Shielding Your Kids Against Winter Illness

Winter is a time of joy and festivities. The cold weather instills a feeling of freshness and gives you a different sense altogether. But winter is also considered an "infectious season"! It is a peak period to get sick, especially for children. They are more prone to contracting and spreading infectious diseases like flu and respiratory infections. This is accompanied by symptoms like cold, cough, sneeze, fever, and fatigue. As a parent, you must ensure your child is as healthy as possible in the fight against winter illness. But, how to prevent winter colds in kids? 

Krishna Medical Center Hospital’s pediatric specialists provide personalized guidance, care and maintain your kid's health and well-being even during the coldest months. Keep reading to get insightful tips for your child’s wellbeing.

Common Winter Illnesses in Children

Your child may face various winter illnesses, and the most common ones are listed below:

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

The symptoms include:

• Runny nose
• Cough
• Breathing difficulty 
• Persistent fever 
• Upper airway congestion

Influenza/Flu

The symptoms include:

• Runny nose
• Cough
• Fever 
• Chest congestion
• Body ache
• Diarrhea 
• Mild conjunctivitis 

Common Cold 

The symptoms include:

• Runny nose
• Cough
• Fever 
• Sore throat 
• Nasal congestion
• Headache 

Strep Throat

The symptoms include:

• Sore throat
• Cough
• Cold
• Headache
• Fever 
• Swallowing difficulty
• Stomach ache 

Stomach Flu

Common symptoms include:

• Diarrhea (frequent, loose, watery stools)
• Recurrent episodes of vomiting 
• Abdominal pain
• Fever 
• Fatigue or tiredness
• Headache 

Tips to Keep Your Child Healthy In Winters 

As parents, it is natural to be concerned about your child’s health, especially during winters. Here are some useful tips from pediatric specialists at Krishna Medical Center Hospital, to prevent health issues.

1. Staying Warm: Keep the kids warm and choose appropriate clothing.

2. Safe Indoor Play: Make sure your kid stays indoors. Limiting outdoor exposure can prevent contracting infections.

3. Diet: Ensure your child eats healthy food. Include essential nutrients like vitamins, proteins, calcium, and antioxidants to strengthen the body's defense system.

Include fresh fruits, vegetables, and dried fruits to boost their immunity.

4. Hydration: Keep your child hydrated by encouraging them to drink lots of water before, during, and after playing. Include warm drinks like turmeric milk to boost immunity.

5. Regular Medical Checkups: “Prevention is better than cure.” Regular health checkups during the winter season can help detect any infection at an early stage.

Inculcating Good Hygiene Practices 

Good personal hygiene habits can help your kids stay healthy. These hygiene practices will protect your kids, boost their immunity, and prevent the spread of several infections and diseases. Teach your kids to:

• Wash their hands with soap and water, especially after playing outside or sneezing/coughing.
• Cover nose and mouth while sneezing and coughing .
• Avoid putting their hands, or other objects constantly in the mouth.
• Avoid sharing utensils or other things until they have been cleaned.

The Importance of Vaccination 

Vaccinations or immunizations are crucial for training the body to defend against diseases. Regular flu shots are helpful for children, preventing various infections, repeated absences from school, and serious flu-related issues. Get your child vaccinated at Krishna Medical Center Hospital, where pediatric experts provide comprehensive vaccination services.

Natural Immunity Boosting Advice For Parents 

It is not possible to avoid allergies or infections from attacking your kid, whether they stay indoors or outdoors. However, But as parents, you can help build a good defence system by strengthening their immune system naturally by:

1. Following a Healthy Diet: Please encourage them to consume a healthy, well-balanced diet with immunity-boosting nutrients like vitamins, minerals, calcium, zinc, and magnesium.

2. Exercising Regularly: Make your child exercise daily to improve their appetite and proper digestive system functioning. Walking, running, jogging, cycling, and swimming are some helpful exercises that aid in improving their immunity.

3. Sleeping Enough and on Time: Ensure your child gets enough sleep by following a consistent sleep pattern and timing. 

4. Practicing Stress Reducing Techniques: Encourage your child to adopt relaxation techniques like Yoga and meditation and indulge in fun activities like painting. 

When should you take your child to a doctor for a winter illness?

You must take your child to a doctor and seek medical help if:

• Cold persists for several weeks
• Fever worsens (> 104℉)
• The child suffers from earache 
• There is a long-lasting cough (more than three weeks).
• The child cannot breathe.

As mentioned, every parent is concerned about their child's well being, inculcating healthy habits in your child can prevent the chances of contracting infectious diseases during winters. Krishna Medical Center Hospital in Lucknow provides advanced facilities and specialized pediatric services.To schedule your child's flu shot and for all their pediatric care needs, book an appointment today.