ABSTRACT
The concept of travel has taken on a new meaning now that one can traverse more and more countries, borders and continents within ever-shortening periods. Approximately 2 billion people travel on commercial airlines per annum and there is now increasing awareness of the travel health needs and risks of those who travel by air (Gendreau and De John, 2002). While the discipline of travel medicine evolved initially from infectious diseases, tropical medicine and preventive medicine, and historically from quarantine and international health regulations, the subject encompasses the whole range of clinical and preventive medicine including care of travellers with special needs such as children, the elderly, pregnant women and the handicapped, and travellers with cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, renal, gastrointestinal, neurological, malignant diseases and others, including behavioural disorders. An important component of travel medicine includes not only vaccinations and prophylaxis against malaria but also advice on accident prevention, sexual health and guidance on contraception, safety of food and water, and hygienic and other precautions.
