When your family travels and is away from the usual eating and
sleeping routines, the chances increase that someone might get
sick. It can take time to adjust to the food, water, and air in a
new environment, and kids can be especially vulnerable to a variety
of travel-related problems, including motion sickness, diarrhea,
and infections.
But some early planning and smart packing can help you keep the
trip healthy for everybody. Here are some things to keep in mind
when your family prepares to travel.
Special Considerations for Travel Abroad
If you're heading overseas, start preparing well in advance.
For instance, it's important to find out what vaccinations your
child (and even you) might need because:
- Different countries have different risks and requirements and
may require specific vaccines. For example, your family will need
the yellow fever vaccine if you're traveling to sub-Saharan
Africa or tropical South America, but not to Eastern Europe.
- Some vaccines require more than one dose and are given in a
series over a period of days or sometimes weeks.
- Most vaccines take time to become effective in your
body.
Most immunizations should be given at least 1 month before
travel, so try to schedule a doctor's visit 4 to 6 weeks before
your trip. Even if you're leaving in less than 4 weeks, you
should still make an appointment, as your child might still benefit
from shots or medications.
Depending on your travel plans, your doctor may recommend that
in addition to routine immunizations, you and/or your child be
vaccinated against:
- Hepatitis B
- Typhoid
- Hepatitis A
- Yellow fever
- Japanese B encephalitis
- Meningitis
- Rabies
Also, kids of any age can get malaria so if you're traveling
to a country with a malaria risk, talk to your doctor about
antimalarial drugs. The doctor will decide the best preventative
medication based on your destination and your child's health
status.
Ask your doctor or visit the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) website for a list of recommended or required
vaccinations (the site includes a section devoted to travelers'
health that you can search by destination), and be sure to take
your child's immunization records with you if you're
traveling internationally.
Common Travel Troubles
No matter how far you're traveling, there are some health
issues that your family is likely to face, including jet lag, ear
discomfort, travel (or motion) sickness, and diarrhea.
Jet Lag
When you fly across time zones, it can take time for your
internal body clock to catch up with the local time. For example,
if your regular bedtime is 9 p.m., and you travel from New York to
California, where the time is 3 hours earlier, you may be ready for
bed when it is 6 p.m. in California because you've already been
up for the usual amount of time and your body is ready to rest.
Chances are you'll probably not go to sleep until the local
time is 9 p.m., and then you'll be extra tired because your
body has been awake for longer than usual. In addition to
tiredness, jet lag can also cause an upset stomach and even
insomnia. Here are some steps you can take to help deal with jet
lag:
- Try to adjust your family's sleep schedules 2-3 days
before departure.
- Dehydration contributes to the side effects of jet lag so
make sure everyone drinks plenty of water during the flight.
Avoid alcohol, coffee, tea, and other caffeinated beverages.
- Caffeine acts as a diuretic that causes the body to eliminate
water (through urination), which may contribute to
dehydration.
- Try to have everyone get a little exercise on a long flight
by stretching regularly and even walking up and down the aisles
when they're clear.
- After arrival, encourage kids to be active outside or in
brightly lit areas during daylight hours.
- Try to follow local time at your destination (for example,
try to keep kids awake until their usual bedtime).
Ear Pain
It's common for kids to experience ear discomfort during a
plane's takeoff and descent caused by pressure in the middle
ear as it tries to equalize. Encourage kids to swallow, yawn, or,
if they're old enough, chew gum. It may help infants to nurse
or suck on a bottle. All of these things can help kids' ears
adjust. You may also want to give your child a pain reliever, such
as acetaminophen, 30 to 60 minutes before takeoff or, if it's a
long flight, prior to landing.
Motion Sickness
Travel (or motion) sickness is caused by a conflict between the
eye and ear: The inner ears detect movement, but the eyes - focused
within a car or other vehicle - do not. These mixed signals coming
into the brain can cause nausea, dizziness, vomiting, pallor, and
cold sweats. Motion sickness often occurs on ships and boats, but
it can also affect kids when they travel in planes, buses, and
cars. Some ways to help your child combat travel sickness:
- Before you leave, have your child eat a light meal, as motion
sickness seems worse on an empty stomach. Provide foods that are
easily digested, such as complex carbohydrates, and avoid fatty
foods.
- Try to avoid eating during short trips. For longer trips, sip
drinks and eat light, small meals and snacks.
- If your child is feeling sick, provide some blander foods,
like crackers.
- Encourage kids to look outside the car, rather than inside.
They should focus on still objects - not moving ones (like other
cars) - or a distant point.
- Keep the window open a little to allow fresh air to
circulate.
- Use a headrest to minimize head movement.
- Make frequent stops, if possible, at places like rest stops
and parks. And if your child complains of feeling sick and
it's safe to stop, a short walk for some fresh air might
help.
- Ask your doctor about medicines to prevent travel
sickness.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea and other stomach distress, which can be common during
travel, are caused when bacteria or other germs enter the digestive
tract, usually from contaminated food or water. Diarrhea is
especially a problem for young kids and infants, who can become
dehydrated more quickly than adults.
Water in many developing countries isn't treated in the same
way as water supplies in developed nations and may contain
bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Take precautions to ensure the
water is safe:
- Consider drinking only bottled water when traveling.
- Use only purified water for drinking, making ice cubes,
brushing teeth, and mixing infant formula and foods.
- If you use tap water, boil it first or purify it with an
iodine tablet.
Other ways to prevent diarrhea and GI distress:
- If you're breastfeeding your infant, continue to do
so.
- Remind kids to practice the good hand-washing techniques used
at home.
- Keep pacifiers, teething rings, and toys clean.
- Keep an alcohol-based hand sanitizer handy.
- Make sure all dairy products are pasteurized.
- Fresh fruits and vegetables should be adequately cooked or
washed well and peeled.
- Meats and fish should be well cooked and eaten just after
preparation.
- Avoid food from street vendors.
Be Prepared
When you pack, include any medications and other medical
supplies you and your family use regularly because they may be hard
to find at your destination. Don't forget inhalers, allergy
medication, and insulin, if needed. Other items you may want to
pack:
- over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever like acetaminophen
- a small first-aid kit that includes antiseptic, antibiotic
ointment, bandages, and other OTC medications your doctor may
recommend
- sunscreen
- insect repellent (the most effective ones contain DEET)
- waterless alcohol-based hand rubs for when soap and clean
water aren't available
Do some research before your trip to find the hospital or
medical care facility closest to your destination, particularly if
your child has a chronic health condition. If you're traveling
overseas, try to find one where English is spoken.
It's also a good idea to carry a written copy of your
child's medical history. Having this available can help health
care workers make appropriate decisions about how to treat your
child and you won't have to worry about forgetting important
information at a time when you're likely to be upset.
Your child's medical history should include:
- your name, your child's name, your address and home phone
number
- your child's blood type
- immunization records
- your doctor's name, address, and office and emergency
phone numbers
- the name, address, and phone number of your health insurance
carrier, including your policy number
- a list of any ongoing health problems, such as diabetes or
asthma
- a list of any medications your child takes and your
pharmacy's name and phone number
- a list of allergies to medications, food, insects, and
animals
- a prescription for glasses or contact lenses
- the name, address, and phone number of a relative other than
you
And Don't Forget . . .
While you're away, it's important to take the same
health and safety precautions as you do at home. These include:
- Sun smarts.
Watch your child's sun exposure. UV light is especially
intense near the equator, at high altitudes, from 10 a.m. to 4
p.m., and where light is reflected off water or snow. Apply a
broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 15 every 2 hours,
especially after sweating and water exposure. And bring a hat and
sunglasses to keep the sun off of your child's face.
- Water safety.
It's vital to watch your child at all times around any body
of water. Because water safety devices - such as life jackets and
goggles - may not be available at your destination, consider
bringing these from home if you're planning to spend time on
or near water.
- Buckle up.
If you'll rent a car, you might want to bring your
child's car seat with you, as well-maintained and approved
seats may be unavailable abroad. As always, kids weighing less
than 40 pounds should be properly restrained in a car seat.
Children between 4 and about 8 years old should use a belt
positioning booster seat.
Before you leave, consider asking your doctor for other
information about how to protect your family from illness and
injury during travel. Doing a little planning in advance can help
ensure that when the time comes, all you'll have left to do is
relax and enjoy your vacation!
Reviewed by:
Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: June 2006
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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