Two days ago we talked about the most common illnesses in childhood, from when they are born to that age, around the age of five (year up, year down), when they begin to get sick less and less. We explain the most common respiratory diseases, as well as those ending in so that you would know a little about their name and what they mean. Well, although many of them will suffer from them no matter what we do, in many moments we can avoid them, or prevent them, or help them to be milder, if we follow these strategies to prevent children from getting sick.
The thermometers descend and the most frequent diseases associated with winter arrive that mainly affect the respiratory tract such as influenza, cold, bronchitis, pharyngitis and other more serious diseases such as pneumonia.
Their immune system is not yet mature like that of adults and they have less defensive capacity against external aggressions such as wind, cold and rain.
We cannot prevent the spread of diseases because it is something that is not in our hands, but we can try to reduce the chances of them getting sick.
Let’s take a look at some tips about how to avoid winter diseases.
Why do children get sicker in winter?
Cold is related to most respiratory illnesses, but it is not actually the cold itself that causes children to get sick. Before explaining how to prevent winter diseases in children, it is interesting to know why there is a greater risk of getting sick at this time of year.
The natural defense system that we have in the nose, lose mobility with the cold, which prevents them from controlling the Microorganisms that thus penetrate deeper into the body are transported.
Certain viruses, such as the flu, have also been found to cover themselves in a tough layer that protects you during the cold, giving you the protection you need to pass from person to person. Once this layer enters the body, it melts in the respiratory tract, causing the virus to infect cells.
Other factors associated with typical winter illnesses are home pollution, caused by lack of ventilation, staying indoors in contact with other children, which facilitates infection with infected people, and sudden changes in temperature. Going outside of the house can mean a jump of between ten and even twenty degrees on very cold days.
How to prevent diseases in children in winter
Some preventive measures can help prevent children from contracting illnesses in winter, such as:
- Use preferably electric or gas stoves .
- Avoid environments with cigarette smoke
- Avoid sudden changes in temperature
- Keep the house warm : do not use the heating at full capacity, but allow the body to use its own regulatory mechanisms to adapt to the cold.
- Keep the house with an adequate level of humidity, the dry environment aggravates respiratory diseases
- Avoid closed places that are too crowded
- Shelter just enough : avoid being overcoated in heated environments or undercoating in the open. Cover mouth and nose when going outside or
- Open spaces.
- Have the child wash his hands frequently , especially before eating, when entering the house and if he has been in contact with other children
- Avoid sharing utensils with other children such as glasses, plates, cutlery, towels and of course pacifiers.
- Include fruits and vegetables in the children’s diet or provide healthy diet food for strong immune system, especially foods rich in vitamin A and C.
Another preventive measure is the flu shot. The recommendations on whether or not to vaccinate the child are: there is no need to vaccinate healthy children, although they can be vaccinated against seasonal flu if their parents request it or their medical doctor considers it appropriate. Medical Doctor recommend administering the vaccine to children older than 6 months (before 6 months they cannot receive the vaccine) if they have chronic respiratory problems, congenital cardiovascular, metabolic and kidney diseases.
