Shows
Germ & Worm55: Armadillos: Keep Your Hands to Yourself!Shalom! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:Traveler's Diarrhea: How to avoid it, and will treatment help prevent complications? Can I catch leprosy from an armadillo?Rabies: Can I tell from an animal’s behavior whether it is rabid?Dengue fever vaccines: is that a thing?Is it safe to use loperamide when I get traveler's diarrhea?Should I use a condom even if I'm already on HIV PrEP?We hope you enjoy this podcast! If so, please follow us on the socials @germ.and.worm, sub...2025-07-0131 min
Germ & Worm54: Vaccine-Preventable Illness: NOT FAKE NEWSBuongiorno! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:Should I get vaccinated for COIVD-19 even though CDC no longer recommends it?What is DARK tourism and should I avoid it?Is Chikungunya vaccine right for me?What about tickborne encephalitis in Europe, should I get a immunized?Travel sounds dangerous... why should I even bother?We hope you enjoy this podcast! If so, please follow us on the socials @germ.and.worm, subscribe to our RSS feed and share with your friends! We would so appreciate your...2025-06-2429 min
Germ & Worm53: Monkey Bites! How NOT to get bitten, and what to do if you do....Om Swastiastu! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:Do wearable devices and the internet of things really improve travel health?What antibiotic should I take for travelers diarrhea if I am allergic to penicillin?How can I keep my tourist dollars in the local economy, and avoid greenwashing?What's the deal with vaccine costs worldwide?Monkey Bites–can they transmit rabies?Is paracetamol the same as acetaminophen?Should I get a cholera vaccine?We hope you enjoy this podcast! If so, please follow us on the so...2025-06-1731 min
Germ & Worm52: Mobile Health Apps… Ready for Prime Time?Doberdon! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:Are there regulations to protect mountain guides and porters?Do Good Samaritan laws protect me when I’m overseas?Should I share my malaria prophylaxis when asked by a local person?Is insurance—medical and evacuation--mandatory before a remote expedition?Regarding mountain climbing: do political and/or financial factors come into play for the companies that set climbing schedules?Are mobile health apps of benefit?What diseases can I get from drinking unpasteurized milk?How may I digitize my Yellow Fever vacc...2025-06-1031 min
Germ & Worm51: Bus… Rental Car… or Hire a Driver? What’s best for you?Annyeonghaseyo! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:What do I have to do to get through airport security with the new Real ID system?I’m climbing mountains in South America. I’m going up to 16K or even 18K feet. Should I take a pulse oximeter?When traveling between cities in Europe, which do you think is better—renting a car, or hiring a driver, or taking a bus?Does the shingles vaccine have a bad side effect profile?What’s the deal with the U.S. Dept. of...2025-06-0333 min
Germ & Worm50: MAY-laria 2025!Salaam! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions about Malaria:What's up with the malaria life cycle?Are there different kinds of malaria?Can you ever be truly cured of malaria, or is it with you forever once you catch it?Can I take a self-testing kit when I travel?Is there a malaria vaccine?Is mefloquine really neurotoxic?Is it safe fore me to just watch out for malaria instead of taking medication?We hope you enjoy this podcast! If so, please follow us on the...2025-05-2731 min
Germ & Worm49: Your Allergy Questions Answered by Dr. Zachary RubinHello! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") welcome special guest Dr. Zachary Rubin who will answer your travel health questions focused on allergies:I’m allergic to peanuts, how can I stay safe during my upcoming trip to Thailand?Can I trust food labeling in foreign countries? Asking because I have multiple food allergies.What’s the best way to find out about pollen counts in foreign cities?Can I rely on antihistamines purchased overseas?How can I cope with pollen allergies when traveling overseas?Can I trust supplements that claim to boost my im...2025-05-2026 min
Germ & Worm48: Your Vaccine Questions Answered by Zachary Rubin, MDHi there! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") welcome special guest Dr. Zachary Rubin who will answer your travel health questions focused on vaccines:When it comes to immunity, which is better: Natural or Vaccine-induced?How many vaccines at once are too many?Does jet lag suppress my immune system?We plan to travel to Costa Rica with our sons who are 9 and 7 years old. Why do they need to be immunized before travel for all these rare diseases we never see anymore?What consequences do you worry about regarding immunizations or immunology...2025-05-1326 min
Germ & Worm47: Hot Snot! The cold truth about your nasal dischargeYassou! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:Inhaled steroids and antibiotics for measles, please say it ain’t so!My sister's cats have fleas! What can I do when I visit her?Salt water–safe to drink in any amount?Food on the floor: Is the 5-second rule true?How can I prevent sea sickness on the ferry from Spain to Morocco?What about the color of my snot–does it reveal viral vs bacterial causes of my sinusitis?Can I trust Google Maps?Can I pleeeeease get immuni...2025-05-0634 min
Germ & Worm46: Toilet seats, THC, and Cuy… Oh My!Zdravo! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:What infections can I catch from a toilet seat?Any advice for a traveler who likes their comforts and conveniences?How safe is that welcome fruit basket in the hotel?Any safety issues with getting a haircut and shave on the road?How worried should I be about germs emerging from thawed permafrost?How can I keep my nasal saline irrigation safe during travel?I plan to eat cuy in Peru... is this safe?Any issues with traveling with my medical...2025-04-2929 min
Germ & Worm45: Vitamin A--Too Much of a Good Thing?Maingalarpar! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:Do I need anything beyond meningococcal vaccination before the Hajj?How can I prepare better for the chaos of TSA rules at the airport?Should I get a Tdap before visiting Peru?Is my phone subject to search when I cross the border?Is the USA the only high-income nation with measles transmission now?Are there harms from taking TOO MUCH vitamin A?What do you think of the resignation of FDA's top vaccine official?What should I do if I...2025-04-2235 min
Germ & Worm44: Vaccine Record Chaos? There’s an app for thatSin Chao! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:Just how unsafe is it to drive when I travel?Norovirus: How long does it last in the environment, and when will we have a vaccine?How can I become a more ethical traveler?Friendly reminder to check with your veterinarian before international travel with pets.What should I pack in my take-on bag vs checked bag?How should I best keep track of my vaccine records?How can I handle the chaos of travel schedules overseas?What's up with...2025-04-1532 min
Germ & Worm43: Cod liver oil to prevent measles? Oh hell no!Aloha! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:Do I need to take malaria pills to visit an eco-lodge in Guyana?What's the cause of all these little red bumps in a family after travel to Costa Rica?Should I get a yellow fever vaccine booster 15 years after my first shot?Are there issues seeing a private ARNP for pre-travel advice?Any tips for general travel success?What’s the deal with plans for flu vaccines for next year?What can I do to calm my nerves when I ca...2025-04-0830 min
Germ & Worm42: TB or Not TB? That is the Question! (With Dr. Adrienne Shapiro)Pryvit! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") devote an entire episode to the most common deadly infection on Earth: tuberculosis. They answer your travel health questions about TB, and host a very special guest: Adrienne Shapiro MD, PhD, who provides an update on the critical situation with current US federal policy on TB. Topics we will discuss:What is TB?Are there different kinds of tuberculosis?How common is TB?Is there a TB vaccine? If so, should I get one before I travel overseas?How is TB diagnosed?What is the best...2025-04-0139 min
Germ & Worm41: Women's Travel Health Questions with Dr. Karen TangHi there! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") are so excited to host Dr. Karen Tang, an expert gynecologist, to answer your travel health questions from our women listeners:Is it OK for me to skip my period for an upcoming holiday?How should I handle timing of my oral contraceptive pills across time zones?Are there certain forms of birth control well-suited for long trips abroad?What can I do to reduce the risk of a UTI or yeast infection?Will antibiotics or antimalarials interfere with my oral contraceptives?Will my estrogen...2025-03-2535 min
Germ & Worm40: Lordy Lordy It's Episode Forty!Gutentag! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:What should I know about cholera before I travel?What are the implications of CDC no longer meeting to discuss vaccines?What essentials should I pack for a day hike?What are the ABCs of hepatitis A, B, and C?Should I visit as many countries as I can?Any special health concerns for a trip to Rio for Carnival?Is this really a bad year for flu, and is it too late for me to get immunized?Any safety tips...2025-03-1832 min
Germ & Worm39: Oooooo Capybara!Gutentag! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:How can I boost my immune system?What is a "neglected tropical disease?"Is leprosy a concern for travelers?What is up with measles (including in Texas?)Do you ever recommend canceling a trip?Any health concerns with capybaras?Is whitewater rafting dangerous?Leaches... How do I avoid them and remove them?We hope you enjoy this podcast! If so, please follow us on the socials @germ.and.worm, subscribe to our RSS feed and share with your friends...2025-03-1133 min
Germ & Worm38: Who's the WHO and what do they do for YOU?Salaam! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:What's the WHO and what do they do?Did azithromycin just give me "sun hives"?Is Chris a mountaineer, too?Is it safe to visit Kansas City in light of the TB epidemic there?How can I reduce the chance of being robbed or mugged?What do you think of the TimeShifter jet lag app?When can I donate blood after contracting typhoid?What should I do if I step on a weaverfish?We hope you enjoy this podcast...2025-03-0432 min
Germ & Worm37: Bedbugs, Bovine Colostrum, Ice Cream, and Fugu!Konnichiwa! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:Will bovine colostrum prevent traveler's diarrhea?How do I know if my hotel has bedbugs?Is flu season the same around the world?Why is wool "smarter" than cotton?Should I avoid eating pufferfish in Japan?Should I change my plans to visit Uganda in light of the Ebola outbreak?Should I be immunized against meningitis before travel to Africa?Is it safe to eat ice cream when I travel?We hope you enjoy this podcast! If so, please...2025-02-2532 min
Germ & Worm36: Squat Toilets, Vaccines, Marburg Virus, and WildfiresOla! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:How many shots are too many at once for a baby?Is it OK to eat street food in Morocco?There’s Marburg Virus in Tanzania, should that impact my plans for safari?What can I do to reduce motion sickness from airplane turbulence?What's the difference between a live and a dead vaccine?What’s the difference between a bacteria, a virus, and a protozoa?I want to visit Disney Land, but is that OK with the wildfires?I'm worried abou...2025-02-1831 min
Germ & Worm35: Germ, Worm, and Screwworms!Bonjour! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:How do I pack clothing for warm & cold climates into my carry on bag?Should I get vaccinated for Hepatitis A before a trip to France?What’s the deal with screwworm and pets in Mexico?What is tetanus, and have you ever seen a case of it?How can I safely prepare my salad before eating it overseas?Can I obtain my same OCP when traveling abroad?Should I get immunized against rabies before I travel, or afterwards just if I...2025-02-1131 min
Germ & Worm34: DENGUE all day longNihao! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions about Dengue Fever, including:What IS Dengue "break-bone" fever?Where can you catch Dengue?Is Dengue becoming more common? If so, why?Are there multiple types of Dengue?What are the complications of Dengue?How should Dengue be treated?Is there a vaccine to prevent Dengue?Is there a role for mosquito avoidance in preventing Dengue?What does the future hold for Dengue?2025-02-0432 min
Germ & Worm33: Caffeine, Mulberries, Norovirus, Typhoid, Aspirin, and Flu!Jambo! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:How can I deal with caffeine withdrawals while traveling?Should I travel to Shanghai in light of all the HMPV there?Will elderberry extract protect me from catching a cold, or help with my symptoms?Can a baby aspirin prevent blood clots during a long plane ride?CDC tells doctors now to subtype influenza... why don't you always do that?How did I catch typhoid fever if I was properly...2025-01-2831 min
Germ & Worm32: Will murder hornets murder you? Does vitamin C prevent head colds? Is dengue spreading—and what to do about it? What is brucellosis? Is it politically incorrect to call someone a "sherpa?"Welcome to 2025 everyone! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:Will I get murdered by hornets in Laos?Do I need to take malaria prevention in Kruger and Etosha?Please tell people about brucellosis!I take acetaminophen to help with traveler's diarrhea... is that OK?What do G+W think about vitamin C to help with the common cold?Is dengue fever really getting worse?How to I navigate insurance if I get sick while abroad?2025-01-2127 min
Germ & Worm31: Trekking poles: help or hindrance? What’s the differences between vaccines that are routine, recommended and required? What can the US embassy do for me when I’m abroad? What is pertussis, and how can I avoid it? African Sleeping Sickness--what’s the deal?Welcome to 2025 everyone! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:What’s the differences between vaccines that are routine, recommended and required?What is Pertussis, and how can I avoid it?What can the US embassy do for me when I’m abroad?African Sleeping Sickness… what’s the dealTrekking Poles: Help or Hindrance?Isn't it just safer to stay home?Wha't the best layover duration from an anxiety perspective?What's mycoplasma pneumonia?We...2025-01-1434 min
Germ & Worm30: Should we take our kids on a trip to Peru? Is mumps still a thing? Is it dangerous to fly with high blood pressure? What should we know about the new mystery illness in Democratic Republic of Congo?Welcome to 2025 everyone! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:Should we take our kids on a trip to Peru?Should I fly on airlines overseas if they have poor safety records?Is mumps still a thing?Is it dangerous to fly with high blood pressure?A friend of mine had a tendon rupture while taking antibiotics, what's the deal with that?What should we know about the mystery illness in DRC?Any safety tips for...2025-01-0731 min
Germ & Worm29: How to avoid Vaginal Yeast Infections, “Florence Syndrome”, Cycling Safety in Europe, and Risks of Falling Polio Vaccine RatesHi there and Happy New Year! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:What's the deal with falling polio vaccination rates?How can I avoid getting a yeast infection when I travel?Do I need a smallpox immunization before I travel?What's the most important safety feature: Where I go, or what I do when I'm there?What is "Florence Syndrome?"Any tips for cycling safely while traveling in Europe?How soon can I fly after...2024-12-3128 min
Germ & Worm28: What to tell a speeding taxi driver, hand warmers and frostbite, medications on the go, and Measles in IndiaWelcome everyone! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:Do I need a measles vaccine before travel to India and Sri Lanka?Is it a problem if I keep my prescription medications in a plastic bag when I travel?Will electronic hand warmers protect me from frostbite?When my taxi driver likes to speed, how can I get them to slow down?Could my diarrhea be caused by baby carrots?Any tips for motorcycle safety in Europe?2024-12-2433 min
Germ & Worm27: Cuddling with a sloth— a good idea?Hi there! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:Cryptosporidium and splash pads: What's the deal?What's the risk of catching bird flu from raw milk?Any tips for success when visiting Viet Nam?What typhoid vaccine is best before visiting South America: injectable or oral?How can I feel better after a long airplane ride?What insect repellent is best for kids?Should I avoid cuddling with koalas and other furry beasts when traveling?2024-12-1731 min
Germ & Worm26: Petting Cats in Greece, A Passage to India: Malaria or Not Malaria? I’m pregnant—should I go on safari? I’ve got a UTI overseas…what to do?Yeee Haw! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:Should I take malaria prophylaxis on a trip to India?I like to pet cats in Greece! Is that a problem?Any special considerations for older travelers?I'm pregnant and planning a safari--should I go?I tend to get UTIs... how should I handle that during travel?What kind of travelers do you see in your practice?How can I keep my HIV treatment private at immigration...2024-12-1031 min
Germ & Worm25: Anthrax, Diving Boards, Tickborne Encephalitis, Where Do Germ and Worm Like to Travel?Heyyyyy there! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:What's happening with Anthrax in Uganda?What to do when different medical societies say different things?Are culinary tours risky?How should hikers in Germany deal with tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme disease?Can I trust the diving board at a hotel swimming pool?What is the deal with Bird Flu in Washington State?Where do Germ & Worm like to travel?We hope you enjoy this...2024-12-0329 min
Germ & Worm24: Marburg in Rwanda, Outbreaks Following Disasters, Japanese Encephalitis in IndiaHi there! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:What's happening with Marburg disease in Rwanda?Are rabies vaccinations important?What gift(s) should I bring when visiting a new country?Japanese encephalitis vaccination: Necessary if visiting Sri Lanka, Turkey, and India?What's the deal with West Nile Virus infection?What infectious diseases are likely to spread after a disaster?What's the deal with Novavax halting its clinical trial of the combined COVID / Flu vaccine?2024-11-2634 min
Germ & Worm23: Sleeping high, Diving deep, Worrying LessWelcome! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:What's happening with mpox in Africa?How can I tell what food made me sick?What can I do to sleep better at high altitude?What's up with the epidemic of kidney disease in Sri Lanka?I get motion sick when whale watching--help!Is it safe to get certified as as SCUBA diver at a hotel?What about SCUBA diving generally--is it safe?What do Germ...2024-11-1933 min
Germ & Worm22: Pour Some Honey on Me!Welcome! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:Should I apply honey to help heal a wound?What's the best way to protect my passport?How should I handle a cat bite on Santorini?Why do only some people get sick after eating the same contaminated meal?Are all vaccines equally effective?When should I see a doctor if I catch traveler's diarrhea?How can I tell if that swimming pool is safe?Do...2024-11-1230 min
Germ & Worm21: TICK TALK! All About Ticks: Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and MoreWelcome! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions about TICKS:How to diagnose Lyme disease?Should I take antibiotics if I find a tick on my body?How should I treat Lyme disease?What's up with chronic Lyme?Tell me more about Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever...Can I get the tickborne encephalitis vaccine?Is babesia really the same as malaria?How should I remove a tick from my skin?What's the best...2024-11-0538 min
Germ & Worm20: Worm Tales Winner!Welcome! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:Does the coca leaf help prevent altitude sickness?Is it safe to travel to East Africa for safari after having a kidney transplant?Can humanity continue current air travel practices and avoid another viral pandemic?Do Germ and Worm actually follow their own travel health advice?Will garlic repel mosquitoes?What's this rash I caught in Africa?What about ibuprofen: Can I use it instead of acetazolamide to...2024-10-2931 min
Germ & Worm19: Traveling Around the World, Lenacapavir, Oral Typhoid Vaccine, What to ReadWelcome! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:Should I get a health screening after an international trip?Should I get the chikungunya vaccine before visiting Zanzibar?How should anxious travelers handle their anxiety?What's the deal with lenacapavir to prevent HIV infection?How do you advise people who plan to travel around the world?Are there any issues with taking the oral typhoid vaccine?What do you read when you travel abroad?How...2024-10-2232 min
Germ & Worm18: Giardia and the 'Rooster Tail' Sign!Hi, travel health listeners! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:What's up with Giardia?When do I NOT have to wear bug repellent?Which is better for purifying water: Iodine or Bleach?Should I take a medication holiday during my upcoming vacation?How much water should I drink?What do you say to people who decline their vaccines?Do those electronic bug-bite wands really work?>> Friendly reminder about the WORM TALES competition: Please...2024-10-1530 min
Germ & Worm17: Pre-Travel Checklist, DOXY-PEP, The Immunosuppressed TravelerHi, travel health listeners! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:How do I make a healthcare checklist prior to departure? Can I reduce my risk of STDs by taking doxycycline? Is it safe to travel in Cuba by car given that most don’t have seat belts? What is the future of COVID-19 immunizations— a once-a-year vaccine or what? Is it safe to travel if I’m immunosuppressed, or taking immunosuppressive medications? What is delusional parasitosis? Should yo...2024-10-0834 min
Germ & Worm16: Ceviche, Deworming, Vaccines for Germany, and Leftover MedicationsHi, travel health listeners! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:Should I give leftover medications away to locals at the end of my trip? Is it safe to eat ceviche? Do I need vaccines to visit Germany? Should I take a deworming medication after visiting Latin America? In Laos, is it safer to travel by public bus or private car? How can I reduce the risk of Lyme disease? We hope you enjoy this podcast! If so...2024-10-0132 min
Germ & Worm15: Tattoos, Tdap, and Tooting!Hi, travel health listeners! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:When should I get a tetanus booster?Why do I toot when I fly? Why does flu usually come from Southeast Asia each winter? Wassup with Alaskapox?Why are viruses named for the place where they are discovered?Can I safely get a tattoo in Thailand?Tips for traveling with young kids?We hope you enjoy this podcast! If so, please subscribe to...2024-09-2430 min
Germ & Worm14: UV-Sterilizers, Home-Brewed Hooch, Swimming in Polluted RiversToday, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:When can I donate blood after visiting a region with malaria? Is it safe to swim in polluted rivers while overseas? If my work says I need to travel abroad while pregnant, do I have to? How well do those UV water purifier thingies work?Are there any precautions that someone who's had a heart attack should take prior to--and during--an international trip?How safe are home-brewed alcoholic beverages?Given dengue...2024-09-1730 min
Germ & Worm13: MAY-laria (In September!)Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions, all about MALARIA:Are mosquitoes attracted to certain colors?Will DEET dissolve nylon climbing rope?Can you use medications past their use-by date?Is there a vaccine for malaria? What do I do if I need to change from one malaria medication to another? Can an artificially-produced monoclonal antibody prevent malaria? What’s the deal with vivax malaria? Can I test myself for malaria?We ho...2024-09-1033 min
Germ & Worm12: Worms in Your Eyes, Travel to USVI, Measles Prevention, Volunteering in KenyaToday, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:Are there worms in Africa that can infect your eyes?Measles—risk in Zambia and Botswana?What do people who live in areas with a lot of mosquitoes do to prevent bites?Does licking yourself prevent mosquito bites?Do I need to be concerned about drug cartel violence when I travel to Mexico?Are there any health concerns regarding visiting the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI)?Which immunizations are re...2024-09-0333 min
Germ & Worm11: Is Tasing Your Snakebite a Good Idea? And Should You 'BYOC'?Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:Is there a vaccine for hepatitis C?How is Guinea worm transmitted, and how do I avoid it?Should I treat my snakebite by zapping it with a Taser?Is a virus alive, and how does it mutate?Is it legal to take condoms through customs?Can someone pass an earthworm in their poop?What online resources are reliable regarding travel health?Should I get the new RS...2024-08-2732 min
Germ & Worm10: Hep B, Liver Flukes, Monkey Bites, and Staying MobileToday, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:Watercress—safe to eat?Should I be immunized for hepatitis B?How do vaccines work?Any tips for traveling with mobility issues?What are the issues with monkey bites in Thailand?Is it safe to eat fruits and vegetables while abroad?How do I prevent ear pain during jet travel?We hope you enjoy this podcast! If so, please subscribe to our RSS feed and share with yo...2024-08-2031 min
Germ & Worm9: Hep A, Urchins, Japan, and Spam!Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:Do I need to be immunized for hepatitis A?What’s the difference between bacterial and viral meningitis?When is using a personal flotation device a good idea?When should I avoid canned food?Do I need to see a travel doc before going to a high-income nation such as Japan? How do I prevent and treat injuries from coral and sea urchin spines?We hope you enjoy this po...2024-08-1330 min
Germ & Worm8: Pain in the Butt... Pain in the HeadToday, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:How do I prevent constipation when I travel?What’s the best way to prevent altitude illness?How do I prevent malaria in my child?What are the best malaria medications for adults?How do I avoid the ill effects of air pollution?Is grapefruit seed extract helpful in preventing traveler’s diarrhea?How do I prevent ear pain when I scuba?We hope you enjoy this podc...2024-08-0634 min
Germ & Worm7: Cenotes, Ayahuasca, Botflies, & BeyondToday, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:Do I need to be concerned about bats and/or bat guano when I go into a cave?How should I treat sunburn?What’s the deal with bot flies? How do prevent jet lag?Do I need to report my positive Covid-19 test to authorities?Should I go on an Ayahuasca retreat? Is it safe to swim in a cenote in Mexico?We hope you enjoy th...2024-07-3034 min
Germ & Worm6: Medical Tourism, Prohibited Medications, & MoreToday, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions: Should I pack an antibiotic when I travel?Is Dengue Fever a concern in Brazil?Can I boost my immune system prior to travel?Medical procedures abroad—any issues?Are potholes in streets a sign that I’m not a tourist?Do I need a letter from my doctor to travel with medications?We hope you enjoy this podcast! If so, please subscribe to our RSS feed and share with y...2024-07-2330 min
Germ & Worm5: How Many Shots Are Too Many?Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:Do multiple immunizations overwhelm my immune system?Road traffic injuries—do I need to be concerned? What’s the deal with hot tubs and rashes?Accepting or refusing food offered by locals—what to do?Lyme disease: how to reduce risk?How do I prevent and treat motion sickness?Does health insurance cover vaccines?We hope you enjoy this podcast! If so, please subscribe to our RSS feed a...2024-07-1630 min
Germ & Worm4: Japanese Encephalitis, Cold Prevention, Jet LagToday, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:How do I find a trusted pharmacy while abroad?When is it safe to travel with a newborn?Travel to India—is malaria and/or Japanese encephalitis a concern?Should I travel with azithromycin (Z-pack)?Is a drug for malaria needed if exposure is airport-only?Tips for getting over jet lag?When do you need to see a doctor for traveler’s diarrhea?How do I find a go...2024-07-0932 min
Germ & Worm3: Malaria, Machu Picchu, and MoreGerm & Worm co-hosts, Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm"), answer your travel health questions:What should I do if I get appendicitis while abroad? Travel with teens—any tips?Should I take acetazolamide (Diamox) when I climb Machu Picchu? Malaria prevention regimens—which is best? Do I need to take a drug to prevent malaria prophylaxis during a short-duration trip?Do I need to deworm after travel? How do I prevent respiratory illnesses during travel in China?What vaccines do I need prio...2024-06-1133 min
Germ & Worm2: Dengue, Rabies, and Tetanus... Oh My!Germ & Worm co-hosts, Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm") answer your travel health questions:Is there a vaccine for dengue fever? Does my health insurance cover me while I’m abroad?What’s the best medication for malaria prophylaxis?When is best to see a medical provider before a planned trip?Do I need vaccination for rabies? Is it safe to eat at roadside stands? Do I need to be immunized for tetanus?We hope you enjoy this podcast! If so, please subs...2024-06-1131 min
Germ & Worm1: Meet Germ & Worm!Welcome to Germ & Worm! Today, you will meet your hosts, travel medicine specialists, Drs. Paul Pottinger ("Germ") & Chris Sanford ("Worm"), and get the answers to your travel health questions:Is it safe to eat Kitfo (raw beef) in Ethiopia? Does my diet make mosquitoes more or less attracted to me?How do I ensure the water I drink is safe? What should I pack in my travel medical kit? Lakes and schistosomiasis—safe to swim or not? When should I seek treatment for traveler’s diarrhea?We...2024-06-1132 min