Essential for the traveller recommendations: know the destination (food, water…) environment, prophylaxis, vaccination and a “judicious self medication” Kit.

-The number of individuals who move from one country to another could reach 1.6 billion by 2020

Madrid, January 2012.- in the preparation of our journey this Christmas is important to take into account the prophylaxis and vaccination to prevent certain diseases, the typical food of the place of destinationthe potability of water, if there is a possibility of disease through mosquito bites, as well as take with us a minimum essential Kit. Dr. Javier Montero Jiménez, internista USP San Camilo, proposes a series of recommendations for the traveller ”.

One of the major revolutions of post-industrial societies has been the ease of transportation of people and goods from one place to another in the world in short periods of time with modern means of transport. This facilitates the spread of various types of diseases.

According to the World Tourism Organization, the annual number of international passengers was at the beginning of the 1970s of about 200 million people and 360 million in 2000. In the year 2020 this figure could reach 1,360 million.

The medicine of the traveller

The so-called traveler’s medicine is intended to protect the tourist of the disease and get better adaptation to the new biological environment. This type of medicine finds its maximum expression in travellers whose destinations are found in tropical and subtropical areas and socio-economically deprived areas.

Basically the medicine of the traveler will serve to obtain information on standards of conduct to reduce the risk of exposure to diseases, make malaria prophylaxis if you travel to endemic areas and receive necessary vaccinations in each case.

El doctor Javier Montero Jiménez, internista USP San Camilo, lists the recommendations for the traveller in the face of this Christmas:

1) learn about the environment: the traveler must have knowledge about the different styles of life to choose the most suitable clothing, food and drinking of waters and the need to avoid bites from mosquitoes by prophylaxis and mosquito nets.

(2) Malaria prophylaxis. Another important aspect is the information on the need for prophylaxis of malaria or malaria with certain drugs before, during and after the trip, depending on the place of destination. Information on whether it is desirable to make the same and different pharmacological options can be obtained at international vaccination centres. (

3) Can also be considered vaccinations to recommend that you will depend on the place to visit. It must be borne in mind, explains Dr. Montero, that immunization through a vaccine be effective requires almost never less than one month time for what should attend the international vaccination centres at least one month prior to the trip.

Depending on the chosen destination can be considered two types of vaccines: a mandatory and other recommended.

Currently compulsory to enter a country is practically limited to the yellow fever vaccination in certain areas of Africa, Asia and South America.

Anyway a trip can become an ideal time to get a day in the recommended vaccine schedule, namely:

-Hepatitis A (or immunoglobulin)
-Hepatitis B
-diptheria, rubella (booster)
-measles

If there is special risk:

-Meningitis meningococcal
-typhoid fever
-cholera
-plague
-Polio
-rage
-Japanese encephalitis

Spain vaccination centres(, click here.

recommendations to country:

Centers for wanted, Control and Prevention (Atlanta-USA), click here.

4) basic kit of the traveller. should be concise and easy to access and transport ”, says the internist, who adds that must contain concise elements to make a judicious self-medication: local antiseptics, gauze, strips and scissors to cover small wounds, repel insects, an antihistamine ointment, anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics (paracetamol and ibuprofen) current use, antidiarrheal and some oral antibiotic type for address the frequent traveler’s diarrhea ”.

On USP hospital

Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Madrid, USP hospital is the first hospital private group in the Spanish market. Currently, USP hospital boasts a network of 12 hospitals, 23 health centres and 4,000 doctors annually serving more than two million patients. In 2010 the company recorded 331.494 clinical stays, 118.931 surgery, 11.202 births and 424.511 er.