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Adoption
Medical Matters
Unfortunately medical matters can be a
significant part of the inter-country adoption process. They can impact at
the pre-travel and travel stages as well as post-adoption. This is not a
medical website and so you will find no specific medical advice here.
However there are many links to useful information prepared by appropriately
qualified people as well as contacts for local medical professionals. This
page is currently under development and so please visit it again for further
updates. We hope that the information provided will be useful to you and
we wish you good health on your adoption journey!
Immunisation
Before you travel you may wish to
investigate the immunisation requirements for travel to China. These can
differ across Provinces and so you may not know your exact immunisation needs
until your are allocated. However some of the immunisations may be common
across all regions of China. Your GP can advise you of your immunisation
status. Alternatively you may wish to visit a specialist immunisation
clinic. SACAS Members receive a discount at The Travel Bug and you can
access their website at www.travel-bug.com/
or by clicking the image below. This site contains a lot of very useful
information on immunisation, travel and health.
Health
Insurance When Travelling
In most cases Travel Health Insurance is
relatively inexpensive. For example in 2007 one of the largest Health
Insurance Companies in Australia were offering a family policy for around
$232.20 for 16 days in Asia - China included. Most insurers will allow you
to ensure as "a family", although some will have difficulties dealing
with the technicalities of inter-country adoption. For example there have
been reported cases of insurers being unwilling to insure a child until they are
formally adopted. This can be the day after you take custody of the child
and this can present some problems if the child is ill. However most
companies endeavor to understand and assist wherever possible. In some
cases your travel agent may be able to arrange the health insurance for you.
In such cases always be sure to check the policy carefully to ensure that it
meets your needs. However you may wish to shop around before you are
allocated in order to secure the best possible deal for your circumstances.
Medical
Supplies
What medical supplies should you take with
you to China? We encourage you to discuss this matter with your GP and
Specialists. However there are some common sense tips that you may wish to
consider.
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If
you take prescription medication it is always wise to obtain a letter from
your GP or Specialist. This can be at Customs and for foreign Doctors
should you get sick overseas.
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Always
ensure that you have extra supplies of essential medication just in case you
experience delays.
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Take
your Doctors details with you, including phone, fax and email, in case
you need to contact him/her .
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Carry
your essential medical supplies with you on the aircraft rather than to
checking them in. However always check the airline rules regarding
such items.
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When
at the hotel you may even wish to place essential medical supplies in your
hotel safe.
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Medical
Travel kits are available from a variety of sources, including The Travel
Bug. Designed by medical professionals they can also be tailored for
individual needs.
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Common
illnesses when travelling in China are colds and flu, gastro and minor
sprains and strains. Your Doctor or Pharmacist can advise of the
options available to you.
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Travelling
with a baby also demands that you cater for their needs with specific
products. Your Doctor or Pharmacist can advise of the options
available to you.
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There
are many western style Chemists in China. So most over-the-counter
medical supplies are freely available.
What
to do if I or my Baby gets sick in China?
Getting sick at home is stressful enough, but in a foreign country it can be
quite frightening. It is relatively common for adopted Chinese children to
have minor illnesses. Some have contracted them before the adoption.
Some no doubt pick up infections from their new parents. Parents too often
get sick in China from exposure to a new environment, physical exhaustion, new
types of germs and food poisoning. Several SACAS Members have experienced
personal illness and the illness of their babies in China. The advice
below is provided following consultation with such people.
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China
Women's Travel Service CWTS are invaluable in time of illness. Their
guides speak fluent English and Mandarin and will assist you and your child
to negotiate the Chinese health system. If you or your child is ill we
encourage you to make the most of this excellent service. It is yet
another reason why it is wise to travel with CWTS and not independently.
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The
Manager of the Hotel is also a useful contact and our members report that
senior hotel staff have also been extremely accommodating when it
comes to the health of their children. Never be afraid to ask for
their help - even if the health issue appears minor. They are usually
eager to help out - especially when it comes to the health of the children.
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If
you or your child should be admitted to hospital you may find that you have
to pay up front for the hospital stay. However some SACAS members who
have done so report getting some money back when they been discharged.
Be prepared for this contingency.
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All
who have been in this unfortunate situation have been keen to point out that
Travel Insurance is vital and that when a claim was made all of their
expenses were covered. These people also all noted that when taking
out the insurance they made a point of ensuring that their adopted child
would be immediately covered by the policy.
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Most
medical staff at provincial and Shanghai hospitals are reported to have
reasonable English language skills.
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On
at least one occasion in Shanghai the CWTS guide recommended the American
pediatrician located in the same building as the Australian Consulate and
where the adoption medicals are conducted. This practitioner did not
have admitting rights to any hospital but was willing to arrange for the
family to be met in emergency at the Shanghai Children's Medical Centre by a
Chinese Doctor.
Medical
Assistance Upon Returning to Australia
When you return to Australia you may wish
to make an appointment for your child to visit a medical professional.
Many people simply choose to visit their GP, others book a specialised
appointment with a Pediatrician and others also choose to visit the Children's
Youth and Women's Health Service at http://www.cyh.com
AFIS may also be able to recommend a Pediatrician with Inter-country Adoption
experience.
Chinese
Growth Charts
The following link is to a website
outlining a 1993 Hong Kong Growth Survey on Southern Chinese children. The
website provides a number of very useful charts such as weight and height/length
measurements for babies and children, boys and girls. This may be of
interest to those with allocation medical reports and to other parents who'd
just like to check their children's growth progress. The charts are
accompanied by instructions and a number of caveats that one should always take
into account. Obviously the charts apply specifically to Southern Chinese
children, however even acknowledging the differences between northern and
southern body types I am sure that these charts will be useful to all of our
members. They are certainly more useful than Caucasian Growth Charts.
http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/proj/growthstd/index.htm
Mongolian
Blue Spots
Mongolian Blue Spots are common birthmarks
among Asian and other racial groups with olive and dark skin pigmentation.
They are typically flat birth marks with a blue, gray, brown or black
colouration. Usually they appear at the base of the spine, on the back and
buttocks. However they can appear elsewhere on the body. This
pigmentation appears at or shortly after birth. It is important to know
that these markings are benign and are not of medical concern. Often they
fade with age, although some remain present for a lifetime. Mongolian Blue
Spots do look a lot like a bruise. For this reason it is important that
you make note of these marks and advise your pediatrician and adoption social
worker. Some people even like to take pictures of the birth marks to
ensure that they are recorded on medical and case files. An example of a
common Mongolian Blue Spot is included below for your reference.
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