Travel: Helpful Health Hints For Students Studying Abroad

Contents: About Travel and Helpful Health Hints Related Services at Tang Center Related Topics Passport Office on campus at Recreational Sports

The University Health Service staff wishes you great success and an enjoyable experience in your studies abroad. Use the following checklist as a guideline to help you maintain good health habits while away.

About Traveling and Helpful Health Hints

• Check with the UHS International Travel Care Clinic ideally at least 3 months before your departure date to assure sufficient time to get new and updated immunizations and TB testing done.
• Women - have a Pap test and STI check-up.
• Men - have an STI check-up.
• If you wear glasses or contact lenses, you should have had an eye exam within the past six months.
• Make sure you've had a recent dental exam and teeth cleaning.
• Medic-Alert bracelets are recommended (e.g., diabetes, drug allergies).  You can pick up an application at the Health Promotion Unit.
• If you have health insurance, check with the company about how to handle medical needs abroad.

What to Take With You

• Documents:
  • Written prescriptions for medications.
  • Letter from your clinician stating need for medications. This may be optional depending on your destination.   Check with UHS International Travel Care Clinic.
  • Yellow International Certificates of Vaccination
  • Health Insurance forms in case you need them. Fill out whatever information you can in advance.
  • Copy of contact lens prescription.
  • Copies of passport, birth certificate, and other identification in case of losses.

• Medical Items:
  • Prescription medication in unopened, original packages. Bring a sufficient supply.
  • Women using the pill or other methods of birth control should take a supply to last the duration of the stay.
  • Over-the-counter medication such as: pain relievers/fever reducers - ibuprofen (eg, Advil), acetaminophen  (eg, Tylenol); diarrhea medicine (eg, Pepto-Bismol); decongestants, etc. These are available for purchase at the UHS Pharmacy in generic form.
  • Women with history of recurrent yeast vaginitis should take clotrimazole 1% vaginal cream (eg, Gyne-Lotrimin).
  • Safer sex supplies, such as condoms, foam, lubricants, latex squares.
  • Vitamins, if you wish.

• Personal Care Items:
  • Extra pair of prescription glasses or contact lenses.
  • Contact lens solution and equipment.
  • Your preferred brand of:  
    
    • toothpaste
    • deodorant
    • sunscreen  
    • tampons
    • bandages
    • shampoo

• Don't Forget:
  • Have TB testing done about three months after you return.
  • AIDS & other STIs are worldwide problems. Condoms are the best protection other than abstinence.
  • Keep in mind that standards of health care and patient-client relationships will be different in your host country.

Related Services at the Tang Center

For Students:

• Advice Nurse: (510) 643-7197
  
• Appointments: (510) 642-2000
  
• Self Care Resource Center: (510) 642-7202
  
• Travel Clinic: (510) 643-7177

For Faculty and Staff:

• Please refer questions to your health plan or primary care provider.
  
• Travel Clinic: (510) 643-7177
  

Related Topics

• Fighting the Flu
• Meningitis
  

Disclaimer: The information provided here is not intended to diagnose, treat or provide a second opinion on any health problem or disease. It is meant to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between an individual and his/her clinician.

Last reviewed: August 2005

Back to Online Health Materials A-Z