When preparing for your trip, list the countries you will be visiting and the length of time you plan to spend in each one. Then answer the following series of questions about each of the countries you will visit.

Where will I be going?

Pre-trip, country-specific, planning will help you realistically determine the necessary precautions. Remember that a trip to Western Europe doesn't require as much preparation as an extended stay in a remote village in a lesser-developed country.

• What illnesses are prevalent in the region I will be visiting?

• What is the general level of sanitation?

• How competent, and close by, is medical care?

• How harsh is the climate?

• How safe are the roads?

• Is the country politically stable?

What will I be doing?

• Will I be traveling on a tour and staying only in air-conditioned, first-class hotels, or traveling in rural areas off the usual tourist routes?

• Am I planning an adventure or wilderness itinerary with exposure to extremes of heat, cold, or altitude?

• Will I be trekking or camping in a remote area far from medical care?

• Will I be driving a car, motorcycle, or moped in a lesser-developed country?

• Will I be swimming in unfamiliar, possibly treacherous waters or wading in fresh water ponds, lakes or streams?

How long will I be there?

A brief trip usually means less exposure to diseases and less opportunity for an accident. Longer trips increase the likelihood of side trips and excursions that may place you at an unforeseen risk, perhaps for a mosquito-transmitted disease. Long-stay travel also brings with it the risk of "culture shock" and the need to know more about local customs, traditions and history.

What should I bring?

Your itinerary, the climatic conditions you expect to encounter, the duration of your trip, and the disease risks in the countries you will be visiting all influence what you should bring. Your health status may also require you to take additional precautions.

When traveling overseas, take an ample supply of any medication that you use regularly. Don't carry a mixture of pills in unmarked vials. To avoid problems with customs officials who might suspect that your pills are recreational drugs, keep each medication in its labeled original container. Carry legally prescribed narcotics and controlled drugs only if medically necessary. Most importantly get a letter from your doctor certifying the need for these medications.