Common ailments observed among students and their parents during travel☆
Received 16 July 2009; accepted 23 July 2009. published online 17 August 2009.
Summary
Background
Vast majority of Indians travel for religious, cultural and socio-economic purposes either alone or with families.
Objectives
The present study attempts to elicit the travel related health issues experienced by college students (youth) and their parents (elderly) during travel, to identify the variations between youth and elderly, and to suggest remedial measures.
Material and methods
A total of 400 college students (age range 17–25; mean age 21) and 330 of their parents (age range 39–64; mean age 49) were included in the study. After a brief introduction to the study, a pretested structured anonymous questionnaire was distributed and completed. The data was analyzed statistically.
Results
Ailments were significantly (p<0.01) more prevalent among parents (elderly) than college students (youth) and were attributed to co-existing or exacerbation of pre-existing illnesses, stress of travel and waning immunity. None carried medical insurance or took pre-travel advice. Less than 21% of students and more than 70% of parents carried medicines for common ailments during travel. Also, parents carried personal protective materials significantly more than their wards.
Comments
A joint effort by health care professionals, travel agents, government and media towards community education may decrease the travel related ailments/illnesses.
☆ This paper was presented by Shah Sweni, at the 11th Conference of the International Society of Travel Medicine (CISTM11), May 24–28, Budapest, Hungary.
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ABSTRACT