“No need ever to wear shoes in our resort,” says the ad for an idyllic, upscale, family-friendly tropical beach resort. Alas, if only true! Footwear – plus other precautions – is essential at all beaches, at home and in the tropics, with tropical beaches requiring some extra precautions. Call it sand pollution. Researchers have known […]
Swimming/Children/Intestinal illnesses
June 14, 2015 by
You need not travel halfway around the world to acquire “travelers’” diarrhea. A short trip to your neighborhood recreational water facility may suffice. But if indeed someone does become ill, don’t panic. Hold off on treating. Most cases get better by themselves, while medication may cause harm – especially for children. 1. All recreational water […]
Healthful Hint: Ordering food when traveling where sanitation is suspect
August 14, 2014 by
(Hi Readers: Here is the first of what will be a regular feature on KidsTravelDoc, a short item to help keep you and your children healthy and safe for travel and outdoor activities.) Choose foods that are too hot to eat immediately. When traveling, nearly all upset stomachs are due to microorganisms (and their toxins) […]
Children/Vomiting/Diarrhea/Are probiotics the cure?
July 10, 2012 by
Vomiting/diarrhea are common illnesses in young children, with most children of this age having one to two episodes per year. Travel, swimming and day care attendance increase the incidence. Most cases are more annoying than alarming. Available treatments are not very helpful. 1. Probiotics to the rescue! The term means “for life” and refers to live […]
Infants in diapers/Swimming facilities/Illness
March 17, 2012 by
Think twice before allowing your kids to swim in water where there are many infants. The more infants in the water, the greater is the risk that the water is polluted with intestinal disease-causing microorganisms. Here is what you should know: 1. Recreational water is an underappreciated source of intestinal diseases. Such water includes swimming […]
Air travel/infants and children/ importance of vaccination
August 1, 2010 by
Are your children’s vaccinations up-to-date before traveling by air? According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in the past year alone there were more than 3,000 known airline passengers traveling while ill with a contagious disease. 1. The aircraft cabin environment abets the spread of disease-causing microorganisms. Infected passengers cough up, sneeze out […]
Children/Sandy Beaches/Sand Boxes/Illness
August 22, 2009 by
Are there any fun activities left for kids to do, activities that are healthy, safe and wholesome, where parents need not constantly restrain children’s imaginations and exuberance with that annoying, killjoy utterance, “How many times do I have to tell you not to do that?” Can you believe that playing in sand may be […]
