from Dr. Rankin’s CME Course on Travel Medicine, a few tips on staying healthy: |
- The only countries NOT considered to be “third world” are the US, Australia and Western Europe.
- If traveling to a third world country, you should have the Hepatitis A & B vaccines and, if within the age range, the HPV vaccine.
- There is no malaria vaccine, but there is one for Yellow Fever, which is associated with malaria.
- If you have a fever two weeks after returning from a trip to a third world country, you should assume it might be malaria and see your physician.
- There is a vaccine for Traveler’s diarrhea.
- If you do get traveler’s diarrhea, it should only be treated if accompanied by vomiting (children should be treated immediately for either).
- People who have been raised in a third world country should seek vaccinations because birth location does not provide lifetime immunity for traveler’s illness.
Often, doctors do not even offer vaccines to people returning to their birthplace, so you should request vaccines and not wait for the physician to bring up the subject.
- Water can be sterilized by a rolling boil for one minute or iodine drops.
- Fruits such as watermelon may seem safe, but they are sold by the pound and it is not unusual for a farmer to inject water directly into an uncut watermelon to make more from the sale of his crops. That would be water you would never consider drinking.
- Leprosy is making a comeback. If you develop a skin condition shortly after returning from a trip, visit a dermatologist immediately.
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