Six tips to prevent flu

To help your child recover fast, ensure that he/she drinks plenty of fluids.

The long Christmas break is a great time for families to bond. But sometimes disaster strikes; your child can still get sick. They can miss out on the season’s festivities, reunions and Simbang Gabi. After all, diseases don’t take a vacation.

Fret not, because the key to ensuring your little one stays healthy or recovers quickly from fever is by planning and arming yourself with the right medicine and equipment. Here are six easy tips to help you prevent and manage a fever or flu at the start of the New Year.

The holidays are an especially hectic time with the numerous preparations and celebrations to think about. This sometimes can lead you to forgetting your kids’ vaccination. After all, we find no reason to see a doctor if your kid is not sick.

But children are generally more prone to catching the flu than adults. Your kids need to be protected so they need to be vaccinated. It’s also important that the rest of your family gets one too to ensure that the flu bug is contained.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends regular consultations with a doctor to get your family routine vaccinations. According to the Philippine Pediatric Society, the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines and the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination, children above six months old are encouraged to get influenza shots once per year. You should also get early vaccination as it takes about two weeks after the shot for your antibodies to develop.

During the Christmas break, your kid will be staying in close proximity with his peers. This makes it easy for germs and viruses to spread. Train them to form a habit of washing their hands frequently, especially when coming into contact with those who are sick.

If any of your family members gets the cold of flu, it’s best to wear masks to prevent germs from spreading. Teach your children to cover their mouth or nose with tissue when sneezing or coughing and properly disposing them after.

At home, clean and disinfect household objects and surfaces that may be contaminated with germs. Don’t let your house from being a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

3. Identify and assess your child’s fever and discomfort level

Gauge your child’s symptoms when they have a fever. Children tend to vocalize fever differently depending on their age. It is important to not only observe changes in appearance but also behavior, such as loss of appetite.

One foolproof way to assess fever is to check your child’s temperature using a thermometer. The general rule of thumb is that temperatures above 38°C constitute a fever.

If your child has a temperature above 38°C and is under three months old, it’s best to seek local medical attention immediately. If they are older, WHO recommends to give them paracetamol as first-line treatment .

To get the full benefits of paracetamol, administer the correct dose. Take your child’s weight and follow the recommended dosage as instructed in the product label. Use the dosing tool provided in the medicine package to reduce errors.

5. Monitor your child’s progress at home

When do you send your sick child to school, especially if he/she is generally active or looks fine? As a rule of thumb, it’s best to let your child stay at home until the fever subsides to avoid passing on the flu to other children.

To help your child recover fast, ensure that he/she drinks plenty of fluids. Monitor their temperature using a thermometer and check for rashes or fatigue regularly. If fever persists, they can take paracetamol again every four to six hours but its should not exceed four times in a given day.

6. Take the child to the doctor when needed

Sometimes, you may fear for the worst and worry about your child contracting something far more serious than a normal fever. So here are common red flags to know when not to wait it out and already consult a local doctor.