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Post Trip Appointment
Most people know that a medical evaluation before travel is important. However
less well known is the benefit of an evaluation after you return. A number of
illness may not show up until weeks to months after return.
If you have traveled to exotic or tropical parts of the world, and become ill after returning
home, please be sure to tell your provider about your recent travel. A post trip medical
evaluation is particularly recommended for students who have spent a semester or more in an
exotic or tropical area.
You can make an appointment by calling Health Services at (617)627-3350.
Medical Follow Up
Malaria:
After returning from travel, complete your malaria medication. Incubation times for malaria
vary greatly and can last for up to one year after the initial infection. Malaria symptoms
include fever, chills, headache, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and mimic a "flu-like"
syndrome. If these symptoms occur, be sure to inform your physician that you were traveling
in an area endemic for malaria
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs):
If you engaged (while traveling) in unsafe sexual intercourse with an unknown partner, see a
physician upon return.
Tuberculosis:
Tuberculosis (TB) is widespread in many less industrialized countries. Tuberculosis is spread
through respiratory transmissions by inhaling infected air droplets. Tuberculosis is found in
Central and South America, Eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia. Students who have spent extended
periods of time (several months or more) traveling, studying, or working in these areas are
at risk of having acquired TB. The vast majority of patients with early TB have no symptoms,
and the infection may remain dormant in the body for years before causing illness. For this
reason, testing for TB is very important after returning from an extended stay in a high risk
TB area. Upon your return, we recommend you schedule an appointment to have a Tb test performed.
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