Around the World in Good Health
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"Consult a travel physician as soon as your itinerary is set."
– Dr. Tina DuMont |
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It's summer travel season, and the checklists are out.
Swimsuit. Shorts. Sunscreen.
Such a quick list may work for a weekend getaway, but with more students and families hopscotching the globe, it's often necessary to pack more serious travel precautions, too.
The more exotic the locale, the earlier travelers need to start their health planning, according to Tina DuMont, MD, of Northeast Cincinnati Pediatric Associates. "Allow at least four to six weeks for your child to see us before you travel," she says.
Prevention – The Best Medicine
That early check-in is especially important to give needed vaccines time to work.
"For a destination such as Asia or South and Central America that requires a Hepatitis A inoculation, for example, all travelers in the family should have their first shot at least two to four weeks before you leave. Then the second shot is six months later. Even better, complete them both before you go, for the best protection," she counsels.
Hepatitis A is caused by a virus usually transmitted by contaminated food and water. Children older than 1 year can be vaccinated against it.
Typhoid and diarrhea are also caused by food and water contamination. Traveler's diarrhea can be caused by viruses, bacteria and parasites, especially in hot, tropical climates.
Other common preventive treatments are designed to fight malaria, dengue fever and yellow fever, all caused by mosquito bites. Children can have a yellow fever vaccination after they're 9 months old. Anti-tetanus medicine, on the other hand, is included in a child's routine vaccinations throughout the first year. "Just be sure it's updated," Dr. DuMont urges. "Your pediatrician will know what medications are appropriate for your children."
Some pediatricians conduct travel consultations themselves, while others refer parents on to physicians who specialize in travel medicine. The University of Cincinnati's International Travelers' Clinic (513-821-0275), for example, welcomes adults and children. "Consult a travel physician as soon as your itinerary is set, and bring a detailed itinerary and vaccination record, along with a list of any medications the child is taking," Dr. DuMont says. Be sure to pack that valuable medical information along with the names and numbers of your child's doctors.
Sources for Pre-Trip Research
Dr. DuMont refers patients to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention web site for general medical advice, health precautions and recommended immunizations keyed to specific destinations. Parents can also call the Centers for Disease Control Traveler's Health line toll-free for information, at 877-394-8747.
Geography matters: Mombasa, Kenya, for instance, is on the ocean and a malarial hotbed, while the mountains of central Kenya are comparatively free of the mosquito-borne disease. But in both places, physicians recommend DEET insect repellent and mosquito netting around beds.
Ask if your tropical destination calls for taking anti-malarial pills. In any case, "You'll also want to wear long sleeves, pants and hats in areas with mosquitoes," Dr. DuMont advises.
Travelers also should avoid swimming in fresh water which can harbor parasites, handling any animals, and now, with the threat of avian flu, visiting farms. The CDC updates its avian flu information daily.
Help on the Road
What should parents do when a child becomes sick away from home in spite of all the precautions? Most hotel concierges have a list of recommended doctors, and some hotels retain the services of a physician for their guests.
For travel out of the country, most experts recommend travel insurance that includes assistance finding an English-speaking doctor. Know what your own health insurance will cover abroad. Ask about transport home in the event of a medical emergency. Carry your insurance card with you and leave a copy of it with someone at home.
The excitement of travel is the promise of new adventures – enjoyed in good health.
