There's nothing that can ruin a family holiday more quickly than a sick child, or a sick parent unable to look after said child. This is Lunar New Year, the time when Hong Kong families leave in droves making up a massive human migration. Sad but true is another fact: a lot of the happy holidaymakers, especially those visiting other Asian countries, will fall sick, says the director of the Adventist Hospital's travel clinic. Admittedly, many of these illnesses are not life-threatening and may be no more serious than a walloping dose of gastroenteritis or an upper-respiratory infection, but it's enough to make what should be a wonderful, relaxed time a miserable and stressful event. There is nothing better than a family holiday. It's time for children to re-acquaint themselves with their parents, and it's precious time to just enjoy your children and your spouse far from the pressures of life in Hong Kong. Hunting for a doctor you might be able to trust in what suddenly feels like a 'tin-pot' country and not an exotic tropical location is not funny. Nor is having to confine yourself to a darkened hotel room when outside the sun is shining on what could have been new adventures with your children. There are some simple precautions to take, according to our doctor in-the-know, which go as far as possible towards avoiding having children fall sick on holiday. First, make sure your children's hepatitis shots and other vaccinations are up to date. Visit your family doctor to discuss where you are going and whether additional shots are needed (rabies inoculations are recommended for children visiting India or Sri Lanka, but malaria and yellow fever are also present in parts of Asia and prophylactic treatment should be considered). Talk about your child specifically and what drugs you might need in the worst-case scenario. Pack a first-aid kit that includes things you like to have in your medicine chest at home: oral rehydration sachets in the event of vomiting and diarrhoea, motion sickness tablets, an antibiotic ointment, a topical steroid, a wound disinfectant, an anti-nausea preparation for kids and adults, antibiotics, an anti-diarrhoea medication for adults (never give this to children), water purification tablets, thermometer, Kalpol or Panadol for children, bandages, plasters (must have a Disney character on them so kids will keep them on) and anything else your general practitioner suggests you take. So far so good, but when our doctor starts reeling off precautions to take while on holiday in any Asian country, I have to wonder if she is being somewhat extreme. 'I have children myself and they are older now, but when they were little I just never took them to some places where there was a risk of malaria, or yellow fever, for example. When we did take them I took all precautions I am telling you about and they were fully vaccinated. 'Maybe I know too much for my own good because a lot of people escape unharmed without taking these precautions, but my theory is it's better to be on the safe side. I don't have time to be sick on holiday,' she says. Her precautions include: Not letting children go barefoot even on what looks like a pristine beach because of a thing called cutaneous larvae migrans (little parasites that burrow into foot and cause intense itching). This precaution even applies to beaches in the Philippines and Thailand. Being sensible on water: don't get on a glass-bottom boat, for example, unless you all have a life preserver. Being careful in the sun and using high-factor sun screens, hats and, if necessary, clothing to prevent sunstroke. Even getting sunburn can cause a few painful days. Watching like a hawk what you eat and drink. Don't eat anything that someone else has touched, for example fruit salad. Instead, eat only fruit that you skin yourself, like bananas or oranges. Not using ice in drinks as it may not have come from bottled water. Avoiding raw or uncooked meat or fish, like sushi, for example. Avoid salads because in Asian countries lettuces and other vegetables that grow close to the ground are often fertilised with faeces. Avoiding food from street vendors or small ethnic-looking restaurants. Avoid diary products, which may not have been pasteurised, may harbour salmonella, or even carry a form of tuberculosis bacteria common in Asia. Carry long-life milk or use bottled water and milk powder. If you are fully vaccinated, eating seafood may be okay, but raw shellfish should be avoided, especially by children. A medical practice in Central gives the following advice on flying with children: 'Any young babies with colds or coughs may be at risk in-flight and should be checked by a doctor before flying. If your child has had a recent ear infection, cold or fever it is worth getting his/her ears checked pre-flight. 'On the plane give a baby a bottle to suck - start as the wheels leave the ground and also during descent. Older children can suck sweets. This helps their ears adjust to the pressure changes in the cabin. 'Antihistamines are sometimes given to help children sleep, but these should not routinely be used and not in babies under one year. Dose must be tailored to recent weight. See your doctor about these.' As I see it, you can take safety only so far. I will risk the foot parasite because I cannot imagine wearing shoes on a beautiful beach and if I don't, I can't force my kids to. My kids don't like seafood so that takes care of that issue, and I think carrying long-life milk is a reasonable, albeit heavy, option. The one thing I try to remember above all else when going on holiday are my children's personal comforters, because life without these is probably worse than a holiday with gastroenteritis. My son's pacifier and his scruffy white cloth that he drags around everywhere and my daughter's grubby, but deeply beloved, five-year-old pillow are top of the list. I learned my lesson some years ago when I forgot the pillow and was forced to have it couriered to Australia at great cost! Another time I forgot the pacifier and spent a whole day hunting for one in Koh Samui. Take my word for it, a pacifier is not something you can replace easily in some parts of Asia. On that encouraging note, bon voyage.