General medical advice for travelers.

Millions of people travel to developing countries, many of which are in the tropics, where the risk of becoming injured or sick is markedly increased and the access to appropriate medical treatment is markedly decreased. There are also common medical problems that all travelers confront, no matter what their itinerary. This article describes several traveling strategies for treating some common medical problems, lowering risk, and being able to get help should an emergency occur. Preparation is the watchword for the traveler.