Contents:
- Medical Video: Johns Hopkins Center for AIDS Research: Bridging the Gap 2015 Symposium
- Safe traveling tips for HIV people
- 1. Check your health to a doctor
- 2. Vaccine
- 3. Prepare health insurance
- 4. Bring a doctor's prescription medicine
- 5. Take care of yourself while at the destination
Medical Video: Johns Hopkins Center for AIDS Research: Bridging the Gap 2015 Symposium
HIV is a chronic disease that attacks the immune system. That is why people with HIV / AIDS (PLWHA) have a weak and easily sick body endurance. Many PLWHA are reluctant to go on holiday because they are afraid they will get tired quickly and then it worsened his condition. Many are also reluctant travelingfor fear of transmitting the disease to other people. In fact, having HIV does not necessarily make you have to shut yourself up at home. That is, stress will actually make your body condition even more drop it. Before booking travel tickets, read first, let's go, travel tips for HIV people below so that your vacation is safe and comfortable.
Safe traveling tips for HIV people
Already have the right budget, dream destination, and the right vacation date? Don't hesitate to leave your feet and go on vacation! But before packing,make sure you have read and checked all of the following traveling tips.
1. Check your health to a doctor
Just like most healthy people, traveling for HIV people needs to be supported by excellent body condition. So you should, first check your health condition with the doctor who usually handles you.
If your CD4 levels (markers of endurance) in your blood are above 200 cells / mL, chances are that your doctor will give you the go-ahead. However, if you have checked your CD4 levels far below the 200-500 cells / mL range, your doctor may provide you with additional medicines to prevent your body's condition from suddenly deteriorating.
Don't forget also before checking health, tell the doctor where you are going and how long you will be there. Also ask for information as clearly as possible about what you should avoid or reduce in your vacation destination.
2. Vaccine
Especially if you are going on vacation long enough abroad, make sure you must have completed the following vaccines before leaving:
- Meningitis vaccine.
- Vaccine japanese encephalitis.
- Flu vaccine.
- Measles and rubella vaccine (MR vaccine).
Getting a vaccine before going on holiday will ensure you don't catch a disease that still has the potential to spread in certain countries.
The vaccines above are usually highly recommended when you are going on vacation to countries in the continents of Asia and Latin America. You might need another vaccine because the vaccine needs of every PLHIV can vary depending on the area to be visited. So, discuss further with the doctor about the destination and the length of your vacation there.
3. Prepare health insurance
Having health insurance is one of the important travel tips for HIV people to consider. Insurance becomes very important when you get sick or have an accident at your destination so you need to be hospitalized.
Previously, you could also contact your subscription insurance company to let you know about your travel plans and what services you can get in your country or destination if you need insurance.
When packing, don't forget to bring your insurance card. Put it in your wallet or anywhere that is easy to access when you are adventurous out there.
4. Bring a doctor's prescription medicine
In addition to carrying a change of clothes and a camera, of course you should not forget to bring your medicines normally. Starting from the antiretroviral drugs (ART) that your doctor prescribes to other medicines that might be related to other diseases that you are suffering from. Also bring a copy of the recipe. Also, don't forget to bring basic non-prescription pain medications, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.
5. Take care of yourself while at the destination
It's okay to have fun when you arrive at your destination. However, you also need to take care of yourself during a vacation so that the body's condition does not drop from the disease there or even to the risk of transmitting the disease to other people.
During a vacation ...
- Don't eat raw fruits and vegetables. If you want to eat peeled fruit, make sure you peel it yourself.
- If you want to drink or brush your teeth, it's better to buy bottled mineral water. Don't drink directly from the tap.
- Don't eat raw or undercooked meat.
- Don't drink unpasteurized milk or non-packaged milk products.
- Do not carelessly eat food purchased from street vendors.
- Drink from bottled drinks that you open and buy yourself.
- Be prepared and use condoms properly if you want to have sex while on vacation.
