Costa Rica (Lonely Planet, 9th Edition) - Matthew Firestone [501]
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Health Dr David Goldberg
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CONTENTS
Before You Go
Insurance
Medical Checklist
Internet Resources
Further Reading
In Transit
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
Jet Lag & Motion Sickness
In Costa Rica
Availability & Cost of Health Care
Infectious Diseases
Traveler’s Diarrhea
Environmental Hazards
Traveling with Children
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Travelers to Central America need to be vigilant about food-borne and mosquito-borne infections. Most of these illnesses are not life-threatening, but they can certainly ruin your trip. Besides getting the proper vaccinations, it’s important to use a good insect repellent and exercise care in what you eat and drink.
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BEFORE YOU GO
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Since most vaccines don’t produce immunity until at least two weeks after they’re given, visit a physician four to eight weeks before departure. Ask your doctor for an International Certificate of Vaccination (otherwise known as the ‘yellow booklet’), which will list all the vaccinations you’ve received. This is mandatory for countries that require proof of yellow-fever vaccination upon entry, but it’s a good idea to carry it wherever you travel.
Bring medications in their original containers, clearly labeled. A signed, dated letter from your physician describing all medical conditions and medications, including generic names, is also a good idea. If carrying syringes or needles, be sure to have a physician’s letter documenting their medical necessity.
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INSURANCE
Most doctors and hospitals expect payment in cash, regardless of whether you have travel health insurance or not. If you develop a life-threatening medical problem, you’ll probably want to be evacuated to a country with state-of-the-art medical care. As this may cost tens of thousands of dollars, make sure you have insurance to cover this before you leave home. A list of medical evacuation and travel insurance companies is on the website of the US State Department (www.travel.state.gov/medical.html).
If your health insurance does not cover you for medical expenses while you are abroad, you should consider supplemental insurance. Check the Travel Services section of the Lonely Planet website at www.lonelyplanet.com for more information. It might pay to find out in advance if your insurance plan will make payments directly to providers or if they reimburse you later for any overseas health expenditures.
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MEDICAL CHECKLIST
acetaminophen (Tylenol) or aspirin
adhesive or paper tape
antibacterial ointment (eg Bactroban) for cuts and abrasions
antibiotics
antidiarrheal drugs (eg loperamide)
antihistamines for hay fever and allergic reactions
anti-inflammatory drugs (eg ibuprofen)
bandages, gauze, gauze rolls
insect repellent (containing DEET) for the skin
insect spray (containing permethrin) for clothing, tents and bed nets
iodine tablets for water purification
oral rehydration salts
pocket knife
scissors, safety pins, tweezers
steroid cream or cortisone for poison ivy and other allergic rashes
sunblock
syringes and sterile needles
thermometers
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INTERNET RESOURCES
There is a wealth of travel health advice on the internet. For further information, the website of Lonely Planet (www.lonelyplanet.com) is a good place to start. A superb book called International Travel and Health, which is revised annually and available online at no cost, is published by the World Health Organization (www.who.int/ith). Another website of general interest is MD Travel Health (www.mdtravelhealth.com), which provides complete travel health recommendations for every country, updated daily, also at no cost.
It’s usually a good idea to consult your government’s travel health website before departure, if one