HOLIDAYS for families with young children can require drastically more preparation than usual. Parents have to carefully choose child-friendly destinations, pack favourite toys and snacks, prepare prams and milk powders, and download enough movies and games to keep little ones entertained during long flights.
But while many families spend weeks planning what children will do during a holiday, doctors say it is just as important to consider specific health risks for their kids before they depart for their trip.
Children, after all, are not simply smaller adults, says Dr Erwin Khoo Jiayuan, head of the Paediatrics Department at IMU University.
“They are a physiologically and developmentally distinct population with very specialised behavioural needs,” he says.
Their bodies respond differently to illness, dehydration, and heat, while younger children may also be unable to tell parents exactly what is wrong when they become unwell.
As such, travelling with young children often requires a different approach to pre-travel planning, he says.
One of the first things parents should consider is whether their child’s routine immunisations are up to date.
Depending on where the family is travelling, additional vaccines may also be recommended.
However, Dr Khoo stresses that these recommendations are not the same for every child, as it will also depend on other factors such as the child’s age and the planned activities during the trip.
He also recommends parents seek medical advice well in advance of their trip, as it will give them an opportunity to discuss any existing medical conditions, allergies, or medications that could affect the trip.
Likewise, medications that may be recommended for the parents may not always be appropriate for children, making professional medical advice especially important before departure.
When parents think about travel health, they also tend to worry more about unfamiliar diseases.
But in reality, Dr Khoo says everyday problems such as diarrhoea, vomiting, dehydration, and respiratory infections are far more common among young travellers.
Children can become dehydrated much more quickly than adults, particularly if they develop diarrhoea or are travelling in hot climates.
Children also tend to engage in floor play, which increases their exposure to soil-borne pathogens and faecal-oral transmissions.
Parents are therefore encouraged to pay close attention to food and water hygiene, ensure children drink enough fluids, and seek medical attention promptly if symptoms become severe or persistent.
Mosquito bites are another concern in many destinations, making appropriate clothing, insect repellents, and other protective measures especially important.
Parents should also be mindful of animal bites, particularly in countries where diseases such as rabies remain a concern.
“Children are always curious, and they lack fear of the possible consequences of interacting with animals; they might want to just pet everything they see, which may lead to rabies from bites or scratches,” he adds.
Water safety should not be overlooked either, and parents are advised to closely supervise their children around water, whether it be hotel pools, beaches or rivers, as drowning remains one of the leading causes of accidental injury among children worldwide.
The journey itself may also present challenges for those travelling with children.
Long flights can disrupt children’s sleep routines, while changes in cabin pressure can cause discomfort, particularly during take-off and landing.
Simple measures such as encouraging children to swallow, drink or suck on a pacifier during ascent or descent may help relieve ear discomfort.
Dr Khoo also reminds parents that travelling across time zones, spending long hours in transit, and coping with unfamiliar environments may leave children tired and irritable.
He recommends building some flexibility into the itinerary and allowing time for rest to make the trip more enjoyable and memorable for both children and adults alike.
