It's an experience of a lifetime to travel with your kids. The benefits to you both are immense. They have the opportunity to see and experience things that would have never been possible back home. Indeed, it can equip them in ways that will pay off for the rest of their lives. The old line about travel being the best school of all has a lot of wisdom in it.
Likewise for parents, only once you've done it can you appreciate how much more magical travel is when you can see this exotic world through the wondrous eyes of your children. Parents, though, do worry; it's hard not to also think about the harms that could befall your beloved little ones while off in some distant land. While some of those feelings may be exaggerated worry that should be resisted for the sake of your children's growth and experience, the fact is that parents do have a responsibility to protect their children.
So, while the tendency to over-shelter your children is a counterproductive one to which you should not surrender, your parental responsibilities do require the optimum preparation for the healthiest and happiest trip abroad possible. CDC travel vaccines advice should be part of that preparation.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, something in the area of 1.9 million American children participate in international travel annually. Furthermore, this number has been on the rise. So, this is not only a pressing personal issue, but also a more widespread social concern.
Obviously, children face the same risk of traveler related illness as do adults. With children, though, there are of course some additional concerns. Younger children are going to be less reliably able to recognize and express the onset of symptoms, making it more difficult to catch concerns in early phases, when they can often be nipped in the bud. Also, of course, children are prone to get into stuff (not to mention sticking stuff in their mouths) that will considerably heighten the risks of contracting illness.
There are many considerations for addressing the good health of children about to travel internationally and in general parents should research the health risks of their intended location. A core part of such a protection plan should be a well thought out vaccination strategy.
Preferably, children should have completed routine vaccinations, related to conventional childhood illnesses, prior to their departure. It is better that these follow the recommended vaccine schedule. It is important to realize that today in the developed world even kids without fully up to date vaccination still benefit from both the herd immunization and generally higher hygienic standards. Such protection though does not carry over when traveling in many parts of the developing world, where such diseases can be both more prevalent and virulent.
If circumstances prevent the full completion of routine childhood vaccines before travel, there are accelerated schedules available for many of those vaccines. Consult on this with your family physician.
In addition, of course, consideration has to be given to vaccines specifically targeted to potential illness risks unique to a given location. Lots of valuable info on these matters is available on the CDC website. Take note, though, that in some cases the preferred vaccines are counter-indicated for very young children. Consulting with a travel medicine specialist will be extremely important in evaluating relative risks to your children. Be sure to put your travel medicine specialist in contact with your children's pediatrician. This should be done early in the process, so that a sound strategy may be developed that addresses the unique needs of your kids.
The best cure is prevention and the key to prevention is education and preparation. There's no reason why anxiety about health risk should deprive your children the wonderful experience of travel, nor you the joy of observing their thrilling encounter with an excitingly diverse world. A little planning can open up a world of wonders to you both.
Likewise for parents, only once you've done it can you appreciate how much more magical travel is when you can see this exotic world through the wondrous eyes of your children. Parents, though, do worry; it's hard not to also think about the harms that could befall your beloved little ones while off in some distant land. While some of those feelings may be exaggerated worry that should be resisted for the sake of your children's growth and experience, the fact is that parents do have a responsibility to protect their children.
So, while the tendency to over-shelter your children is a counterproductive one to which you should not surrender, your parental responsibilities do require the optimum preparation for the healthiest and happiest trip abroad possible. CDC travel vaccines advice should be part of that preparation.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, something in the area of 1.9 million American children participate in international travel annually. Furthermore, this number has been on the rise. So, this is not only a pressing personal issue, but also a more widespread social concern.
Obviously, children face the same risk of traveler related illness as do adults. With children, though, there are of course some additional concerns. Younger children are going to be less reliably able to recognize and express the onset of symptoms, making it more difficult to catch concerns in early phases, when they can often be nipped in the bud. Also, of course, children are prone to get into stuff (not to mention sticking stuff in their mouths) that will considerably heighten the risks of contracting illness.
There are many considerations for addressing the good health of children about to travel internationally and in general parents should research the health risks of their intended location. A core part of such a protection plan should be a well thought out vaccination strategy.
Preferably, children should have completed routine vaccinations, related to conventional childhood illnesses, prior to their departure. It is better that these follow the recommended vaccine schedule. It is important to realize that today in the developed world even kids without fully up to date vaccination still benefit from both the herd immunization and generally higher hygienic standards. Such protection though does not carry over when traveling in many parts of the developing world, where such diseases can be both more prevalent and virulent.
If circumstances prevent the full completion of routine childhood vaccines before travel, there are accelerated schedules available for many of those vaccines. Consult on this with your family physician.
In addition, of course, consideration has to be given to vaccines specifically targeted to potential illness risks unique to a given location. Lots of valuable info on these matters is available on the CDC website. Take note, though, that in some cases the preferred vaccines are counter-indicated for very young children. Consulting with a travel medicine specialist will be extremely important in evaluating relative risks to your children. Be sure to put your travel medicine specialist in contact with your children's pediatrician. This should be done early in the process, so that a sound strategy may be developed that addresses the unique needs of your kids.
The best cure is prevention and the key to prevention is education and preparation. There's no reason why anxiety about health risk should deprive your children the wonderful experience of travel, nor you the joy of observing their thrilling encounter with an excitingly diverse world. A little planning can open up a world of wonders to you both.
About the Author:
India is now a major destination for U.S. travelers. If you're thinking of going, you need to read Mitchell Jones' great article on CDC travel vaccines for India . See also his rankings of the best zoos in America .
