HEALTH
HOMESICKNESS. LITERALLY.
From diarrhea in India to stomach flu in Russia, international travel carries plenty of health risks
// ABBY OLCESE
I should not have eaten the pizza.
It was my junior year in high school, and I was on an exchange trip with a group from my school in Vladimir, Russia. One afternoon, my host, Kate, and I ate lunch together in a pizzeria downtown. From the first bite I took, I realized there was something wrong with the food, but for some reason I ate a whole slice of pizza. Immediately afterward, I felt awful. I ended up getting violently ill, barely even able to keep water down without having to run for the toilet.
After spending a night and the following morning moaning, groaning and heaving, my host mother forced me into a car and off to the hospital, despite my protests about my health insurance not covering any of the local doctors. After getting hooked up with an I.V. drip for about five hours, I ended up being just fine and (somehow) not needing to pay any medical fees. It was a scary lesson in travel wisdom; Always be
wary of health risks and prepare for the worst.
Staying healthy is a major consideration students have to keep in mind when traveling to another country. The Center for Disease Control recommends that anyone planning on taking a trip abroad get familiar with what preventative measures to take before leaving, and what steps to take if you should encounter a medical emergency. Most illnesses are pretty minor, such as diarrhea, which the CDC says afflicts 20 to 60 percent of travelers. However, depending on where you're traveling, the risks for different diseases may be greater.
Annette Becker, Lenora junior, says she's had plenty of experience getting sick in other countries. While traveling in India, Becker says she was miserable after accidentally brushing her teeth with tap water and getting diarrhea.
"All the food made me sick, the temperature outside was about 110 degrees, there was one
ceiling fan in my room, it smelled like rotting fruit and cow shit and the only toilet in the place was a crumbling squat toilet." Becker says. "I don't think I've ever been that miserable since."
Robert Lopez, outreach coordinator for the Office of Study Abroad, says students studying abroad through the University get filled in on health tips during program orientation, but there are several other resources students can use in addition. Lopez recommends using Watkins Health Center's Travel Consultation Clinic for advice on what medical precautions to take before an international journey. Lopez also says the Council on International Education Exchange (CIHE) offers information on a variety of travel-safety related topics.
One health issue to consider before a trip is culinary differences. Derek Setter, Cunningham senior, learned this when he got sick in London after a late night meal at a fast food place. The
next day, Setter was sick to his stomach, and says he was throwing up, felt feverish and delirious. Setter says his experience taught him that even in countries with foods and eating habits similar to the U.S., it's important to be watch what you eat. "The food might be pretty much the same, but the cultural context is different," Setter says. "For the rest of the trip, I ended up picking food that was closer to what I'm used to eating here."
Foreign flu. Coming down with an illness in the middle of your study abroad adventure is never fun, but it's important to know what precautions to take if you don't feel well in a new country. Health policies and insurance for students may vary, so be sure to check out all of your options before departure.
Another factor to take into account is Health Insurance. Will your provider cover you if you break your leg while exploring ancient ruins, or find out too late that roasted goat doesn't set well with your stomach? A CIEE pamphlet on health says it's important to check if your study abroad program offers health insurance as part of the program fee, and whether your plan will pay a healthcare provider in another country directly, or if you have to pay and be reimbursed later. The Office of Study Abroad also lists several options for Study Abroad insurance providers.
Photo illustration by Karsten Lunde
In addition to checking insurance and your medical condition before departing for another country, a relatively simple way to prepare is packing a first-aid kit. CIEE recommends bandages, rubbing alcohol, anti-diarrhea medication and sunscreen in addition to whatever regular medications you need to bring.
Becker says that her experiences traveling have informed her travel preparations. She's figured out her own list of what to bring when she's going to another country, including Gatorade powder, which she adds to liter-sized bottles of water to help keep her hydrated, and nutrition bars. "If you can't handle eating strange food while sick or can't find a sanitary eatery, these at least keep you alive," she says. Jp
WHERE TO GO FOR HEALTH HELP
★ KU's Office of Study Abroad:
http://www.tstudyabroad.ku.edu
- KU's Student Health Services Travel Care site:
http://www.studenthealth.ku.edu/services/travel_care.shtml
- Center for Disease Control site on travel:
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel
Health info from the Council on International Educational Exchange http://www.ciee.org/study/why-ciee/health-safety.aspx
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