5 Tips To Keep Your Child Strong During Season Change

If your child is suffering from a fever of 100°F (37.8°C) or higher, chills, cough, sore throat, blocked or runny nose, headache, body ache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhoea – s/he is under a flu attack. It is a highly contagious infection and therefore tends to spread rapidly among children – schools and child day-care centres are places where this infection spreads like fire! Keeping in view that the flu season is fast approaching, I share with you the 5 strategies that can save your child from falling sick… it's well worth arming ourselves in advance, don’t you agree?

# Boost your child’s natural immunity

You can fight the flu on a daily basis by keeping the immune system strong. Some great immune boosters are:

- Eating healthy foods that are rich in protein, Vitamin C and zinc (five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day takes care of this)

- 8-9 hours of daily sleep

- Drinking plenty of fluids such as vegetable juices and soups

- Daily bout of physical activity

Keep all this going for you and your child – and all of you will stay strong during season change!

# Flu vaccine

Your child can be protected against flu. Yes! The flu vaccine is available for children of all age groups, starting from 6 months. Every year the vaccine strain may change and the recommendation is to take it annually. The vaccine protects not only your child, but the family at large and also the wider community, as less of the virus is then passed around.

- For children (below 9 years) when taking it the first time, 2 doses are required, one month apart.

- It takes 2-4 weeks to develop immunity after a flu vaccine, so time it well before the season change

- Please note: Your child may suffer from flu despite the vaccination as it is not

100% effective – and so strategy#1 needs to be followed in all cases.

# Frequent handwashing

In addition to getting the vaccine, hand washing is proven to be an important line of defence against flu viruses. The good thing about hand washing is that it's easy protection. Inculcate the habit in your child to wash hands when back home from school, mall, day-care center or anywhere else. When handwashing is not possible, alcohol-based sanitisers may be used.

# Stop the spread of germs

We know that flu viruses spread mainly by droplets that are created when people cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets are known to survive on surfaces like door knobs and handles and other such places for hours. The virus is spread when a person touches a contaminated surface and then his or her own eyes, nose, or mouth.

Hence, cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and objects that may be contaminated can help slow the spread of cold and flu. It's also a good idea to avoid touching your nose, eyes, and mouth — the three places from where flu viruses easily enter the body.

# Take extra precautions

This is basic: Help your child understand how cold and flu is spread and why it is important to avoid close contact with people who are sick. Flu viruses travel through the air, so it is important to keep distance when someone is coughing or sneezing. Also, do educate your child. If your child is the one suffering from flu, s/he should take responsibility to protect others. Equip your child with tissues so s/he coughs or sneezes into the tissue — and not into the hands.