International Society of Travel Medicine ซึ่งเป็นสมาคมวิชาการนานาชาติของศาสตร์ด้านนี้ ได้แจกแจงองค์ความรู้พื้นฐาน (Body of Knowledge) ด้าน Travel Medicine ที่แพทย์และบุคลากรทางการแพทย์ควรจะมีในการในทำเวชปฏิบัติสาขานี้ ดังนี้
I. EPIDEMIOLOGY
- Basic concepts (e.g. morbidity, mortality, incidence, prevalence)
- Geographic specificity/global distribution of diseases and potential health hazards
II. IMMUNOLOGY/VACCINOLOGY
- Basic concepts and principles
- Handling, storage, and disposal of vaccines and related supplies
- Type of vaccines/Immunizations/Immunobiologics: Indications/contraindications, routes of administration, dosing regimens duration of protection, immunogenicity, efficacy, potential adverse reactions and management of adverse reactions of vaccines
III. PRETRAVEL CONSULTATION/MANAGEMENT
- Patient Evaluation
- Assessment of fitness/contraindications to travel (e.g. pre-existing illness, fit to fly)
- Evaluation of travel itineraries/risk assessment
- Relevant medical history (e.g. previous vaccinations, allergies, chronic illness)
- Screen for good mental health and personal resilience to stress in hostile environments
- Special populations e.g. pregnancy, children, diabetes, immunocompromised, splenectomized
- Special itineraries e.g. cruise ship, high altitude, wilderness travel, mass gatherings
- Prevention and self treatment e.g. malaria, diarrhea; personal protective measures, travel health kits
- Risk communications regarding e.g. animal contact, personal security, walking barefoot
IV. DISEASES CONTRACTED DURING TRAVEL
Geographic risk, prevention, transmission, possible symptoms of diseases contracted during travel e.g. malaria, schistosomiasis, filariasis, leishmaniasis, trypanosomiasis, viral hemorrhagic fever, Japanese encephalitis, tick-borne encephalitis, cholera, rabies, hepatitis A,B,C,D,E, meningococcal disease, lyme disease
V. OTHER CLINICAL CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH TRAVEL
- Conditions occurring during or immediately following travel e.g. motion sickness, jet lag, barotrauma
- Conditions associated with environmental factors e.g. sun burn, heat stroke, altitude sickness
- Threats to personal security e.g. accident, violence
- Psychological and psycho-social Issues e.g. acute stress reactions, culture shock, repatriation
VI. POST-TRAVEL MANAGEMENT
- Screening/assessment of returned travellers
- Emergencies and triage
- Diagnosis and management of common conditions e.g. fever, eosinophilia, diarrhea, skin problem
VII. GENERAL TRAVEL MEDICINE ISSUES
- Medical care abroad
- Travel clinic management
- Travel medicine information/resources
