Yonoj News
The kid’s health is vital. Since school environments are perfect breeding sites for bacteria, parents should be devoted to protecting their children from viruses. These microscopic infectious agents cause diseases that can be infectious. Since children’s immune systems are not fully developed, they are highly susceptible to diseases such as colds, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), roseola, gastroenteritis, hand-foot-mouth disease, influenza, and others.
Although children are highly susceptible to bacteria and viruses, there are numerous ways to protect your child from such serious infections. Here are ways to protect your children from viruses this school year:
Vaccinate in Time
Staying up-to-date on immunizations is crucial. It is one of the most effective ways to curb deadly infections and diseases. Vaccines play a fundamental role in the production of antibodies that fight infections. There are infectious diseases that can lead to death or cause permanent damage to children’s health.
Therefore, don’t wait for conspicuous signs and symptoms for your children to receive such immunizations. Your child must get a vaccination for diphtheria, tetanus, polio, rotavirus, influenza, and measles, among others, while they are still young.
Train Basic Hand Washing and Hygiene
Children are highly vulnerable to bacteria and viruses as they are always in contact with dirty surfaces. You can minimize exposure to bacteria and viruses by training your children about elementary handwashing guidelines.
Teach them the benefits of cleaning their hands, how to wash their hands properly, and the duration of handwashing. The recommended time is about 20 seconds. Teach them how to contain the spread of viruses through handwashing. For instance, they should wash their hands before taking a meal or a snack, after blowing their nose, after visiting the toilet, after playing, or when they encounter a dirty surface.
Strengthen their immune system.
Boosting children’s immune systems is one of the unquestionable ways to offer protection against viral infections. Feed your children immune-boosting foods such as dark green leafy vegetables and fresh fruits. Offer them fruits and vegetables rich in essential vitamins such as vitamin C and vitamin D. Give them sufficient water, milk, and fruit juice to keep them hydrated.
Avoid giving them junk or processed foods such as chocolates, cookies, and fries. Such foods have added sugar and unhealthy fats, like saturated fats in animals, and can compromise the child’s immunity. Instead, incorporate foods such as oatmeal and cereals into their diet.
You can also give immunity booster tablets to children. These tablets provide different nutrients that are required to strengthen the immune system. There are different options available. Some popular packs of immunity booster tablets include Eucee Vitamin C, Zandu ImmU Tasty Ayurvedic Soft Chews for Kids, and others.
It is vital to check with the pediatrician about the dosage before administering these immunity booster tablets. If you have a free prescription discount card, you can present it to the pharmacist while purchasing these tablets and pay a reduced cash price.
Maintain cleanliness around the children.
Compromised hygiene around children exposes them to harmful bacteria and viruses. Pests like mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and bugs thrive in dirty environments. They are the main culprits in spreading bacteria and viruses.
Ensure there is no stagnant water in the house or outside, as this is a perfect breeding site for mosquitoes. The neighborhood should also be free of trash, unused containers, and bins to curb mosquito breeding. Keep your children indoors in the morning and evening.
Always disinfect surfaces many people touch, such as kitchen countertops, bathroom sinks, doorknobs, and light switches. Viruses can survive for up to three hours on surfaces, and if there is already an infected person in the house, ensure to disinfect such areas.
Caution Your Children Against Sharing Utensils in School
The mouth hosts hundreds of various microorganisms. The sharing of utensils increases the possibility of exposure to other germs. Viruses can be transmitted from saliva into the nose, throat, and lungs. Your child risks getting illnesses such as rhinovirus, flu virus, type 1 herpes, and streptococci from exposure to someone’s saliva. Since people are usually contagious before experiencing the symptoms, you can opt to give your child disposable utensils or labeled ones to avoid mix-ups.
The best way to protect your children from viruses at school is to be prepared. If your child is not skipping vaccinations, has profound knowledge about good hygiene practices, and is taking nutritious foods, they will be less susceptible to severe infections.
