Traveling Safely with Infants and Children

Children increasingly are traveling and living outside of their home countries. Although data about the incidence of pediatric illnesses associated with international travel are limited, the risks that children face when traveling are, with a few caveats discussed below, largely similar to those faced by their adult travel companions. The most commonly reported health problems among child travelers are: Dermatologic conditions, including animal and arthropod bites, cutaneous larva migrans, and sunburn; Diarrheal illnesses; Respiratory disorders; Systemic febrile illnesses, especially malaria. Motor vehicle and water-related injuries, including drowning, are other major health and safety concerns for child travelers. See Box 6.3.1 for recommendations on assessing and preparing children for planned international travel. Box 6.3.1. ASSESSING AND PREPARING CHILDREN FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL: A CHECKLIST FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS ★: □. Review routine childhood vaccinations. The pre-travel visit is an opportunity to ensure that children are up to date on their routine vaccinations. Some routine vaccines, such as measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) or hepatitis A, may need to be given earlier than routinely recommended. □. Review the need for travel-related vaccines. □. Review the need for travel-related medications (malaria chemoprophylaxis, medication to prevent altitude illness, anti-diarrheal medication). □. Assess all anticipated travel-related activities. □. Provide preventive counseling and interventions tailored to specific risks, including special travel preparations and any treatment required for infants and children with underlying health conditions, chronic diseases, or immunocompromising conditions. □. Discuss how to establish a plan of where and how to seek medical care while traveling and discuss the need for travel health insurance. □. Encourage caregivers to carry an adequate supply of medications for children who require medications to manage chronic health conditions. □. Consider providing counseling on the following topics for adolescents traveling in a student group or program: Drug and alcohol use. Management and empiric treatment of common travel-related illnesses. Risks of sexually transmitted infections and sexual assault to include access to emergency contraception. Personal safety and security, to include enrollment in the U.S. State Department STEP program. Anticipating healthcare needs for chronic health conditions, including mental health conditions, particularly during extended periods of travel. □. Give special consideration to travelers visiting friends and relatives in low- and middle-income countries and assess risks for malaria, intestinal parasites, and tuberculosis. □. Consider advising adults traveling with children and older children to take a course in basic first aid before travel. □. Consider advising swimming lessons for non-swimmers planning travel near oceans or other bodies of water. Recognize that lifeguards may not be present. □. Discuss road safety, including helmets and car seats, for infants and children.