If you’re traveling internationally, especially to rural, tropical, or developing regions, your first aid kit for international travel should go beyond the basics. In areas where medical access is limited, or where diseases are more prevalent, being overprepared isn’t paranoid, it’s smart.

Here are the specialty items to add for higher-risk destinations:

• Malaria medication – Depending on where you’re traveling (sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, parts of Central and South America), a doctor may prescribe malaria prevention medication like atovaquone-proguanil. Always begin the course before travel as directed by your healthcare provider.
• Traveler’s diarrhea treatment – Due to lower water quality in some developing countries, antibiotics like Ciprofloxacin or Azithromycin can be lifesaving. They can help treat symptoms of traveler’s diarrhea as soon as they start.
• Scabies or deworming medication – These are especially important if you’re staying in hostels, communal housing, or volunteering in rural areas.
• Translation cards for medical emergencies – Include phrases like “I am allergic to penicillin” or “I need a pharmacy” in the local language.
• Health insurance card and emergency medical contacts – Laminate a copy and include local embassy or clinic numbers.
• Prescription copies – Carry physical or digital versions of any regular medications, signed by a provider, in case customs officials or pharmacists request proof.