Travel: Helpful Health Hints For Students Studying Abroad
Contents: |
|
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
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
