Travel Medicine: Before and After the Trip

International travel can be exciting but carries specific health risks if not appropriately planned. Primary care pediatricians should be prepared to provide timely, tailored pre-travel health counseling for families to ensure adequate time for necessary immunizations and prophylactic medications, in addition to ensuring routine vaccinations are up to date. Further counseling on risk-reducing behaviors and strategies to manage common travel-related health issues should also be provided. For patients who have medical conditions that may lead to an immunocompromised status, which may require specialized guidance or vaccines not routinely available in primary care, referral to a travel medicine clinician is indicated to optimize the patient's health and safety. Pre-travel counseling should also include guidance on recognizing and seeking care for acute illness after returning from travel to prevent serious morbidity and the spread of highly contagious infections.