Traveler's Medicine

Objectives

After this unit, students should be able to:
1. Evaluate the health risks in travel medicine.
2. Discuss the most suitable vaccines depending on the traveler’ characteristics, the types of trips and destinations.
3. Distinguish particular aspects of traveler related diarrhoea.
4. Know how to counsel travelers subject to climate extremes, altitude or other.
5. Describe the clinical aspects, prevention and treatment/therapy subsequent to accidents with poisonous animals and/or with toxins in tropical regions.

General characterization

Code

9533046

Credits

4

Responsible teacher

Rosa Teodósio

Hours

Weekly - Se a UC for oferecida como opcional, o horário será disponibilizado no 2º semestre

Total - 36

Teaching language

English and Portuguese

Prerequisites

Not applicable

Bibliography

• Center for Diseases Control. (2016) Health information for internation travel. 2016 Yellow Book. Oxford University Press.
• Travel Medicine. (2013) (3rd ed) Eds Keystone, J.S., Freedman, D.O., Kozarsky, P. E., Connor, B. A., Notddurft, H. D. Chine: Elsevier Sauders.
• World Health Organization. (2012) International travel and Health. Disponível em http://www.who.int/ith/en/

Teaching method

- Lectures: formal, knowledge transmission from teacher to student;
- Theoretic practical classes with discussion of cases;
- Tutorials of work to use knowledge and to clarify doubts.

Evaluation method

At the end of the course the students will be evaluated by conducting individual written work.

Subject matter

I. Concept of Travel Medicine. Risk assessment in Travel Medicine; contributing factors (specific features of the traveler and trip). Health problems more often related to travel in tropical areas.
Specific aspects in Travel Medicine:
II. Vaccination for travelers: types of vaccines; National Vaccination Schedule, compulsory vaccinations and recommended vaccinations; indications and contraindications; vaccination schedules. Particular aspects of vaccination in children. III. Travelers’ diarrhoea: risk factors; microorganisms most often responsible for diarrhoea in travelers; treatment.
IV. Acclimatization, effects of heat, light and very deep/high altitude.
V. Accidents with poisonous animals and toxins: risks, clinical aspects, prevention and treatment.

Programs

Programs where the course is taught: