Ask your question!
Susan Spinello, CRNP answered
your questions about Travel Medicine.
|
Sue asks:
I want to visit Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Angkor Wat. Should
I be inoculated against Hepatitus B? Take anti-malarial medication? |
|
Response:
Penn Travel Medicine does recommend the Hepatitis B vaccination for this
itinerary. The CDC does list Angkor Wat as a malaria risk zone, so
antimalarial preventive medication is recommended. The CDC states that
antimalarial medication is not needed for Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City
(Saigon), however would be indicated, if traveling outside of these
cities.
Penn Travel Medicine also recommends that
the insect repellents Permethrin and DEET
be used in these areas. Other serious mosquito-borne
diseases exist here, including Japanese
Encephalitis and dengue fever. Depending
upon your length of stay, and type of itinerary,
the Japanese Encephalitis vaccine may be
indicated. It would be advisable for you
to discuss this with a Travel Health provider.
For more information, please call 1-800-789-PENN
(7366).
|
|
Mary Lou asks:
Is there a list of recommended travel insurers available? What coverage
is usually recommended? |
|
Response:
Penn Travel Medicine has found International SOS to consistently provide
excellent service, with a western trained, English speaking, physician
available to the membership 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. We recommend
purchasing at least $100,000.00 evacuation insurance. Recommended medical
insurance would depend upon your destination and length of stay.
Policies can be purchased through Penn
Travel Medicine by calling
1-800-789-PENN (7366), or via web at www.internationalsos.com
(use agent # I4917).
|
|
Diego asks:
I am going to Brasil, and I need the vaccination for the Yellow Fever,
but I haven't been able to find a center inside Philadelphia that provides
it. Do you provide it at UPenn and how much does it cost? |
|
Response:
Penn Travel Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
does offer Yellow Fever inoculations in addition to the Yellow Fever
international certificate. The cost for an office visit which includes
the required counseling and inoculation is $185. Appointments can be
scheduled by calling 610-662-2427 or call 1-800-789-PENN (7366) for
more information.
|
Susan
Spinello, a certified nurse practitioner,
is the regional director of Penn
Travel Medicine, part of the University
of Pennsylvania Health System. Ms. Spinello
currently practices travel medicine full time
at Penn Medicine at Radnor and oversees six
Penn Travel Medicine offices located throughout
Philadelphia, Delaware, Montgomery and Bucks
counties. Ms. Spinello earned her Master’s
Degree from the University of Pennsylvania
and has more than 25 years of nursing experience.
|
