Health: After Travel

Health Check-Up

Is it really necessary to have a health check-up after returning from a trip?

In the vast majority of cases, the answer is no. As long as the holiday went well, you took precautions, there were no health issues, the destination didn’t pose any particular risks, and the trip lasted only a few weeks at most, there’s no reason to do so.

However, if you have concerns about your health upon return—especially in cases of fever, diarrhea, unusual fatigue, or skin problems—it may be best to consult your doctor, making sure to specify where you went and under what conditions. If necessary, they can refer you to more specialized services.

Finally, returning home doesn’t mean you should stop your malaria treatment. It must be followed according to the prescription, including after the trip.

Expatriation or Long-Term Travel

Even if you don’t feel the need, having spent a long time traveling the world or living for several months in certain countries might encourage you to get a health check-up upon return.

This will help assess the sanitary conditions you lived in and check if they may have caused any potential health issues. In practice, the post-travel health check-up is roughly the same as the one you might do before departure. It simply includes additional tests specific to the geographic area you visited, most commonly a parasitic screening.