What else can I do to keep my kids healthy this season (besides hand-washing)?
Marissa L. emailed us at expert@sweetspot.ca, and our SweetMama Paediatrician, Dr. Dockrill answered:
Winter is just around the corner and that means that cold and flu season has arrived. We are all more aware of the "pandemic" questions that remain unanswered about the H1N1 (Swine flu) virus. Thus far, medical evidence has shown us that H1N1 causes a mild illness for most people. But, as with every flu illness, young children are at a higher risk for flu complications. With so many confusing media reports about the benefits and risks of the H1N1 vaccine and treatment, parents are struggling to know how best to keep their children healthy through cold and flu season.
As a Paediatrician, I am speaking daily about this issue. From all that I have seen and read, I firmly believe that back-to-basics for winter wellness requires us all to be well-rested, well-nourished and well-exercised! Children need eight to twelve hours of sleep each night, the recommended number of servings from each of the five food groups in Canada’s Food Guide each day and ideally, 90 minutes of active play every day for school age children. Such healthy choices, along with Vitamin D from appropriate sun exposure, builds healthy mind, body and immunity!
When out and about, enjoying life as usual, practice frequent hand washing and model coughing and sneezing into your sleeve to encourage others to do the same. Health centers and most schools and businesses are taking extra precautions this year to limit cold and flu exposure. We can all do our part by staying at home when feeling ill until we are 24 to 48 hours without fever.
The flu vaccine remains the most proven intervention to protect against winter flu. The vaccine is made each year based on "the best guess" as to which combination of flu strains experts feel will be around in the year to come. This year H1N1 is clearly the strain to cover.
Colds in Children: Colds are caused by germs called viruses. There are over 100 viruses that cause common colds and flus. Once you've had one virus you become immune to it, and therefore we develop less colds as we age. Small infants and children can develop eight to ten colds a year as they are exposed to the many cold viruses for the first time. Most colds last five to seven days, with coughs lasting for up to two weeks.
The best way to prevent colds is by washing your hands frequently. Children should be taught to wash their hands after blowing their nose or touching their face when they have a cold and to sneeze or cough into their elbow to avoid spreading cold germs. Toys that are mouthed or sneezed on by a child with a cold should be removed and protected from being handled by other children.
Dr. Dockrill has been the Medical Director for Maternal and Newborn services in two Ontario hospitals, in addition to being Director of several Level II and III neonatal intensive care units. After leaving hospital-based practice in 2004, Dr. Dockrill founded Mom and Baby Depot Health and Family Resource Center in Whitby, Ontario. For more information, visit www.momandbabydepot.ca.
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