Vol 69, No 1 (2018)
Review article
Published online: 2018-03-28

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The paediatric traveller

Krzysztof Korzeniewski1
Pubmed: 29611617
IMH 2018;69(1):70-74.

Abstract

International travel with children, which is the opportunity for the family to see the world together, has become commonplace. If you are travelling with children the journey needs to be carefully planned, especially in cases of visiting a region with harsh environment or poor sanitation. It is particularly important in terms of thermoregulation (hot climate) and the immune system (protection against pathogens causing infectious and invasive diseases) as these are not fully developed in small children. In addition, it is important to maintain appropriate safety and security measures in the destination area (e.g. using child car seats during drive, supervising children during recreational activities in water and on land, avoiding contact with undomesticated animals). Moreover, it is essential to prepare a travel health kit containing drugs appropriate for young travellers — matched for their age and body weight, and to purchase personal prevention products for everyday use (sunscreen with a high sun protection factor, insect repellents, etc.).

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