Completing pages 1 and 2 of the questionnaire will facilitate the consultation.

 

-   Which country(ies) will you be visiting? …………………………………….……….…

…………………………...……………..………………………………………..

-   What is the date of departure? ………/………/……… Date of your return? ........./............./............

-   Or how long will you stay abroad? …………days or.........weeks or...........months or..............years

-   Will you be travelling alone? in a group?  with family? …………………………………

-   What kind of trip are your going to make?     - business trip                - family visit

     - tourist trip     - adventure trip     - poor accommodations                - living/working/training

-   Special activities planned (diving, mountaineering, trekking) ………………………………

-   Have you ever travelled before?…………………………………………………

-   Do you intend to travel frequently in the future?…………………………………

 

Health risks to travellers are closely related to the country of destination, the duration of stay, the mode of travel and your health status.

We consider four different ways of travelling:

1. Business trip or family visit: very comfortable, with good hygiene.

2. Tourist trip: well organized, very comfortable and confined to the classical sites.

3. Adventure trip: organized across isolated areas, low-budget hikers, “different travel”, long trips covering several countries ν as a rule all trips lasting longer than 3 weeks; also foreigners visiting their native country.

4. Extended stay: work contracts of one or two years.

The doctor will give you advice in accordance with your own personal situation. It is therefore important to answer the following questions:

When were you last vaccinated against :                                                                                                    

Yellow fever                    - never           - less than 10 years ago       - more than 10 years ago

Tetanus                             - never           - less than 10 years ago       - more than 10 years ago     - more than 20 years ago

       Diphtheria                       - never           - less than 10 years ago       - more than 10 years ago     - more than 20 years ago

       Polio                               - never           - completely vaccinated during childhood       - had a booster after the age of 16 year   

       Hepatitis A                      - never          - 1       - 2     - (3) booster(s)/ - latest booster on …...

       Hepatitis B                      - never         - 1      - 2    - 3     -(4) booster(s)/ - latest booster on.

       Typhoid fever                 - never          - less than 3 years ago          - more than 3 years ago

       Meningococci ACWY  - never          - less than 3 years ago          - more than 3 years ago                  

       Measles                           - never          - 1       - 2 injections

-   Have you ever had jaundice (hepatitis A)?     Have you ever had measles? Yes/no

-   Did you ever faint or pass out during previous vaccinations? Yes/no

-   Are you allergic to any drugs, vaccinations or any of their components, or to eggs? yes/no

     (allergic = generalised rash, swelling of mouth or throat, breathing problems)

     Which drugs / vaccine(s) : ……………………………………………………………

-   Are you pregnant ? yes/no   Do you take the pill ? yes/no   Do you breast-feed ? yes/no   Are you thinking of getting pregnant within three months after the trip? yes/no

-   Are you taking medications ? If so, which ? ………….....………………………………

       -   to suppress the production of gastric acid?.......................................................................

       -   For the heart ? For cardiopulmonary problems? For blood coagulation  ……………..

       -   Antiepileptics ? Antidepressants ? Sedatives or sleeping tablets ? ……....…………...

       -     Psoriasis, eczema ? rheumatism ? ………………….………….……………………

       -   Corticosteroids ? Other immuno-suppressive medication ? ……………….......…….

-   Do you suffer from any chronic or serious illness? Has your spleen been removed ? Do you have any thymus gland problems ?

-   Did you undergo an organ transplant ? Are you HIV-seropositive ?

-   Do you suffer from depression, anxiety attacks or other serious mental problems?

-   Do you (frequently) take any stimulants such as alcohol? Drugs?

 

- The diseases most commonly seen in travellers are diarrhoea, fevers (malaria if you travel in a malaria-infested area), dengue/chikungunya; influenza), bronchitis, accidents (when travelling by car or swimming), wound infections and sexually transmitted diseases.

- Diarrhoea is caused by contaminated food & drinking water, dirty hands or dirty objects. For this reason you have to be careful when travelling in less hygienic circumstances.

- Malaria and Dengue/Chikungunya are transmitted by mosquitoes. In the first place you need to protect yourself against mosquito bites (in the evening, at night and in the early hours against malaria; during the day against dengue & chikungunya).

- The same measures to prevent accidents at home should also be followed when travelling.

- Contraceptives are essential in case of sexual contact with new partners (locals or fellow travellers).

- Every injury must be disinfected to prevent infections.