Elm Street Pediatrics Travel Clinic

Our travel clinic provides care to patients and families who are traveling internationally.  In general, we follow the travel recommendations and guidelines as provided by the Centers For Disease Control (CDC), which provides specific recommendations for each travel destination.  It is encouraged that all families travelling internationally consider visiting a travel clinic, ideally 1-2 months prior to departure.  At this visit, you will obtain needed vaccinations, secure prescriptions for needed medications such as anti-malarials and antibiotics, and learn about health safety and protection while travelling. 

In more detail, at our travel clinic we address the following topics for your family to get you ready for your trip:
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1. Prescription Medications
  • medications to treat traveler's diarrhea: approximately 50% of travelers to foreign countries may get travelers diarrhea from eating or drinking contaminated food or water
  • medications to prevent malaria: malaria is a serious infection transmitted by mosquitoes in certain countries; luckily, there are medications to take while travelling to reduce your risk of contracting malaria
  • medications to prevent and treat motion sickness: this is a common issue for certain travelers, especially those going on cruises

2. Yellow Fever Vaccine
  • Elm Street Pediatrics is a certified provider of Yellow Fever Vaccine
  • yellow fever is a serious viral infection, transmitted by mosquitoes, that is found in certain parts of Africa and South America
  • some countries require yellow fever vaccine, as it is mandated by some foreign governments to protect their citizens
  • if you receive this vaccine, we will provide you with an International Certificate of Vaccination, also known as Yellow Card, to bring with you on your travels

3. Immunizations/ Other Needed Vaccines
  • needed vaccinations depend on your destination, health status, age and the details of your itinerary
  • we follow the official CDC guidelines to determine which vaccines you should receive; these may include Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, Rabies, Polio, and Yellow Fever
  • we recommend starting travel vaccinations several months before you travel; however, many vaccinations offer some protection even if administered within a few days of your departure

4. Travel Safety
  • protection from mosquitoes, including relevant medications, use of insect repellents, wearing long sleeve clothing and pants, and sometimes using mosquito nets
  • protection from sunburns by using sunscreen of at least SPF 30, and apply several times daily; if in a particularly hot area, avoid direct sun for young children during peak sun hours (typically 10 AM-2 PM)
  • make copies of important documents such as passports, driver's license, and credit cards in case of theft while travelling

    Travel Inquiry (optional)

5. Avoiding Traveler's Diarrhea
  • symptoms of Traveler's Diarrhea include having watery stools or diarrhea along with abdominal cramping; fever, vomiting, and bloody stools are not typical of this common illness, usually caused by bacteria
  • water use: boil before using water for cooking, drink only bottled water and juices, use bottled water for brushing teeth, avoid ice made from local tap water; you may also consider using iodine tablets to disinfect water, unless you are pregnant or have a thyroid condition
  • food: eat fruits and vegetables only if they have been peeled or cooked -- avoid salads and cold foods that may have been washed in contaminated water; avoiod raw or undercooked meat, and avoid meat and other foods from street vendors; wash hands before eating