Tips for Travelers with Weak Immune Systems

Travelers with weak immune systems include people with HIV/AIDs, liver disease, cancer, multiple sclerosis, and kidney disease. There are also medicines that weaken the immune system. These include cancer chemotherapy, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis drugs as well as steroids. But, regardless of what makes your immune system weak, you can still travel successfully. All you need is careful planning of the trip. Travel medicine experts recommend that you take vaccines or medicines that will boost your immune system.

Vaccines

There are vaccines that travel medicine experts recommend for people with weak immune systems. The vaccines that your doctor may recommend depend on your destination. It’s therefore important that you discuss your condition with the doctor. Majority of the travel vaccines available are used to kill viruses and bacteria. What’s more, these can be administered to people with weak immune systems safely.

However, some vaccines might be less effective and may not provide full protection. As such, your healthcare provider will recommend some tests to confirm that the administered vaccines were effective before you travel. If not, they will recommend additional measures.

Medicines

There are medicines that people with weak immune systems should take to ensure their health and safety when they travel overseas. For instance, if you are traveling to a destination where malaria is prevalent, you may have to take medicines that will prevent it. Individuals that have weakened immune systems tend to get very ill from malaria. Therefore, it’s important that you follow the instructions provided by the doctor carefully.

In some cases, you might have to take the medicine several weeks in advance. You may also be required to take some medicines after your trip. Additionally, take appropriate measures to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. For instance, wear long sleeves and pants as well as insect repellants.

Additional Precautions

Some illnesses are not preventable by taking medicines or vaccines. For instance, people that have weakened immune systems are susceptible to traveler’s diarrhea. Therefore, take appropriate measures to ensure that you eat and drink clean food and water respectively. Wash hands often. Also avoid laying hands on surfaces that have been touched by other people. These include stair rails and doorknobs.

Nevertheless, with precaution and careful preparation, people with weak immune systems can travel safely to different parts of the world.