How to prevent your child getting ill on holiday?

Malaria 

The old adage ‘prevention is better than cure’ is never more pertinent than when dealing with the prevention of malaria. Young children are particularly vulnerable to this potentially fatal disease and preventative measures must be vigorously observed if you are travelling to malarious areas, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.

The most effective prevention, of course, is to choose a holiday in a malaria-free region or to time your visit when the risk is at its lowest (although unstable weather patterns make this increasingly hard to predict). Otherwise, remember the three A’s:


• AWARENESS both before and after travelling – know when you are at risk and inform any doctor that you have been to a malarious region if, at any time up to a year after travelling, you become ill. Malaria symptoms can often be confused with flu.

• AVOIDANCE of mosquito bites, particularly between dusk and dawn. DEET is the most effective form of insect repellent, although it should not be used on pregnant women or on children under one year. For young children use less concentrated formulas. Premetherin-impregnated clothing is an effective, safe way to prevent bites.

• ANTIMALARIAL medicines – have a strict routine for taking them and continue to take them, as directed, after leaving the area. Malaria prophylactics do not give complete protection and they are not available to babies or children under 11 kg.

How do I prevent being bitten?

• Cover up before dusk with long sleeves and long trousers (preferably in light colours). Apply insect repellent to any exposed skin and remember to reapply after washing hands.

• Tuck trousers into socks and spray clothing with repellent. Malaria mosquitoes tend to attack at ankle level.

• Aim to be inside an air-conditioned, mosquito-screened room between dusk and dawn. Use mosquito coils or mats if the room hasn’t been sprayed with insecticide on a daily basis.

• Sleep under an insecticide-impregnated bed net.

“Getting malaria medication into a toddler often takes some doing. Lily thought you were supposed to throw the pills at the mosquitoes rather than eat them. Yoghurt and mashed fruit somehow managed to slide freely down her throat, leaving the pill sitting on her tongue undiminished.

We tried the liquid version of Chloroquine, which you can squirt in with a syringe, and your child can squirt straight out again. The one reliable method we found was to hide the tablet in a spoonful of chocolate spread."

Emma Woollacott

Other nasties

Spiders Australian funnel webs, South American banana spiders and the widow spiders of North America all have deservedly bad reputations. In the rare event of being bitten, however, antivenom treatments are readily available.

Hairy caterpillars Children need to know that these intriguing fluffballs deserve respect. The hairs can penetrate the skin and cause pain and irritation. Pluck the hairs out with fine pointed tweezers and administer antihistamine if necessary.

Ticks Tick bites occasionally spread disease, although the risk is low. To remove a tick, grasp it firmly between finger and thumb, as close as possible to where it is attached and pull steadily away from the skin (never jerk or twist the tick). Flood the bite site with diluted iodine or alcohol.

Aedes mosquitoes These day-active stripy-legged mosquitoes are responsible for spreading Dengue and yellow fever. Keep covered up in light-coloured clothing and avoid areas where they breed.

Snakes Fear of snakes is often out of proportion to the risk they pose. They very rarely strike unprovoked; stay still if cornered and the chances are you’ll be safe. In the event of a bite, however, keep the effected region below heart level, cover the wound with a dressing (do not use a tourniquet) and seek antivenom treatment.

Rabies Statistically, dogs are the most dangerous animals after mosquitoes. Not only can inflict serious bites, but they may also transmit rabies. Enforce on children the importance of never approaching an unknown dog.

Weaver fish Found in the UK and other parts of Europe, weaver fish bury themselves in the sand and, if trodden on, can inject a painful (occasionally lethal) dose of venom through their dorsal spines. Soak the injured foot in hot water and seek immediate medical attention.

Jellyfish Most jellyfish stings are painful but not life-threatening. Very rarely a sting can lead to collapse, in which case emergency resuscitation is required. Particularly nasty is the box jellyfish, found in some coastal regions of the Indo-Pacific.

Avoid swimming in susceptible areas unless they are fenced off during the months of November to March – or wear an all-in-one stinger suit with hood and mitts.

Travel with Kids by William Gray
www.footprintbooks.com