Health care: How to avoid infectious diseases when visiting home!

Health care: How to avoid infectious diseases when visiting home!

The health department of the Rhein-Neckar-Kreis district office is available to give important advice to people in Baden-Württemberg who come from other countries and have planned visits to their home country. Visiting relatives can be relaxing, but it also involves certain risks. It is therefore advisable to discuss necessary vaccinations and prophylactic measures with a doctor before departure in order to protect yourself from infectious diseases that are less common or better controlled in Germany, such as [Weik Media].

The Federal Foreign Office points out that precautionary measures should best be discussed with tropical or travel medicine specialists. Depending on the travel destination, season, duration and individual circumstances, special recommendations can be made. Short trips are particularly tricky because they can often lead to a lack of preparation. Anyone traveling to high-risk areas should not forego vaccinations and malaria prophylaxis, even if the trip is only short. Information about necessary vaccinations and mosquito protection is central to minimizing health risks, as the Foreign Office explains.

Important vaccinations and health care

The STIKO, the Robert Koch Institute and the German Society for Tropical Medicine have updated their recommendations on travel vaccinations. Particular emphasis is placed on vaccinations against diseases such as cholera, hepatitis A and B, yellow fever, tetanus and rabies. Vaccinations are not only useful for longer stays, but can also soon become an important safeguard for short trips, as travel medical risks vary greatly from person to person, writes the [RKI](https://www.rki.de/DE/Themen/Infection Diseases/Impfen/Staendige-Impfkommission/Reiseimpfungen/reiseimpfungen-node.html).

Before a trip, it is advisable to put together a first aid kit that is suitable for both preventive and acute health needs. Especially when traveling to distant countries, travelers should remember to take their medication with them in the original packaging with an instruction leaflet. Information about taking medication with you on the plane and to the country you are traveling to is also important to avoid surprises.

Hygiene and health risks

When traveling, hygiene is the be-all and end-all. This includes not only good food and drinking water hygiene, but also protection against disease transmission routes. Gastrointestinal diseases are common and can be avoided through simple measures - the motto “peel it, cook it, boil it or leave it” can work wonders here.

Information about health risks in the country you are traveling to should be obtained before every trip. Whether at altitudes over 2,500 m or preparing for special activities such as diving - a timely medical examination can make the trip significantly easier and avert any health risks. Those who start their vacation well prepared come back healthier.

In summary, it is advisable to take care of your health care in good time before traveling far away. A visit to the doctor to go over all the necessary vaccinations is the first step to travel worry-free.