10 Tips: Children/Travel/Allergies/Asthma

March 16, 2009

Posted in Outdoor Recreation, Safe & Healthy Travel
Tags: Allergens, Allergies, Allergy, Asthma

Ideal vacation spots for families with respiratory allergies are the North and South Poles, mid ocean, and atop the higher peaks of the Himalayas, places where air is still relatively free of industrial pollutants, mites, molds, trees, grasses and other substances that make kids sneeze and wheeze.

But if you cannot visit these places, you need not stay at home. Sufficient information is available so that you can travel virtually everywhere – but be prepared for the allergies to travel with you.

Here is what you have to know:

1. See an allergist if your child has troublesome symptoms. Allergists can usually identify the allergens (the substances that trigger the symptoms), suggest preventive measures, outline treatment, and provide names of colleagues where you are going, even overseas, should a problem arise. For asthmatics, medication may need adjusting for strenuous activities and scuba diving may be contraindicated. 

2. Plan trips to minimize exposure to allergens. Consider climate, weather, altitude, air pollution, animal exposure and vegetation, for example. Maps and charts containing relevant information are available (see below). If vegetation is a concern, seashores, cruises and deserts represent better destinations than lush national parks and air-conditioned accommodations are preferable to camping. Damp climates often increase exposure to mites, airborne molds and specific pollens. Most cities in developing countries have poor air quality. Asthmatics do well at higher altitudes and on cruises but frigid air can be an allergen.

3. Review your child’s medications. Are any outdated? Do you have sufficient amounts? Will they be at hand at all times? Are you familiar with rules about carrying liquids, medications, nebulizers, and syringes/needles through airport security? Do you know how and where to store items? Some lose potency when left in parked cars in extreme temperatures. Is your nebulizer operative in cars, in flight, with electric currents overseas?

4. Check medical facilities at your destination. Facilities tend to be good on cruise ships, problematic in developing countries, nonexistent on some smaller Caribbean islands, and hours away in some of the larger National Parks. Make sure to carry the telephone numbers of your children’s health care providers back home.

5. Rid cars of allergens. Before lengthy trips, and before entering the car, let the air conditioner or heater run for at least ten minutes while the windows are open. This helps remove mites, molds, and other allergens found in carpeting, upholstery and ventilation systems. Pollution and pollen can also be minimized by driving early in the day or late evening, keeping windows closed and air conditioning on.

6. Have medications available during air travel – but chances are you won’t need them. Pollen, mites and mold counts are usually lower in aircraft cabins than in homes and schools. However, passengers may bring aboard pet dander on their clothing or wear strong perfumes, for example.

Asthmatics are no more likely to have problems in flight than at other times. (Occasionally, older children hyperventilate, i.e., have rapid and deep breathing, usually due to anxiety. This is often misdiagnosed as asthma.) Children with severe allergic sinusitis (a fairly rare condition) may need medication before air travel. Pressure changes during ascent and descent can cause pain. Steroid nasal drops may help. However, in children, most cases of sinusitis are due to infection and are not helped by these drops.

7. At hotels, ask for “allergy-free” rooms. Such rooms prohibit pets and guests who smoke. The rooms are cleaned with substances that leave no irritating fumes and minimize allergens in carpets, drapes and beds. Sunny, dry accommodations away from swimming pools (indoor and outdoor), beaches and wooded areas tend to have fewer molds. Run air conditioners and keep windows closed. Consider bringing your own bed linens to reduce exposure to mites. Don’t place clothes of allergic children in closets and drawers where molds may be present. 

8. Visiting family and friends. Avoid visits during their allergy season. Pet-related allergens remain in rooms for weeks after the pet is removed. Visits during the holiday season can be problematic. Source of allergens include mites and molds on holiday decorations and from wood-burning fireplaces, and wet leaves.  Ask hosts if they have an air purifier or bring one.

9. Choose summer camps in view of your child’s allergies. Does the camp have a nurse or doctor on the premises? Are they sensitive to allergy issues? Are backup medical facilities easily reachable? For sleep-away camps, are cabins located amidst vegetation? Are the cabins cleaned thoroughly and aired-out before children arrive to reduce dust mite and mold concentrations? 

10. Know where to get accurate information.

·          The National Allergy Bureau reports daily trees, weeds, grass and pollen counts for all parts of the United States and Canada.

·          The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) website, www.aaaai.org, has an online booklet, Traveling with Allergies and Asthma, the names of AAAAI allergists practicing in your destination, and other useful information.

·          The Weather Channel gives weather forecasts for all areas.

Posted in Outdoor Recreation, Safe & Healthy Travel
Tags: Allergens, Allergies, Allergy, Asthma