Upon Returning Home

When you return home, you should monitor your health for 10 days. If you've had symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, respiratory illness, a skin rash or irritation during your travels, you should call your doctor about a follow-up appointment. The doctor may want to rule out any serious causes.

If you develop a fever or a cough at any time after returning from any SARS-affected area call your doctor. Be sure to let your doctor's office know about your symptoms and recent travel so they can arrange to prevent potential transmission to others in the doctor's office.

Even if you feel well, the doctor may want to review the symptoms of any diseases that are known to be prevalent in the areas you visited. If you develop them even weeks to months later, it's essential to have them checked right away. Diarrhea that begins several months after return is unlikely to be travel-related. However, anyone who travels to a malaria-prone area is urged to seek medical attention immediately if they develop a fever up to a year after returning home.

Related Articles Dealing With Jet Lag Healthy International Travel Two to Three Months Ahead (or as Soon as You Know Your International Destination) Six to Eight Weeks Ahead Two to Four Weeks Ahead Eight Ways to Stay Healthy While Traveling

External Sources National Center for Infectious Diseases: Travelers' Health Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Accessed April 16, 2007.

This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.

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