Health care issues for families traveling internationally with children

For a variety of reasons, international travel by American families and their children is increasingly more common. Comfort and health care issues are important to these families, and they often address their questions and concerns to their health care practitioner. Traveling to foreign countries involves concerns about food, water, medications, immunizations, and supplies. Seeking medical care on both a routine and emergency basis may be challenging for families traveling to countries outside the United States. This article discusses health care topics relating to children traveling outside the United States and includes answers to the most commonly asked questions and a list of references and resources for parents and practitioners. Pediatric care providers will find this article to be a helpful guide for their traveling pediatric patients.