What to Do if You Get Sick While Traveling

Preparing to Travel

Getting sick while traveling often feels more stressful than being sick at home, but solid preparation can make all the difference. Think of pre-travel health planning like packing rain gear: you hope you won’t need it, but you’ll be grateful to have it if the weather turns.

Preparation starts with packing a travel health kit. Begin with your prescription medications. Make sure you have enough medication to last you through your trip, plus a little extra. For example, if you’re traveling for a week, consider packing ten days’ worth. If you experience flight delays, lost luggage, or an unplanned trip extension, you don’t want to be caught without your prescriptions.

Once you have your prescriptions in order, add other essential medications to your packing list, such as over-the-counter pain relievers, anti-nausea medication, antihistamines, and saline nasal spray. Round out your kit with a few first aid basics, such as bandages, antiseptic wipes, and any other supplies that are specific to your health needs.

While you can find these items at most destinations, hunting for anti-diarrheal medication while battling a stomach bug isn’t anyone’s idea of a good time. Medical supplies aren’t subject to TSA liquid restrictions, but always check current guidelines before flying.

It’s also wise to check the CDC’s travel health notices, which provide destination-specific advice about disease outbreaks, vaccination requirements, and health precautions. These resources might remind you to drink only bottled water or update routine vaccinations before departure.

Finally, know your insurance coverage before you leave home. Review both your health insurance and any travel insurance policies to understand what's covered away from home.

Finding Medical Care Away From Home

Unfortunately, even the best preparation can’t prevent every potential illness or injury. If you travel regularly, you or one of your traveling companions will eventually need medical care while away from home. The key is knowing your options and choosing the right type of care for your situation.

Types of Medical Care Available to Travelers

Urgent care clinics can handle most travel health issues effectively. Providers at an urgent care clinic at your destination can treat non-emergency illnesses and minor injuries with shorter wait times and lower costs than emergency rooms. Urgent care works well for respiratory infections, minor cuts, sprains, stomach issues, and other common travel ailments.

Urgent care providers can provide prescriptions, basic procedures, and peace of mind when you’re feeling unwell away from home. If you’re traveling in Birmingham, MedHelp urgent care clinics offer walk-in care seven days a week.

Emergency rooms serve true medical emergencies and life-threatening conditions. While available 24/7, emergency departments prioritize the most serious cases first, meaning longer waits for non-urgent issues. Emergency room care costs significantly more than other care options, but don’t let cost concerns delay necessary treatment.

Choose the emergency room for chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe injuries, or any condition that feels like a true emergency. Generally, apply the same decision-making process you would use at home when choosing between urgent care and emergency room treatment.

Telemedicine options can provide convenient access to healthcare providers, especially for non-urgent illnesses. You may be able to schedule a telehealth appointment with your primary care doctor, who already knows your medical history. However, telemedicine has limitations. Providers can’t perform physical examinations or provide immediate hands-on treatment. Your insurance provider may offer telehealth services or direct you to telemedicine providers available in your travel area.

Hotel and resort medical services offer convenience when you're too sick to venture far from your accommodation. Some larger hotels employ on-site medical staff, while resort doctors serve tourist areas with dedicated practices for travelers. These services provide immediate access to care without requiring transportation to unfamiliar medical facilities. Consider this route when convenience is your priority or when you're in a remote location with limited alternatives.

How to Find Medical Care Away from Home

When you’re away from home, it can be challenging to locate the care you need quickly. Fortunately, there are several resources available to you.

Digital resources provide immediate access to healthcare information. Start with your insurance provider's app or website to locate in-network facilities, which can save you money. Google Maps and Yelp offer nearby clinic locations with reviews and contact information. Hospital system websites often include location finders with services and hours. Healthcare facility rating websites can help you choose quality providers when you have multiple options.

You can also tap into local assistance for insider knowledge.

• Hotel concierge services and front desk staff regularly help guests find medical care and can recommend trusted local providers.
• Local pharmacy staff understand the area's healthcare landscape and can direct you to appropriate facilities.
• Tourist information centers maintain lists of medical resources for visitors.
• If you're staying in a vacation rental, your host can often provide excellent local recommendations based on personal experience.

Emergency services require different approaches depending on your location. Know when to call 911 versus non-emergency numbers for routine medical needs. International travelers should research local emergency numbers before departure, as these vary by country.

A little planning can go a long way. Research medical facilities near your destination before traveling, and save important phone numbers and addresses in your phone. Identify 24-hour pharmacies and urgent care options in your travel area. This preparation allows you to focus on getting better rather than scrambling to find care.

Considerations for International Travel

International travel introduces additional complexities when seeking medical care. Healthcare system differences vary significantly between countries. For example, many international healthcare providers expect upfront payment before treatment, unlike the insurance billing common in the US. Healthcare facilities may differ from what you’re accustomed to at home, and medications may have different names, or they may not be available at all.

Language barriers can complicate medical communication when you're already feeling unwell. Download translation apps that include medical terminology before traveling. Bring translated copies of your medical history, current medications, and any allergies or chronic conditions. Many tourist areas have English-speaking healthcare providers, but research these options in advance rather than hoping to find them when you need care.

American travelers abroad can get valuable support from embassy and consulate resources. Medical officers can assist with finding appropriate care and maintaining lists of recommended healthcare providers in their regions. They can also help coordinate medical evacuations if needed. Save embassy contact information for your destination before traveling—this information becomes invaluable during medical emergencies.

Become familiar with your travel insurance policy, because these details are essential if you become sick while traveling internationally. Many travel insurance policies offer benefits such as medical evacuation coverage, which can transport you to appropriate facilities or back to the United States if needed. Repatriation benefits cover the cost of returning home for continued care. Some international treatments will require prior authorization from your travel insurance provider.

When to Seek Immediate Medical Attention

Medical emergencies remain emergencies regardless of your location. Don't hesitate to seek immediate care when you experience serious symptoms that would send you to the emergency room at home.

Go to the nearest emergency room or call the local emergency number if you have:

• Difficulty breathing
• Chest pain
• Severe abdominal pain
• Signs of serious infection, such as high fever with confusion
• Any head injuries

These conditions require immediate professional evaluation and treatment.

Trust your instincts when something feels seriously wrong. That nagging feeling that "this isn't normal" or "something feels very wrong" represents your body's warning system. Don't ignore these signals or delay care due to cost concerns, inconvenience, or unfamiliarity with the local healthcare system.

If you're unsure whether your situation constitutes an emergency, err on the side of caution. Healthcare providers would rather evaluate you unnecessarily than have you delay treatment for a serious condition. When traveling with others, don't hesitate to ask for help navigating the local healthcare system or getting to the appropriate medical facilities.

Managing Medications and Prescriptions While Traveling

Medication mishaps can turn a minor inconvenience into a major travel disruption. But you still have options while traveling away from home.

Lost or forgotten medications don’t have to derail your trip. Many pharmacies can help with emergency refills, especially for maintenance medications like blood pressure or diabetes drugs. Generic medications are often easier to replace than brand names, as they're more widely available. Some pharmacies can transfer prescriptions from your home pharmacy, though this process may take time and requires coordination between locations.

If you run out of medication while you’re away, you need to take action quickly. Telemedicine appointments with your primary care doctor can provide prescription renewals, especially for routine medications. When traveling internationally, research equivalent medications available in your destination country, as the same drug may go by different names or require different formulations abroad.

Always keep your medications safe and accessible by packing them in your carry-on luggage rather than checked bags. Lost luggage shouldn't mean lost medications. Pack medications in their original containers with clear labels, and consider bringing a copy of your prescriptions. For longer trips, split medications between multiple bags to reduce the risk of losing everything at once.

Getting Home Safely

Recovering from illness while traveling raises important questions about your fitness to travel and how to make the journey home as comfortable as possible. Airlines have medical clearance requirements for passengers with certain conditions, and some illnesses may prevent you from flying altogether. Recent surgeries, severe respiratory infections, or conditions requiring supplemental oxygen often require medical clearance from a physician before airlines will allow you to board.

Contagious illnesses present additional considerations—you shouldn't travel while actively contagious with conditions like norovirus or flu, both for your own recovery and to protect fellow passengers.

You may need to modify your travel arrangements when illness disrupts your plans. Most airlines allow flight changes due to medical reasons, though policies vary by carrier and ticket type. Contact your airline as soon as you know you need to modify travel plans. Extended stay considerations include rebooking accommodations, notifying work or family of delays, and ensuring you have adequate medication supplies for a longer trip.

Preparing for the journey home while still recovering requires thoughtful planning to ensure your comfort and safety during travel.

• Time medications appropriately for your flight schedule, especially pain medication or treatments that might cause drowsiness.
• Pack comfort measures like extra tissues, throat lozenges, or motion sickness remedies.
• Consider upgrading to a seat with more legroom if you’re dealing with injuries or need extra space for medical supplies
• Stay hydrated during travel, but balance this with easy bathroom access during flights

Taking these steps helps minimize discomfort and prevents your condition from worsening during the journey home.

Don’t let fear of getting sick prevent you from traveling and creating memories. Illness during travel is totally manageable and treatable with the right approach. Prepare thoughtfully, but don't worry excessively—most travel health issues resolve quickly with appropriate care.

Whether you need pre-travel health consultations to ensure you're ready for your trip or post-travel follow-up care after an illness abroad, MedHelp's primary care and urgent care providers are here to support your health at home and away. Our team understands the unique challenges of travel health and can help you prepare for safe, healthy adventures.