Americans often forget that many parts of the world have more contagious diseases than are found in North America. Vaccination against many of these diseases is available.
But be careful of live vaccines (made with live germs), since they can cause infection in people with HIV. Discuss your options with your doctor or nearest infectious disease clinic.Food and water can contain germs and parasites that can cause serious diarrhea or vomiting if you’re not used to them. Unboiled water and raw vegetables and fruit can cause the worst problems. Try drinking hot drinks, bottled water, or canned or bottled soft drinks. Do not use ice, unless it’s made from bottled water or water that’s been boiled for five minutes. Brush your teeth with bottled water (not tap water). Avoid salads. Wash fruit well and then peel off any skins, rinds, or shells.
Do not be surprised if you feel fine while you’re away but get sick as soon as you get home. Sometimes this happens because of changes in temperature or climate, or because of jet lag or exhaustion. You may feel weak or nauseous, or have diarrhea. See your doctor right away if you come back from a vacation feeling sick. Drink lots of water (follow safe water guidelines) and other non-carbonated fluids on the plane. Keep all your medicine with you on the plane, in case your luggage is lost or delayed. If you’re carrying a lot of medicine, allow extra time to clear customs.
More than 50 countries put travel restrictions on people who have HIV. This means they have rules about whether you can travel there, or how long you can stay, if you are HIV positive. (Officials may be able to figure out that you’re positive if, for example, you’re carrying certain medications.) Most of these rules have to do with people who plan to stay for a long time - in order to study or work , for example. Many countries will not let HIV-positive people stay for good. The U.S. Government does not let HIV-positive people into the country, even to visit, without a special permit. Canada allows HIV-positive visitors and immigrants. Every country has different rules, so check with the embassies or consulates of the countries you plan to visit to get up-to-date information about whether you need to get a visa. It’s usually recommended that you get extra health insurance every time you leave the country, since most provincial health plans do not cover out-of-country medical expenses. Some private insurance policies have a “pre-existing condition” clause. T
his means that any infections or problems that you already had before you left will not be covered. Some plans consider HIV infection a pre-existing condition. Others cover people with HIV as long as their health is stable and they do not have any active infections. Check with your insurance carrier for such restrictions. Regardless, it’s a good idea to buy health insurance, since HIV and AIDS are not the only causes of hospitalization or illness. Accidents do happen, and any problems should be treated right away, rather than waiting till you get back.
