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WHAT  IS  TRAVEL  SICKNESS?

 

Travel sickness is the general term used to describe nausea associated with any form of transport - usually cars, ships or planes. It can range from that slight queasy feeling when you try to read a map in the car, to the incapacitating vomiting and dehydration that may affect ship passengers on their way through choppy waters.

 

A more accurate name for travel sickness is motion sickness, and the symptoms are numerous. These include increased salivation, pallor (looking pale), sweating, headache, lack of energy, yawning and hyperventilation (rapid breathing).

 

While the thought of a long journey with a child who's prone to sickness may seem daunting, it need not be impossible. There are effective treatments available from your local pharmacy, who can advise you. Follow the travel tips overleaf to help reduce symptoms.

 

Travel sickness is often worse on a ship. Staying outside in the open air, rather than in a stuffy cabin, can help relieve your child's symptoms. Standing in the middle of the ship on a low deck also helps - that is where there is least movement.

 

What  Cause  it?

 

There are two main theories as to why people suffer from travel sickness. One puts it down to over-stimulation of the body's balance mechanism in the inner ear by unaccustomed types of movement, e.g. the side-to-side swaying of a ship.

 

The second theory attributes it to a conflict between the messages received by the brain from  the balance mechanism in the ear, and the informal it gets from the eyes. If your sitting on a ferry in a gale,' the balance mechanism in your ears tells you that you are being moved from side to side. Your eyes, however, are telling you that you're really sitting still reading your magazine. This conflict triggers the area of your brain that controls vomiting.

 

Who suffers from travel Sickness

 

Children are far more likely to suffer from travel sickness than adults. It rarely affects children before the age of two, and those between the ages of three and 12 are the most likely to suffer. Thankfully, most do seem to grow out of it as they get older.

 

Whether child or adult, surveys suggest that females are more susceptible to motion sickness than males. The reason for this isn't clear. Perhaps females are more ready to admit to having symptoms; on the other hand, hormones may playa part. Women are most susceptible during menstruation and when they're pregnant.

 

The type of journey, whether a child is excited and even what they have had to eat, can also affect symptoms. A child who has no problems in the car on a trip to the supermarket may react differently on a long drive home from the seaside, especially if they've stuffed themselves full of ice cream and candy floss!

 

Long car journeys, particularly along winding roads, can easily induce nausea. Try to encourage your child to concentrate on the road ahead ­reading can make things worse. 

 

What treatments  are  available?

 

A variety of travel sickness remedies are available from your local pharmacy. All need to be taken before your journey starts - some a couple of hours before, others the previous night. Don't wait until the symptoms of travel sickness occur before reaching for your remedy - by then it may be too late.

 

Travel sickness remedies generally fall into two main groups: hyoscine, which is probably the more effective, and antihistamines, which are usually better tolerated. Hyoscine hydrobromide (such as Joy-Rides or Kwells) is probably the most effective remedy, but it is relatively short acting and carries a higher risk of side-effects. These may include drowsiness, a dry mouth, blurred vision and urinary retention. However, these are not generally a problem at the low doses `used here. The earlier types of antihistamine, developed to treat hay fever, can be used to treat travel sickness. Examples include cinnarizine (Stugeron), dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), meclozine (Sea-Legs) and promethazine (Phenergan). These brands are equally effective but differ in how long they act, the age they're intended for and how much drowsiness they may cause. When choosing a travel sickness remedy, you'll need to consider the length of your journey. A remedy that's effective for four to six hours is no good for an overnight ferry crossing.

Drowsiness as a side-effect may be acceptable with young children. However, it's not such a good idea for dad to take the same remedy if he'll be doing the driving when you reach your destination. Ask your pharmacist for advice.

 

For a non-drug method of treating travel sickness, try Sea Bands. These are elastic bracelets that put pressure on an acupressure point called the P6 or Nei-Kuan point on the inner wrist. They are inexpensive, easy to use, safe and free from side-effects. However, they may need adjusting to fit very young children.

 

How to keep sickness at bay

 

There is a lot you can do to help reduce the likelihood that the little ones in your party will feel ill on your journey.

 

• Opt for sensible food: greasy foods such as fish and chips can aggravate travel sickness, but an empty tummy can also be trouble. 
• Offer frequent, light snacks when travelling, but not acidic fruits such as oranges. Ginger is one of nature's anti-nauseants so pack ginger biscuits to nibble. Avoid fizzy drinks - plain water or non­acidic fruit juice is best. 
•  Get some fresh air: a hot, stuffy environment can make things worse. Open a window in the car or take a walk on the ship's deck. Avoid smoking areas, restaurants and the duty-free perfume shop. 
• Choose your seat carefully: a good view when travelling can work wonders. Adjust car seats so that toddlers can see more than just the back of the seat in front. On a boat, sit by a window and keep watching the horizon. 
• The swaying on a ship is less apparent on a low deck in the middle. On a plane, a seat over a wing is where the aircraft is most stable. An aisle seat offers quick toilet access. 
• If possible, schedule your travelling for when your child usually takes a nap, or go at night.
• If all else fails, be prepared. Take a sick-bag (plastic ones with the zip on the top work well), plenty of wipes, an air freshener in the car and a change of clothing

 

Once a child starts to feel sick, the sensation is unlikely to go away. Distractions, such as listening to tapes or playing travel games, can help ease discomfort.

 

For  More  Information:  Please  consult  your  physician  on  your  next  visit.