Are you planning to travel or study abroad? Call for an appointment or information, 803-323-2206.

The Winthrop Travel Clinic offers:

• Pre-travel assessment to determine your health care needs

• Vaccines

• Preventive medications, including malaria pills

• Information about disease risks

• Health information specific to your destination

• Education about travel health issues, including food, water and insect precautions

• Advice on what to pack for medical and first-aid needs

Some Travel Health Advice:

Immunize!

• Be sure that you are up to date on all of your immunizations before you leave! Some of the basic immunizations you may need are:

  • MMR (measles, mumps and rubella)

  • Td or Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis)

  • Hepatitis B

• Depending on your travel itinerary, these vaccines may be recommended or required:

  • Polio

  • Yellow Fever

  • Hepatitis A

  • Typhoid

• Preventive medicine for malaria is necessary for some destinations.

 Protect that tummy! 

• Traveler's Diarrhea, aka Montezuma's Revenge, is generally caused by something you ate or drank and is particularly a problem for travelers to warm climates. 

• Water precautions: In developing countries, tap water may not be clean and drinkable as it is in the developed world.  Organisms in the water could make you sick, even if the local population is able to drink the water,so use bottled water even to brush your teeth. Be sure to  drink only bottled, canned or carbonated beverages and do not use ice cubes.

• Food Precautions: The general rule: boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it.  Be sure to eat only fruits and vegetables that you can wash and peel yourself. Make sure that all food is well-cooked and avoid food from street vendors.

Don't bug me!

• Bites or stings of some insects (mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, bees) can cause poisoning, injury, or transmit diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, and Japanese encephalitis.  Learn what you can about the insects of the locale you are visiting.  Take precautions:

Beat the Heat!

• Use sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. 

• To keep cool, wear light-colored clothing that is made of natural fabric such as cotton. Also, wear sunglasses to protect your eyes and wear a hat to help keep your body cool.

• Avoid alcoholic beverages and caffeine drinks. Drink plenty of fluids (water, juice, Gatorade, etc) to keep hydrated.

Don't touch me!

• To prevent infectious diseases and STI's:

  • Wash your hands.

  • Don't touch your eyes, nose, and mouth.

  • Avoid crowds and sick people.

  • Click here for STI details.

Are these in your suitcase?

• International immunization card with documentation of vaccines received    

• Medication for malaria

• Enough of your Rx medication

• Mosquito repellant containing 30-35% DEET

• Sunscreen

• Oral rehydration salt packets

• Anti-diarrhea medication

• Bottled Water

• Band-aids

• Extra pair of glasses or contact lenses

• Thermometer

• Antiseptic

• Tylenol, Advil, or aspirin

• Tweezers

• Anti-fungal foot powder or cream

For more traveling tips go to our medical links to check out the travel links.

And most important: Fill out a questionnaire and set up an appointment with us today!