Prevention of influenza and ARVI in children

Prevention of influenza and SARS in children is an important and mandatory measure with which you can protect children's health from dangerous viruses. It helps not only to reduce the risk of infection, but also to facilitate the course of the disease in case of its occurrence.

Most often, children who attend preschool institutions and educational institutions are infected with viruses. It is important to know that influenza viruses, like other acute respiratory infections and ARVI, are transmitted by airborne droplets and can persist for a long time on any objects.

It should be remembered that with age, the susceptibility to the virus changes, for example, babies up to a year old, on natural breastfeeding, are much less susceptible to infection than their peers who eat  artificial milk mixtures. The mother's body produces enough antibodies to protect the baby, but with the cessation of breastfeeding, the baby's body is forced to fight on its own, so the prevention of influenza in children children from one year and older are very important:

• personal hygiene is the main non-specific measure for the prevention of influenza and ARVI in children. It is necessary to teach children to wash their hands with soap, especially after returning from the street, to remind the child to he did not touch his face with his hands in public places — on handrails, tables and other objects can remain saliva of a sick person.
• it is important to reduce contact with patients with influenza and ARVI during the period of seasonal morbidity. If a sick person appears in the house, he should be isolated from the child and other family members (grandmothers, grandfathers, pregnant women), put on a mask, select a separate set of dishes.

Of course, a healthy child should attend kindergarten or school, but you should not take it with you to the shops and drive it in entertainment centers during the rise in the incidence of influenza and SARS. You should temporarily cancel the visit guests and, if possible, from public transport. From a routine check-up at the clinic during this period, too it is better to refrain, because it is possible to contact the child with patients, especially for babies under one year old, who they pass a monthly inspection.

• a common mistake of parents is the fear of "freezing" the child, so the entire heating season vents and windows in the house are closed and sealed, and the rooms are not ventilated. Dry and warm air is fine promotes the spread of the virus, because ventilation and wet cleaning of the room is also important by the method of non-specific prevention.
• in order to prevent influenza and SARS in children, it is necessary to lead a healthy lifestyle. Regular sleep, walking in the fresh air, a balanced diet that includes enough vegetables and fruits, the absence of stress-all this will strengthen the baby's resistance to diseases.

Special attention should be paid to various immunostimulants and antiviral drugs, which are often it is recommended to take it in order to increase the immune forces of the body and to fight the virus. Before going to pharmacy point for the purchase of an antiviral or immunostimulating agent, you should consult contact your doctor and clarify the need to take it. The need to take synthetic vitamins to prevent flu and colds is also questionable. It is desirable that a person receives them from food, however, if this is not possible, then you should take synthetic B vitamins, ascorbic acid, vitamin A.

But the most reliable and effective method of prevention is vaccination. It prevents the development of the disease, and in the case of the disease facilitates its course and guarantees the absence of complications.

Lipetsk Regional Center for Medical Prevention reminds: at the first signs of influenza and SARS, do not rely on your own strength - it is dangerous for the health and life of the child!

Contact your doctor - only he can make the correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment that corresponds to this diagnosis.

Take care of yourself and be healthy!