Asthma is a part of our family life, whether we are at home or traveling.  My eldest son, who is four years old has required treatment in hospital for his asthma on numerous occasions.  It is important that parents who, like us have a child with asthma take steps to protect the health of their child when traveling.

• It is recommended that people with asthma visit their doctor every six months with a view to optimising their lung function.  By ensuring your child keeps up to date with this they will be less likely to get into strife with their asthma when they travel.

• If traveling internationally always attend a pre-travel medical visit with either your regular doctor or a doctor that has special expertise in travel medicine.  Travel to some destinations, specifically those with a high degree of smog may warrant a change in your child’s medication prior to travel.

• Ask your doctor to prepare a written action plan.  This written plan should give you strict instructions regarding what to do if your child becomes unwell.

• Misplaced luggage can be catastrophic if that is where your child’s asthma medication is stored.  Always pack preventive medication, ventolin and a spacer in your carry-on luggage.

• Take spare medication in your checked-luggage.

• Be aware of potential triggers of your child’s asthma.  Dust can exacerbate our own son’s asthma so we preference accommodation with tiles or wooden floors, avoiding carpeted premises.

• A spacer device is theoretically as effective as a nebuliser in treating asthma.  If your child does require a nebuliser make sure you take appropriate power adaptors with you for use internationally.

• If children have very brittle, or life threatening asthma it is wise to think carefully about the destinations you choose.  Remote travel, or to countries where there is limited health care is best avoided if your child has life-threatening asthma.

• Travel insurance is essential when traveling internationally.  Asthma is classified as a pre-existing medical condition for the purposes of insurance.  Travel insurance policies differ as to whether or not they will cover people with asthma, sometimes with limitations determined by the hospitalisation history or medications of the individual.  Prior to purchasing travel insurance clarify what limitations in cover are posed for people with asthma and purchase one that will reimburse you if you need to delay your trip because of an exacerbation of asthma, that will pay for medical care in hospital if your child requires it, and that will pay for the cost of medical transport home if necessary.

• Always request that you are allocated a non-smoking room in hotels.

About the author:  Danielle Esler is a medical doctor.  This is a personal blog but she does occasionally put on her professional hat to update families on travel health related issues.  This is one of those occasions.

This blog provides tips and advice for parents traveling with small children including travel health and destination advice.  You can join us on Facebook to receive updates to your news feed.

This post is linked to Suitcases and Sippy Cups and Walking On Travels Travel Tips Tuesday.

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