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Expatriates: special considerations in pretravel preparation
Cassandra M Pierre1, Poh-Lian Lim, Davidson H Hamer
1Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, 1 Boston Medical Center Way, Boston, MA, 02118, USA, Cassandra.pierre@bmc.org.
Current Infectious Disease Reports
|June 21, 2013
Summary
Expatriates face unique health risks like malaria and psychological disorders due to host country exposure. Current travel guidelines inadequately address these expatriate-specific health concerns and risk mitigation strategies.
Area of Science:
- Global Health
- Travel Medicine
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Expatriates encounter distinct medical, psychiatric, and lifestyle risks tied to host country environments.
- They exhibit higher incidences of malaria, gastrointestinal issues, tuberculosis, vaccine-preventable diseases, and psychological disorders compared to general travelers.
- Existing pretravel health guidelines are often insufficient for the expatriate population's specific needs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the unique health risks faced by expatriates.
- To emphasize the inadequacy of current pretravel guidelines for expatriates.
- To advocate for the development of expatriate-specific risk mitigation strategies.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on expatriate health risks.
- Analysis of common illnesses and risk factors in expatriate populations.
- Comparison of expatriate health needs with standard travel medicine recommendations.
Main Results:
- Expatriates are disproportionately affected by infectious diseases and mental health conditions.
- Specific risk factors include occupational exposures, lifestyle changes, and environmental differences.
- Key areas for improved risk management include chemoprophylaxis, tuberculosis prevention, and blood-borne virus transmission control.
Conclusions:
- Expatriate health requires tailored pretravel consultations and risk management plans.
- Occupational and destination factors are critical determinants of travel-related disease risk.
- Further research and specific guidelines are needed to enhance expatriate health outcomes.
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