Children adopted internationally can come home with both known and unknown medical issues that parents should be prepared to address. CHI expects that children have an appointment to visit a doctor with international expertise within days of returning home. There are many resources available to aid parents in caring for the medical needs of their children.

In general the medical issues of adopted children can be:

Malnutrition and related infirmities
Developmental delays
Institutionalization related delays
Low birth rate delays
Attachment and bonding issues
Hepatitis A/B
Exposure to Tuberculosis

Further, children adopted in Eastern European (Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Hungary, Russia and Moldova) may have medical issues related to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

For more information on both traveling abroad and medical issues by country specifically, you can visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention at http://www.cdc.gov/.

        Medical Resources for Special Needs

        Medical Professionals

        Medical Resources by State

The information included on this site is for educational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult a healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation or if they have any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment plan. You assume full responsibility for how you choose to use this information. Nothing contained in these topics is intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment.