When planning family vacations, check that everyone is up-to-date on their vaccinations. Adults included. Travel increases the risk of catching a host of preventable diseases: measles, mumps, rubella, meningitis and whooping cough (pertussis), to name just a few. And you need not visit Equatorial Africa to become infected. Anyone not fully vaccinated can become infected […]
Travel/Breast-feeding
October 19, 2016 by
“I carry a light-weight blanket when I travel with my breast-fed infant. If someone seems bothered by my nursing – even though I do it discreetly – I offer them the blanket so they can cover their eyes.” (From a website on breast-feeding.) 1. No reason to curtail your travel plans because you breast-feed. Stories […]
Is Travel Safe During Pregnancy?
March 13, 2016 by
The uproar regarding pregnant women visiting Zika-infected countries bolsters the opinion that travel during pregnancy is never without some risk. The fetus, the littlest traveler of all, the hitchhiker, so to speak, seemingly safely and comfortably imbedded in the uterus, is susceptible to many travel-related conditions and illnesses. Travel further complicates pregnancy by removing women […]
Update: Zika virus/infants and children/travel
February 12, 2016 by
(Last week’s article is repeated at the end of this article. It may be helpful to read that article first.) February 11, 2016. To stay current with the latest on the Zika virus you’ll need to constantly process new and often conflicting reports peppered with words and phrases such as “possibly”, “apparently” and “the latest information […]
Zika virus/Infants and children/Travel to infected countries
February 2, 2016 by
Should families with infants and young children postpone travel to countries where the Zika virus is currently circulating? February 1, 2016. Travel with infants and young children to such areas appears to be safe. There are no restrictions. Presently both the US Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization recommend restricting travel only […]
Lyme disease/children: What you should know
May 31, 2015 by
Add Lyme disease to the ever-growing list of illnesses you need to be familiar with to keep your family healthy. 1. Know where and when it occurs. The disease is most commonly seen in rural areas of the Northeast from Virginia to Maine, northern California, and the northern Midwest but can occur almost anywhere in […]
Rabies/Children/At home and abroad
April 23, 2015 by
Protecting your kids from a dozen or so nasty childhood diseases has become a no-brainer. You take them regularly to where they get their shots and you can relax. Available vaccines are extremely safe and effective. Protecting your kids from rabies is different – it’s up to you. 1. Rabies is caused by a virus. […]
Disneyland/Unvaccinated children/Your children are at risk
January 22, 2015 by
Parents: Be aware that unvaccinated children are a serious threat to your children’s health, sometimes even when your children are optimally vaccinated. And travel increases that risk. Plan family vacations so as not to return home with a souvenir you did not bargain for, a child with a serious, totally unnecessary illness. Presently, 68 unvaccinated […]
Ebola virus/travel/children
October 2, 2014 by
If you are planning to travel with your children, in this country or abroad, there is presently no reason to change your plans due to the Ebola outbreak – even though this is a deadly illness with travel playing an important role in in its spread, says the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The CDC […]
Children/Holiday season/Health and safety (Update)
December 11, 2013 by
The events that make holiday seasons special for kids – festive atmospheres, gifts, and visiting family – are also events that may spread illness and cause mishaps. Fortunately, a bit of foresight will prevent almost all problems. 1. Vaccinate against influenza. Family gatherings bring together people of all ages, from different communities, crowd them into […]
