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Paediatric travel medicine: vaccines and medications

Mike Starr1

  • 1The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. mike.starr@rch.org.au

British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
|November 21, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Children traveling abroad are more prone to common infections than tropical diseases. Malaria and tuberculosis are exceptions, posing greater risks to kids, alongside common travelers' diarrhea.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Travel Medicine
  • Infectious Diseases in Children
  • Global Health

Background:

  • Children face unique risks in travel medicine, often requiring tailored advice.
  • Common infections are more prevalent in traveling children than rare tropical diseases.
  • Malaria and tuberculosis present significant, severe risks for pediatric travelers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review essential vaccines and medications for children traveling internationally.
  • To highlight routine immunizations and travel-specific vaccinations for pediatric populations.
  • To discuss the prevention and management of malaria and travelers' diarrhea in children.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of pediatric travel medicine guidelines.
  • Analysis of vaccine recommendations for routine and travel-specific immunization.
  • Synthesis of information on malaria and travelers' diarrhea in pediatric travelers.

Main Results:

  • Most travel-related illnesses in children are common infections, not exotic diseases.
  • Malaria and tuberculosis are notably more frequent and severe in pediatric travelers.
  • Travelers' diarrhea remains the most common illness encountered by international travelers.

Conclusions:

  • Travel medicine for children requires individualized assessment, balancing common risks with specific threats like malaria.
  • Comprehensive review of pediatric travel health, including immunizations and common illnesses, is crucial for safe international travel.
  • Vaccinations and appropriate medical advice are key to preventing and managing travel-related illnesses in children.

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