Preparing your child for the flu season

The cold, rainy season is with us again and once more, we are faced with the sniffles and coughs that are characteristic of the flu and common cold.

Most of us have adopted a ‘wait and see if my child gets the flu then deal with it’ approach yet there are several things that one can do to help prevent your child from getting the flu.

Flu vaccine

Flu vaccination is one of the most important ways of preventing this viral infection. It is particularly important for children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. That said, everyone should get an annual flu shot. The best time to get it is in the beginning of the cold season (which in Kenya starts around April).

Most urban private hospitals provide this vaccine but it is currently not part of the government-funded vaccination programme. Some private schools also offer it as part of their annual health plan.

Hand washing

This is the simplest yet most effective way to prevent colds and flu. When it is very cold, one is tempted not to repeatedly wash their child’s hands and it is not unusual to see a parent wipe a child’s dirty hands with a wet cloth before a meal or after visiting the toilet.

This should be avoided as it is known to increase the incidence of disease in children. Hand washing is only effective if you use soap.

In addition, you need to do it for at least 60 seconds (not forgetting to rub in between fingers and under the nails with each wash). To help a child effectively wash their hand, get them into a routine of singing a short song which lasts roughly one minute (during which the child should have thoroughly cleaned their hands).

Water alternatives

If you really do not want to use water all the time, there are various water alternatives available in our market. Hand sanitizers are alcohol-based solutions which are applied to the hands in an attempt to kill germs.

However, in order for it to be effective, it must have at least 60 per cent alcohol (so always read the label before buying it). Wet wipes (hand wipes) are also another alternative to water but they must never be re-used. Once you wipe your hands, the wet wipe carries those germs and can spread them around if recycled.

Paper towels

Germs can be transferred from one surface to another, including towels. For this reason, where possible, use paper towels to wipe your child’s hands instead of a shared towel in the house. If you are concerned about using too much paper, consider getting each family member an individual hand towel instead.

Layer up

Although you can dress your child up in whichever way you see fit, health practitioners in countries that experience winter have developed a ‘3 layer guideline’ when dressing up your child for the cold. The first layer of clothes helps to drain moisture or sweat (vest/ T-shirt). The second layer serves as insulation (shirt/dress/trouser/sweater), while a third outer layer can help to block out the cold (jacket/coat).

No antibiotics please!

If your child gets a runny nose, sore throat and slight fever (all signs of flu), resist the urge to load the child up with antibiotics – they do not help! The flu is a virus not a bacteria and thus will run its course regardless of what you do.

Giving your child antibiotics during this period only destroys the ‘good bacteria’ in their digestive system and does not cure the flu. If your child gets the flu, it should be treated with an anti-viral drug not an antibiotic.

Babies under six months

Babies under the age of six months are particularly vulnerable to the effects of the flu. In particular, they are susceptible to complications of the flu such as pneumonia, dehydration and even brain inflammation and death. The flu vaccine cannot be administered to babies under the age of six months.

For this reason, it is important that extra precaution be taken in families where there is an infant of this age. In such cases, all people who are in regular contact with the baby must get vaccinated (this means all family members and the nanny). No one should handle the baby or their toys/feeding equipment without washing their hands.

Good nutrition vs supplements

There is a lot of research about various vitamins, minerals and herbs which have been thought to help prevent the flu. This includes vitamin C, zinc, mwarubaini (neem) and Echinacea (cone flower). Although these may offer some relief when sick, there is no evidence to prove that they can prevent the flu.

For this reason, most nutritionist and paediatricians advice on giving your child a diet rich in fruits and dark green vegetables. A healthy diet helps boost your child’s immunity which means that if they do get exposed to the flu, they will be better equipped to deal with it.