Preparing Families With Children for International Travel

Abstract

ra “T veling is a brutality. It forces you to trust strangers and to lose sight of all that familiar comfort of home and friends. You are constantly off balance. Nothing is yours except the essential things—air, sleep, dreams, the sea, the sky...” (Cesare Pevase). This romanticized statement from the early 1900s still captures the essence of many peoples’ approach to international travel, that is, until they or their children develop traveler’s diarrhea and wish that at some point they had made better preparations for their trip. Pre-travel medical care can play a crucial and often overlooked role in preventing illness and injury. With the globalization of society, this role has become increasingly important. Although we do not have vaccines or therapies for every risk that can be encountered, we have compiled a massive amount of evidence-based research that can help the traveler to minimize their risks. As stated in the introductory article, there are over 1 billion airplane trips involving international travel annually to the U.S. Although generalizations can be made, advice is more pertinent when tailored to the traveler. The majority of patients presenting for a travel appointment are preparing for vacation. Identifying high-risk groups such as patients with chronic illnesses, visits to friends and relatives (VFR), relief workers, and adventure seekers is important because they have unique risk factors associated with their travel plans.