It is that time of year when the kids seem to pick up every cough and cold going – in fact, within the first couple of weeks of being back at school mine all went down with a cough and cold.
Kids have a strong tendency to spread germs, especially at school as they touch surfaces and then touch their eyes, nose and mouths and although it is perfectly OK to send them to school with a minor cough or cold, there are some hints and tips to stop them spreading their germs which can be taught from an early age.
Good Hygiene
I work in with Early Years children (age 2-4) and teaching your children a good hygiene routine from an early age is essential to staying healthy and keeping germs at bay.
When to wash their hands
- After they have used the toilet / potty
- Before they eat
- After blowing your nose, sneezing or coughing
How to wash their hands
- Use warm water and soap
- Make sure they rub the palms of their hands together and rub the soap between their fingers and over the tops of the hands too
Coughing and Sneezing
Who remembers their parents shouting “Hand” at them if they coughed or sneezed? I certainly do.
In fact, this can actually spread germs, especially if you don’t wash your hands straight away.
Teach children, from a young age, to cough or sneeze into the crook of their elbow, that way the germs go onto their clothing, rather than their hands and cannot spread as easily to other children.
Have a box of tissues available in their room or give them their own pack of pocket tissues, many even have their favourite cartoon characters on the packaging, and encourage them to wipe / blow their nose rather than smearing is along their sleeve.
Immunisations
Did you know that you can prevent infections in the first place by keeping your family’s vaccinations up to date (that includes the adults!).
Vaccinations are not pleasant, however, they are vital in helping the body to produce antibodies which protect you from becoming ill if infected with the bacteria. All children are offered measles, rubella, tetanus, diptheria, polio, whooping cough and meningitis immunisations from birth, which have helped eradicate these serious diseases thanks to Herd Immunity – the resistance to the spread of a contagious disease within a population that results if a sufficiently high proportion of individuals are immune to the disease.
I suffer with psoriatic arthritis which involves me taking immunosuppressants to help me manage my condition. I have recently had my both flu and pneumococcal vaccines which encourage my body to produce antibodies which protect me from becoming ill if infected with the bacteria and have felt no adverse reaction to having either.
The kids have also had their flu vaccine nasal spray at school and came back very excited with their Flu Hero certificates.
When to see the Doctor
You should avoid taking the kids to see the doctor for minor colds, coughs and fevers as they are very common in young children and usually return to normal within 3 or 4 days.
A fever is the body’s natural response to fighting infections like coughs and colds and is a temperature of over 38°C. You can treat these symptoms at home with children’s paracetamol and/or children’s ibuprofen.
If your child has a temperature of over 39°C which doesn’t come down with paracetamol or ibuprofen, is unusually lethargic, has a rash or you think is dehydrated, phone NHS 111 or arrange to see your GP. For more advise see nhs.uk/conditions/fever-in-children/
Ear Infections and Tonsillitis are also very common, particularly in children. You do not always need to see a GP for them as they often get better on their own within 3 days and your GP will not prescribe antibiotics for them if caused by a virus as they won’t help the symptoms and can lead to Antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
When to use Antibiotics
You will only be prescribed antibiotics if you have a bacterial infection and you must use them correctly – always follow the instructions you are given by your doctor when taking them and don’t take them when they aren’t needed (e.g. for common colds or infections).
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a long name for the rise of Superbugs and it is one of the biggest threats to global public health today.
Antibiotics have saved millions of lives since they were first discovered – but a world without antibiotics, where people die from treatable infections or routine medical procedures, could be closer than we think.
AMR arises when the micro-organisms which cause infection (e.g. bacteria) survive exposure to a medicine that would normally kill them or stop their growth – creating the so-called Superbugs.
Bacteria, not humans, become antibiotic resistant. This occurs naturally, but misuse of antibiotics in humans and animals is accelerating the process and if we continue to misuse antibiotics, routine procedures, from c-sections to hip replacements, would become life-threatening.
How do you you help your kids cope with common childhood ailments?
Disclaimer: This blog has been paid for by and created in partnership with Pfizer UK©