From your pediatric or family health care provider ask for prescriptions for:

• Scabies- Elimite Cream 5%
  Scabies is a mite that lives (burrows) under the skin. It is common in orphanages. It looks like red, raised bumps that form in lines. Usually found between fingers, in any area that folds (neck, wrists, elbows, underarms, waist, groin, knees & ankles) but can be anywhere on the body.

  Elimite is applied head down and left on overnight for 12 hours then rinsed in the morning. You may need two applications (one each a week apart) for an affected child depending upon the extent of their infestation. If you treat the child, treat yourselves or you'll keep reinfecting each other. Everyone gets to sleep in the smelly stuff!

  Scabies are killed off by hot water & hot clothes dryers so don't reuse any clothing you have worn after applying (this hair ribbons, bows & hats!).

• Lice- Kwell (Rid is available over the counter but is not as effective).
  Lice is a bug that lives and breeds on the hair. It can be found on head or pubic hair, as well as on the eyebrows & eyelashes. The easiest way to tell if someone has lice is to look closely at the hair. You may see the actual crawling white bug or you may see the eggs stuck to the hair shaft. The eggs cannot be shaken off and are very difficult to remove by hand unlike cradle cap or eczema which looks like snow when the hair is shaken and comes off easily.

  When in doubt, treat according to the label directions and soak in hot water or dispose of any brushes or combs that have been used prior to treatment. Remember to treat clothing, hats, bows & hair accessories.

• Nystatin Cream
  For yeast diaper rash. You can tell the difference between this and the kind of rash from sitting in urine & feces by the "satellite lesions". This is a red, blistery patchy rash with scattered red, sometimes raised, dots outside of the rash area. Your health care provider can probably show you a picture in a dermatology book if you haven't seen it before.

  When in doubt if you have tried the OTC diaper creams and its not getting better use this.

• Broad-Spectrum Antibiotic
  For treating ear infections, sinus infections or bronchitis. This one's going to have to be a judgement call but it probably wouldn't be a bad idea to have something in powder form ready to constituteif you need it.

  Ask your health care provider to give you directions on when and in what circumstances you should use it. Also, you will need instructions on dosing based on weight. You should be able to give a rough age/weight estimate based on what age you are interested in adopting. Remember weight will probably be 1/2 - 3/4 that of our American standards for the age based upon developmental and nutritional delays.

  Even if you wait to get an exam at the embassy or local doctor, at least you will have a name brand medicine to use that you can add to the health record when you return.

• Latex Gloves
  Ask for a box for diaper changes to prevent transmission of Giardia & other stomach bugs the children may have. Make sure that you have the child stool tested for ova & parasites when you return. I'll address the specifics in post-adoption medical info.

• Growth Chart
  Ask for charts for boys and girls. They come in two age ranges 0-36 months and 3 years and up. You can be shown how to do the plotting and can use the medical data from birth on to find the range that the child is in and where they are on the chart. Get both boy & girl charts because you never know who you'll fall in love with.

  Ask for a couple of 5 cc syringes to use for giving medicines. 5cc = one teaspoon.

• Tylenol and motrin weight chart
  Ask for one of each or I'll send one to anyone who wants it and can't get one. When you return, post this on the door of your medicine cabinet so that as your child gains weight you will be dosing appropriately. Remember, for kids we like to dose by weight not age.

Over-the-counter Products:

• Disposable thermometers
  Track-its are great if you can get them. They make a heart-shaped sticker one that you apply to the underarm/chest wall that lasts continually for 3 days! If you can't find these - rectal for infants, digital for older.

• Dosage spoon or dropper
  If you weren't able to get the syringes.

• Nail Clippers/Scissors
  For infant nails.

• Band-aids
  For boo boos. With non-infants you're sure to be a hit with the character or tatoo versions.

• Tylenol
  You may need to get several types if you are unsure of the age you are adopting. Strengths differ depending upon type - dropper, liquid, chewables children or junior strengths. This is where you will need the chart to help you dose.

  Droppers and liquids can be used on any age (if you can get them to take it) but you need to dose according to weight and strength of the solution.

• Ibuprofen/Motrin/Advil
  Can also be used for pain/fever but is a sticky issue in infants. Ask your health care provider for their recommendation/suggestions on use over tylenol while traveling.

• Benadryl Syrup or Tablets
  Good for itching from buggies, hives, allergies and motion sickness.

  Please be aware that most children are sedated by benadryl but approximately 10% have a rebound "hyperactive" reaction from the medicine. Personally, I wouldn't try the first dose at bedtime LOL.

• Pediacare, Triaminic, Naldecon (or your personal favorite) cold prep.
  I'm not personally fond of the multi-symptom formulas. I like the plain decongestant versions of these products. You can also buy cough suppressants if you feel that they may be necessary.

  Personally, I don't like cough meds. Cough at nap or bedtime is usually due to post-nasal drip and can be controlled with nasal symptom medicine and blowing or nasal suctioning (in infants).

  My rule of thumb has always been that if the cough does not improve with a cold/nasal prep than it's something that needs to be evaluated & treated. Definately have any persistent cough evaluated when you return home!

• Saline Nose Drops & nose suctioning bulb
  For stuffy noses in babies that won't blow.

• Ketaconazole (Nystatin) shampoo or T-Gel shampoo (Neutragena)
  For cradle cap (seborrheic dermatitis). Works great if you leave it on for about 20 minutes before rinsing. Also helps to use mineral oil or baby oil to remove the crusts before treating.

• Aquaphor or Cetaphil Cream
  For eczema. You may want to treat anything that looks like eczema as scabies first.

• Desitin, A&D, Balmex or diaper rash medicine of choice
  Apply with diaper changes.

• Neosporin, Bacitracin or Triple Antibiotic Ointment
  For cuts, scrapes and funny looking red spots with yellow crusts (impetigo).

• Hydrocortisone Cream 1%
  For itchy spots and red bumpy areas.

• KAO Lectrolyte packets
  (To be mixed with 8 oz of water) for diarrhea & vomiting. Easier to carry than pedialyte's heavy bottles.

Helpful Hints:

• Pre-wash Clothing
  All clothing should be pre-washed before wearing to reduce the possibility of reactions to packaging preservants that make them wrinkle-free.

• No Dryer Sheets
  Try not to use dryer sheets with drying. Many children are sensitive to the chemicals that are left on the clothing by the sheets. Liquid fabric softener is OK. If you want to be ultra safe use Dreft detergent and hypoallergenic scent-free softeners.

• Tape Meaure
  The soft kind that you use for sewing. To do your own measurements of height, head circumference and to pre-measure for clothes and shoe shopping. Another great shoe trick is to trace the foot on to a piece of paper and take that to the store to find a shoe that fits.

• Waterbabies (or other brand) sunscreen
  If traveling in summertime.

• Zip-lock Food Storage Size Bags
  To store untreated, infected clothing in for returning to home. Also work great for storing/disposing of smelly diapers until you can find a trash can.

Legal Reminder - all of the above are suggestions and do not take the place of your health care provider's advice for you as an individual.

-- Kerry