Will you be bringing the whole family outside the country for a vacation, extended stay, or even a business trip? Traveling abroad with children can expose your kids to some unique health risks. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, nearly two million children travel abroad each year!
What kind of things do you need to be concerned about?
- Certain travel vaccines that are safe for adults are not recommended for children
- Certain preventative medications that are safe for adults are not recommended for children
- Children may not be as careful about what they eat or drink, putting them at risk for gastrointestinal illnesses in areas where water is not pure
- Mobile toddlers may get into mischief in hotel rooms and vacation sites
- Adventurous adolescents may get injured playing sports or trying activities without supervision
- Adventure vacations, like hiking or rafting, may bring you and your family far from the nearest health care provider
- Extremely active children may become dehydrated
Travelers’ diarrhea (and related gastrointestinal illness) is one of the most common travel-related health issues affecting children. Very young children (age five and under) are at high risk for food and water-born illnesses because their immune systems are not fully developed. Also, young children touch their mouths more frequently, making it easier to introduce germs into their systems.
Children with diarrhea can also become dehydrated very quickly. The World Health Organization recommends the use of oral rehydration solutions, which are high in electrolytes. Sports drinks can help with rehydration, but do not provide as many electrolytes as oral rehydration solutions can. You can find oral rehydration solution packets at stores and pharmacies around the world. Simply add one packet to boiled or treated water — follow instructions carefully.
Make sure your children follow the same health precautions you do — wash hands with soap and water, don’t drink unsafe water, peel all fruits and vegetables before eating, don’t swallow pool or ocean water. Being careful is the best way to prevent illness in your family when you’re far from home.