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Guidance offered for traveling to developing countries with young children
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Careful counseling and optimal use of preventive vaccines and chemoprophylaxis should be provided for parents before traveling to developing countries with young children, according to study findings published in Clinical Pediatrics.
“As a general recommendation, parents should be advised to avoid traveling with infants less than 6 months of age because in this group diarrheal diseases are more severe, and insect-borne illnesses are extremely difficult to prevent and treat,” researchers wrote.
Researchers also said many medications have not been completely studied in young infants, including those for leishmaniasis and filariasis. Infants do not complete immunizations for polio, hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzatype B, tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis until aged 6 months and the measles-mumps-rubella vaccines are not routinely completed until aged 12 months.
“Booster doses of some vaccines may be given earlier than generally recommended to maximize protection prior to travel,” researchers wrote. “Measles, mumps, and rubella combined vaccine and varicella-zoster vaccine may be given as early as 6 months of age rather than the usual 12 months, if the family will be traveling to any region where these diseases are highly endemic.”
Researchers recommend that planning for trips should begin well in advance of the departure date.
“A calendar should be prepared for each traveler, and printed sheets that details medical problems unique to specific host countries should be provided,” researchers wrote.
See the study for a list of vaccines and recommendations.
Disclosure:The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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