Pretravel - Patient Evaluation

Question 1

What are the 3 main goals of a travel medicine consultation?

Answer 1

1. Assess the client’s fitness to travel based on medical history and purpose/type of travel
2. Analyze anticpated health risks
3. Translate findings into tailored counseling of prophylactic measures

Question 2

What are 9 relevant questions in pretravel counseling?

Answer 2

1. Itinerary
2. Duration
3. Travel style
4. Time of travel (season and how long until
5. Special activities
6. Health status
7. Vaccination status
8. Previous travel experience
9. Special situations/populations

Question 3

What are the two most common causes of death during travel

Answer 3

1. Injuries
2. Cardiovascular events

Question 4

List 8 medical reasons for recommending delayed air travel

Answer 4

1. Unstable or recently deteriorated angina pectoris
2. Within 3 weeks after uncomplicated and 6 weeks after complicated myocardial infarction
3. Within 2 weeks of CABG
4. With congenital defects (inc. Eisenmerger syndrome and symptomatic valvulopathy)
5. Within 2 weeks of post stroke
6. Lung disorders with dyspnea at minimal exertion
7. Within 10 days postsurgical operations of thorax or abdomen
8. Within 24 hours after diving and after diving accidents

Question 5

List 10 key points of Pretravel advice

Answer 5

1. Food
2. Water
3. Mosquitoes
4. Hydration/Dehydration
5. Sun exposure
6. Walking barefoot
7. Venomous animals
8. Sexual contacts
9. Accidents/Injuries
10. Altitude

Question 6

What can be provided to patients with fear of flying?

Answer 6

1. Nonjudgemental discussions
2. Courses offered by airlines
3. Autogenic training
4. Medication

Question 7

What proportion of tourists have unplanned sexual contact with new partners while traveling?

Answer 7

5-10%

Question 8

What are 2 benefits of adequate hydration during flying?

Answer 8

1. Increased sense of wellbeing
2. Increased ambulation due to diuresis may reduce thromboembolism risk

Question 9

What is the order of components of a travel medicine consult?

Answer 9

1. Ask questions to assess risk associated with the trip
2. Review and recommend vaccinations (routine, required, itinerary based)
3. Discuss vectorborne disease risk and prevention
4. Discuss food and water precautions and prevention/treatment
5. Discuss STIs and bloodborne issues
6. Assess and recommend environmental-related prevention measures (altitude, sun etc.)
7. Determine other risk and their prevention management (e.g. schisto, lepto, diving)