title: Central Hypoventilation: A Case Study of Issues Associated with Travel Medicine and Respiratory Infection.
abstract: Aim. We presented the case of a child with central hypoventilation syndrome (CHS) to highlight issues that need to be considered in planning long-haul flight and problems that may arise during the flight. Case. The pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) received a child with central hypoventilation syndrome (Ondine's curse) on nocturnal ventilatory support who travelled to Hong Kong on a make-a-wish journey. He was diagnosed with central hypoventilation and had been well managed in Canada. During a long-haul aviation travel, he developed respiratory symptoms and desaturations. The child arrived in Hong Kong and his respiratory symptoms persisted. He was taken to a PICU for management. The child remained well and investigations revealed no pathogen to account for his respiratory infection. He went on with his make-a-wish journey. Conclusions. Various issues of travel medicine such as equipment, airline arrangement, in-flight ventilatory support, travel insurance, and respiratory infection are explored and discussed. This case illustrates that long-haul air travel is possible for children with respiratory compromise if anticipatory preparation is timely arranged.
authors: Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong.
authors: Kam Lun
authors: KL
authors: Hon
authors: Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada T2M 0H5.
authors: Alexander K C
authors: AK
authors: Leung
authors: Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong.
authors: Albert M C
authors: AM
authors: Li
authors: Department of Paediatrics, Kwong Wah Hospital, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
authors: Daniel K K
authors: DK
authors: Ng