Keeping Kids Healthy

Now that school is well underway, viral infections are making the rounds of the classrooms.  Additionally, infants pick up the viruses, whether from older siblings or at day care, so parents need strategies to keep infections at bay. Preventing the common cold, and possible complications, such as middle ear and sinus infections, requires common sense and some effort, but keeping your family healthy is possible!

First and foremost, boost your family’s immune system by providing plenty of fruits and vegetables, which are rich in antioxidants and vitamins that help little bodies  resist infection. Get ideas from these websites: www.letsmove.gov/eat-healthy and www.choosemyplate.gov. Make sure everyone is getting the recommended amount of sleep.  Finally, children aged 6 months and older should be protected yearly by the influenza vaccine.

The common cold

Children typically have three to six colds per year, but the younger the child, the more severe and worrisome are the symptoms. Prevention techniques that should be used, and  taught to children include:

1)      Frequent hand washing.  Up to 80% of infectious diseases are transmitted by touch; keep those babies and children safe by washing hands.  The simple friction of rubbing hands together while washing with soap or hand sanitizer effectively eliminates most germs.  Washing hands after using the bathroom and before snacks and meals, should be part of the household routine. 

2)      Teach children to sneeze and cough into their elbow

3)      Keep hands away from eyes, nose and mouth

4)      Teach children not to share water bottles or any other drinking or eating utensils.

Preventing complications

Middle ear infections can be a common aftermath of a cold for infants and young children.  Because babies have narrow, horizontal Eustachian tubes, fluid and congestion easily makes its way to the middle ear and gets trapped there, breeding infection.  How to prevent this?

·      Work hard to prevent the common cold, as above. If possible, limit the time your child spends in group child care.  A child care setting with fewer children may help.

·      Avoid second-hand smoke.

·      Breast-feed your baby, for at least 6 months if possible.  Antibodies in breast milk can offer protection from ear infections.

·      If you bottle-feed, hold your baby in an upright position.  Never prop a bottle in your baby’s mouth while he or she is lying down.

·      Make sure your baby receives immunizations, as recommended by the CDC.  Haemophilis Influenzae type b (Hib) and pneumococcal conjugate (PCV)  vaccines may help prevent ear infections by protecting your baby against common bacteria.

Sinus infections

Sinusitis is triggered when sinus drainage is blocked by inflammation from a common cold  or allergies.  The resulting pool of backed-up mucus provides a medium for bacteria to grow out of control. This causes swelling, more mucus build-up, and an influx of white blood cells to fight the bacteria.  Mucus is thickened, and may be tinted yellow or green. Other symptoms may include cough, headache and fever. The risk of developing sinusitis can be reduced by promoting drainage and keeping nasal passages clear.  Here are some helpful tips:

·        First line of defense: Nasal irrigation. One of the simplest, cheapest, and most effective ways to prevent and treat sinus problems is nasal irrigation. Using nothing more than tap water and table salt, you can often relieve sinusitis symptoms, reduce reliance on nasal sprays and antibiotics, and improve your quality of life. At least twice a day, follow these steps:

1.      Stir 1 teaspoon of salt into 2 cups of lukewarm water.

2.      Fill a small bulb syringe with the saltwater solution. (If you prefer, you can use a small pitcher called a neti pot to stream the solution through your child’s nose. Or you can purchase an inexpensive nasal irrigation kit with a squeeze bottle, such as Little Noses Sinus Rinse, at most drugstores.)

3.      Have your child lean over the sink, insert the tip of the syringe just inside one nostril, and gently squeeze the bulb. The water will run back out the nostril (or possibly the opposite nostril) and into the sink. Use at least one full bulb of solution.

4.      Repeat the procedure in the other nostril. (If the salt solution stings, use less salt.)

·        Drink lots of water.  Good hydration helps keep the mucus thin and loose.

·        Inhale steam.  Have your child stand in a hot shower.

·        Avoid dry environments.  Keep a humidifier in your child’s bedroom, making sure it is kept clean and free from mold.

·        Avoid antihistamines unless prescribed.  Antihistamines make mucus thick and hard to drain.

·        Keep your child’s allergies under control, seeking medical advice when necessary.

Being proactive with preventative health care measures can keep children healthy and in school.  By teaching them these good habits, everyone in the family wins!

Sources and further information:

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/sinusitis/Pages/Index.aspx
Healthy Children  http://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/ear-nose-throat/Pages/The-Difference-Between-Sinusitis-and-a-Cold.aspx
 http://www.healthychildren.org/English/tips-tools/Symptom-Checker/Pages/Ear-Infection-Questions.aspx