Italy Pre-Departure Health

In your passport, write the names of any people you wish to be contacted in case of a medical emergency and list any allergies or medical conditions. Matching a prescription to a foreign equivalent is not always easy, safe, or possible, so, if you take prescription drugs, consider carrying up-to-date prescriptions or a statement from your doctor stating the medication’s trade name, manufacturer, chemical name, and dosage. While traveling, be sure to keep all medication with you in your carry-on luggage. For tips on packing a first-aid kit and other health essentials, . While it may be difficult to find brand name medications like Tylenol or Advil, these products can easily be identified by their drug names (such as acetaminophen or paracetamol and ibuprofen).

Travelers over two years old should make sure that the following vaccines are up to date: MMR (for measles, mumps, and rubella); DTaP or Td (for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis); IPV (for polio); Hib (for haemophilus influenzae B); and HepB (for Hepatitis B). Adults traveling to the developing world on trips longer than four weeks should consider the following additional immunizations: Hepatitis A vaccine and/or immune globulin (IG), typhoid and cholera vaccines, particularly if traveling off the beaten path, as well as a rabies vaccine and yearly influenza vaccines. For recommendations on immunizations, consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC; below) in the US or the equivalent in your home country and check with a doctor for guidance.

Insurance

Travel insurance covers four basic areas: medical/health problems, property loss, trip cancellation/interruption, and emergency evacuation. Though regular insurance policies may well extend to travel-related accidents, you may consider purchasing separate travel insurance if the cost of potential trip cancellation, interruption, or emergency medical evacuation is greater than you can absorb. Prices for travel insurance purchased separately generally run about US$50 per week for full coverage, while trip cancellation/interruption may be purchased separately at a rate of US$3-5 per day, depending on length of stay.

Medical insurance (especially university policies) often covers costs incurred abroad; check with your provider. Homeowners’ insurance (or your family’s coverage) often covers theft during travel and loss of travel documents (passport, plane ticket, railpass, etc.) up to US$500.

ISIC and ITIC provide basic insurance benefits to US cardholders, including coverage of US$100 per day of in-hospital sickness for up to 100 days and US$10,000 of accident-related medical reimbursement (see www.isicus.com for details). Cardholders have access to a toll-free 24hr. helpline for medical, legal, and financial emergencies overseas. American Express (☎+1-800-338-1670) grants most cardholders automatic collision and theft car rental insurance on rentals made with the card.

Useful Organizations And Publications

The American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC; ☎+1-877-FYI-TRIP; www.cdc.gov/travel) maintains an international travelers’ hotline. Consult the appropriate government agency of your home country for consular information sheets on health, entry requirements, and other issues for various countries (see the listings in the box on Travel Advisories ). For quick information on health and other travel warnings, call the Overseas Citizens Services (from overseas ☎+1-202-501-4444, from US 888-407-4747; line open M-F 8am-8pm EST) or contact a passport agency, embassy, or consulate abroad. For info on medical evacuation services and travel insurance firms, see the US government’s website at http://travel.state.gov/travel/abroad_health.html or the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (www.fco.gov.uk). For general health info, contact the American Red Cross (☎+1-202-303-4498; www.redcross.org).