Travel Medicine 101
Travel Medicine 101: Why Your Vacation Needs a Prescription Plan
By JR Dadivas, MD
Founder of Prepped Health
You’ve booked the flight, packed the portable charger, and triple-checked your passport. But did you prep your body the way you prepped your itinerary?
Whether you’re hiking the Andes, diving in Thailand, or finally saying yes to that “Eat, Pray, Diarrhea” trip to Bali — your gut, lungs, and immune system are about to get hit with unfamiliar bugs, bugspray-worthy mosquitoes, and altitudes that don’t care about your leg day gains.
Welcome to travel medicine — where being prepared means you’ll still enjoy that jungle waterfall after you’ve handled the jungle water.
Traveler’s Diarrhea (TD): The Global Unifier
If you eat abroad, you’re at risk. It doesn’t matter if it’s a five-star ceviche or a street taco at 2AM — the bacteria don’t care about your Yelp reviews.
Most at-risk regions for TD:
Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia)
Central & South America (Mexico, Peru, Colombia)
Africa (especially sub-Saharan and West Africa)
India and the Indian Subcontinent
Common culprits:
E. coli (ETEC, the most common)
Shigella, Salmonella, Campylobacter
Why it happens:
Contaminated water or food
Changes in gut flora due to new environments
Treatment:
Azithromycin (first-line)
Ciprofloxacin (some regions)
Loperamide (for symptoms)
Oral rehydration packets
You don’t want to ruin your Machu Picchu hike because of a ceviche that looked too good for how cheap it was. Trust us.
Altitude Sickness: When Your Brain Says “Nope”
Planning to hike or sleep above 8,000 feet? Welcome to the land of oxygen debt, pounding headaches, and the sudden realization that your cardio back home means nothing up here.
Common Destinations Where AMS Hits Hard:
Cusco / Sacred Valley, Peru
La Paz, Bolivia
Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Colorado ski towns
Nepal/Tibet region
Who Gets It?
Everyone’s at risk — yes, even the CrossFit crew
Risk increases with rapid ascent or flying directly into high-elevation cities
Fitness doesn’t prevent it — acclimatization does
Symptoms to Watch For:
Headache
Nausea
Fatigue
Poor sleep
Lightheadedness
Shortness of breath with exertion
Prevention + Treatment:
Acetazolamide (Diamox) – start 1–2 days before ascent to help your body adapt
NSAIDs – for headache relief
Hydration – drink more than usual, but avoid alcohol
Slow your ascent – ideally gain no more than 1,000 ft sleeping elevation per night
Avoid sleeping meds – they depress breathing, which you don’t want at altitude
If symptoms worsen:
→ Descend immediately. Going down is the single most effective treatment for altitude sickness.
What About Boost Oxygen Cans?
Portable oxygen cans (like Boost Oxygen) won’t prevent or treat severe altitude illness, but they can help you feel better when your lungs are working overtime.
They’re especially helpful:
During intense exertion (like summit pushes or switchbacks)
If you’re experiencing mild symptoms
As a backup in your pack for peace of mind
Think of them as a temporary boost, not a solution. If you’re relying on canned oxygen to survive at elevation… it’s time to descend.
Know When It’s Not Just AMS
Altitude sickness isn’t just a headache — it’s a warning. If you ignore it, it can escalate into HAPE (fluid in your lungs) or HACE (swelling in your brain).
These are not just acronyms. They’re medevac-level emergencies. If you feel worse as you ascend — stop climbing and start descending. No summit is worth your life.
Other Common Travel Illnesses We Help Prevent
Insect-borne illness:
Malaria (Africa, parts of Asia, South America)
Dengue, Zika, Chikungunya (tropical regions)
Prevention/treatment:
Atovaquone-proguanil, Doxycycline, or Mefloquine (for malaria prevention)
Guidance on repellents, nets, and when to skip sunset mojitos
Motion sickness & jet lag:
Prevention/treatment:
Meclizine, Ondansetron, Diphenhydramine
Melatonin dosing guidance
Eczema, bites, sunburn:
Steroid creams, antihistamines, and preventive tips
Cold sores / Herpes simplex flare-ups:
Antivirals for prevention or treatment (Valacyclovir)
Vaccine Requirements by Region
Before you board that flight to Kenya, Brazil, or the Philippines, check what vaccines are required or recommended.
Some countries won’t let you in without proof of:
Yellow Fever (especially in parts of Africa and South America)
Meningitis (required for Hajj pilgrimage)
Polio booster (certain Middle Eastern countries)
Start with the official source:
We’ll help you make sense of it — and plan around dose timelines if you’re short on time.
Why Prepped Health Exists
We’re not your primary care doc. We’re your “trip’s coming up and I need this taken care of right now” telehealth team.
Every consult is:
Fast
Doctor-led
Travel focused
If a prescription makes sense, it’s sent same-day to your pharmacy. If not, we’ll tell you why — and what to do instead.
Final Takeaway
Travel is amazing. Getting sick abroad is not.
Pack smart. Plan better. Prep ahead.
Travel Smart. Stay Prepped.
Ready to book your travel med consult?
