An important travel consideration

I am a naturally curious person, which means that I visit a lot of different websites, which puts me on the distribution for a lot of e-newsletters. One of the lists I'm on is from International Assistance & Adoption Project (IAAP), originally I think I signed up to view their waiting child list and have stayed on the distribution just because they share some good information. This week's newsletter had a little snippet about prescription drugs in China.

Talk to Your Pediatrician Before Travel
We have always recommended you talk with your pediatrician before you travel to get antibiotics you might need for your child. We recommend this even more strongly now that so many counterfeit drugs have been exposed in China. Some drugs approved in China are also dangerous. The former head of the Chinese
FDA was put to death on Monday July 9th after being convicted of approving drugs
that were ineffective and also drugs that resulted in the death of many
people.

You cannot trust the drugs you may buy in China and you may not be able to find what you need when you need it.

I'd heard about the execution of Zheng Xiaoyu earlier in the week, but somehow didn't make the connection to our adoption trip. I wonder how safe Chinese medications are now that the FDA is under new leadership. It's probably smart to play it extra safe and bring everything with you.

Here's a list of travel meds and toiletries that I found of the University of Minnesota International Adoption Clinic website:

For Parents

• Personal hygiene items, including items for feminine hygiene
• Disinfectant soap (e.g., Dial)
• First aid kit including antibiotic cream, Band-Aids, scissors, tape, gauze, rubber gloves and Benadryl
• Disinfectant (e.g., Lysol)
• Contact lens supplies, including saline solution
• Prescription medications
• Tylenol or ibuprofen (e.g., Advil, Motrin)
• Decongestant
• Preparations for diarrhea (e.g., Pepto-Bismol tablets, ImmodiumAD)
• Sink stopper
• Rubber thongs for showers
• Mosquito repellant
• Sunscreen
• Scissors
• Facial tissue
• Toilet tissue
• Wet Wipes
• Transparent tape
• Alcohol wipes

For Baby

• Disposable diapers
• Infant formula; powdered milk-based (e.g., Similac, Enfamiml, Carnation)--only to be used with boiled or bottled water
• Oral electrolyte solution (e.g., Pedialyte or Kaolectrolyte packets)
• Moisturizing cream (e.g., Lubriderm, Aquaphor)
• Infant thermometer
• Plastic gloves
• Infant or Children's Tylenol and ibuprofen (e.g., Advil, Motrin)
• Antibiotic cream (e.g., Bacitracin, triple antibiotic cream)
• Hydrocortisone cream or ointment (1%)
• Oral antibiotics (e.g., Amoxicillin)
• Scabies treatment (Elimite cream)
• Lice treatment (e.g., Nix creme rinse)
• Pacifier
• Infant Sudafed for nasal congestion
• Diaper rash cream (e.g., Desitin, A+D Ointment)
• Fungal diaper rash cream (e.g., Lotrimin cream)
• Baby soap/shampoo
• Mild detergent (e.g., Ivory, Dreft)