RABIES IS A RISK FOR TRAVELING CHILDREN

Rabies remains a dreadful disease which kills about 50 000 people per year, mostly in Asia, Africa, South America and Central Europe. Betwee n 30% an 50% of the victims are young children. Modern rabies vaccines are safe and immunogenic. Therefore parents must be informed on the r isk of rabies, and pre-exposure vaccination must be performed for chil dren traveling often or for periods longer than one month in canine en zootic countries. Post-exposure treatment must be initiated without de lay with modern vaccines wherever available, according to approved sch edules, Pre-exposure vaccination is particularly useful in remote plac es where modern vaccines and immunoglobulins are not readily available . (C) 1998, Elsevier, Paris.