Parents reveal common ailments suffered by children on holiday
Nearly half of parents say they do not take out insurance for family holidays despite more than a third having experienced a child falling ill or suffering an injury while away, a survey has found.
Stomach bugs, cuts and insect bites were among the most common ailments children had suffered from while travelling, according to the research from Co-op Insurance.
Some also reported their children suffering from allergic reactions, concussion and jellyfish stings.
The insurer found that 48% of parents say they do not take out travel insurance when going on holiday.
And 37% said they had experienced a child falling ill or suffering an injury during a break.
More than a quarter (26%) of parents had cancelled or considered cancelling a family holiday because their child was unwell.
Of those parents who have been caught out on holiday, a third (33%) had to pay for their child's treatment on a credit card, and a further third (32%) had to dip into their savings.
The average travel insurance claim for an unwell child stands at £606, with some claims reaching into thousands of pounds, according to the Co-op.
The insurer said it is now taking steps to address the absence of travel insurance among families by providing free cover for children throughout the summer, subject to certain terms and conditions.
Colin Butler, head of travel insurance at the Co-op, said: "It's alarming that so many families are going on holiday without having travel insurance in place.
"Illnesses and injuries, particularly for children, can be unpredictable and as a result, unexpected medical bills can be very expensive."
Some 2,000 parents were surveyed.
Here are the five most common illnesses children suffer while on holiday, according to the survey from Co-op Insurance:
1. Stomach bug
2. Flu
3. Chicken pox
4. Food poisoning
5. Ear infection
Here are the five most common injuries, according to the Co-op Insurance survey:
1. Cuts
2. Insect bites
3. Bruises
4. Sprained wrist
5. Bump to the head
