Traveling with chronic viral hepatitis.

Viral hepatitis is one of the infectious diseases with an overall increasing mortality rate. The global burden of acute viral hepatitis remains substantial, with hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E responsible for millions of new cases annually and significant morbidity, especially in resource-limited settings and among travelers to endemic regions. People living with chronic viral hepatitis, especially with advanced liver disease, may face specific health risks and management challenges during travel, which makes preparing for travel especially important. Travel-related gastroenteritis or febrile syndromes can lead to more severe clinical outcomes due to limited hepatic reserve. Newly acquired hepatitis A and E significantly increase the risk of liver failure and mortality in patients with chronic liver disease. This review emphasizes the critical importance of checking the immunization status of patients with chronic viral hepatitis before travel, managing antiviral medications, assessing risk of complications, evaluating the health infrastructure of the destination country, and applying food and water safety precautions. Safe travel for patients with chronic viral hepatitis can be facilitated through an appropriate risk assessment and a personalized travel plan.