Travel Fact Sheets
These fact sheets are supplied as an additional resource from our Travel Medicine Centre Perth.
Health risks for your trip will depend on your destinations, the duration of your stay, your style of travel, your activities while you are away, and your personal medical history. There are also special considerations for children and pregnant women. Issues relevant to your trip will be discussed with you during your visit to the clinic. This section contains useful fact sheets (click on the links) on a variety of travel health topics.
Travelling with children can be a rewarding experience but is it essential that you take some extra time with preparation and planning.
Cholera is an uncommon bacterial infection of the intestine which causes profuse and watery diarrhoea.
Ciguatera is a toxin produced by marine microalgae in the tropics, particularly in the Pacific Islands, Caribbean, and Indian Ocean Islands.
Working and living overseas can be one of life's truly enriching experiences. For some however, culture shock can be difficult.
Diabetes. Start accustoming yourself to alterations in diet eg you may be eating rice in S.E. Asia, pasta in Italy.
There are special considerations for the female traveller.
The word hepatitis simply means inflammation of the liver. Causes include liver infections by bacteria, viruses and parasites, in addition to liver damage caused by toxic chemicals and alcohol.
You may have been strolling down the beach in balmy Bali, or dancing all night on the sands of Koh Samui; what happens when you get home? Have you picked up a passenger from your holiday such as hookworm?
Mosquitoes and other insects such as sandflies can spread disease. The essence of prevention is to avoid being bitten in the first place.
DEET (diethyltoluamide) is contained in insect repellents and is the effective agent that repels insects such as mosquitoes, ticks and sandflies. It does not kill the insect.
Japanese Encephalitis (JE) is a viral disease spread by mosquitoes from infected animals (usually pigs and wading birds) to humans.
Jetlag occurs when your body's usual sleeping and waking cycle is altered by crossing several time zones, especially if there is a time change of more than 5 hours.
Leptospirosis is the most common bacterial infection transmitted from animals to humans. It is caused by bacteria called Leptospira, which live in the kidneys of a wide range of mammals including rats, other rodents, pets (dogs and cats), livestock (pigs, cows, sheep), and wildlife (flying foxes, possums).
Long distance travelling may increase the risk of developing blood clots in the vessels of the legs - a condition called Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). This is sometimes called 'economy class syndrome', when it develops after flying long distances in cramped conditions.
The ocean provides some of the most enjoyable activities for the traveller, but it is wise to be prepared for potential hazards from marine envenomation or diving .
Meningitis is an inflammation of the lining of the brain and has many causes including bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic. A particular bacterium called "Meningococcus" can be aggressive and lead very quickly to a life threatening illness.
The number of people travelling to remote destinations for business or pleasure continues to grow. Women who are pregnant or are planning to conceive are no exception.
Q Fever is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Coxiella burnetii. The organism is mainly transmitted by the respiratory route by droplet infection through aerosols, or inhalation of 'dry' organisms in infected dust.
Rabies is a severe viral infection transmitted to humans by animals. It affects the brain and nervous system.
Polio is a serious viral disease following gastro-intestinal infection, which can cause severe muscle pain and can lead to paralysis of one or more limbs and may make it difficult to breathe without the aid of a machine. Routine vaccinations are the only reliable protection against polio and other diseases.
Schistosomiasis , also known as Bilharzia, is a parasitic infection acquired through contact with freshwater throughout the tropics and subtropics. The major forms in humans are caused by water-borne flatworms or blood flukes called schistosomes.
Travellers who engage in unprotected sex abroad run a high risk of acquiring a sexually transmitted disease (STD) such as gonorrhea, chlamydia and herpes as well as HIV and Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C. Because travellers sometimes feel less inhibited when away from home, they are more likely to engage in risky sexual practices.
Strongyloidiasis is a disease process which results from infection with Strongyloides (usually Strongyloides stercoralis), a nematode (roundworm) which occurs in many sub-tropical, tropical, and even temperate countries. Strongyloidiasis can affect people years after exposure.
Exposure to the sun causes problems such as sunburn, aging of the skin, hypersensitivity reactions, skin cancers and eye damage. Use sun protection .
Tick-borne encephalitis is a viral disease that occurs in wooded and forested areas in certain countries in Europe. The virus lives in small wild animals, mostly rodents. Ticks can transmit this virus to humans. Rarely, people may also be infected with the virus by drinking unpasteurised milk from infected goats, sheep and cattle.
Diarrhoea is the most common illness affecting travellers, especially in developing countries. Up to 70% of travellers will suffer from a diarrhoeal illness while overseas, depending on destination and season of travel.
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. It is estimated that a third of the world's population is affected.
Typhoid is a disease caused by bacteria present in contaminated food and water. Typhoid is a common disease in developing countries because hygiene standards are often poor. It is prevalent in Asia, Africa and South America.
Yellow fever is a viral disease transmitted between humans by a mosquito. It causes a serious haemorrhagic fever with a fatality rate of greater than 60% in non-immune adults.
The understanding of Zika virus is evolving. Monitoring of Zika virus will occur on an ongoing basis with updates to this website as important information comes to hand. Check regularly for the latest information.