Sep 4, 2006, 3:37 GMT
Munich, Germany Lengthy preparation is needed before travelling with a chronically ill child. Parents need to decide in advance which destinations are right for the child and every effort should be made to make sure the child enjoys the trip.
For example, warm and dry climates or damp and cold ones with salty air can benefit children with chronic breathing problems.
However because of their pressurized cabins, long distance flights can create complications for people with breathing problems or heart or circulatory disorders and, in some cases, rule out air travel altogether.
'Adjustments need to be made for injection times or insulin delivery times with diabetic children who cross time zones,' says Gunhild Kilian-Kornell, spokeswoman of the Professional Association of Pediatricians (BVKJ) in Munich. Children with immune disorders should also be careful with vaccinations, especially for diseases like cholera or yellow fever.
Since chronically ill children often need medical assistance, advance information about the medical facilities at the destination should be a key deciding factor in planning.
'A supply of the most important medications and emergency identification should always be included in hand baggage in case your luggage goes missing or is delayed,' advises Kilian-Kornell. Parents of diabetic children should always be sure to have emergency food supplies at hand.
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