Understanding the Impact of Flu on Children’s Health: Symptoms, Risks, and Prevention Strategies

Child health during flu season

Author: Dr.Amit Gupta MBBS, MD, KGMC, PGPN
Consultant:  Peadiatrician & Neonatologist at Motherhood Hospital, Noida

The flu, short for influenza, is a contagious viral infection that can affect people of all ages, including children. As a pediatrician at Motherhood Hospital, I have witnessed the impact of flu on children’s health, and it is essential for parents to be aware of the symptoms, risks, and effective prevention strategies to safeguard their little ones from this seasonal menace.

Symptoms of Flu in Children 

Recognizing the signs of flu in children is crucial for timely intervention and treatment. Common symptoms include:

High Fever: Children may experience a sudden and high-grade fever, often reaching 101°F (38.3°C) or higher.

Cough and Sore Throat: A persistent cough and sore throat are typical flu symptoms in children.

Runny or Stuffy Nose: Children may have a runny or congested nose during the course of the infection.

Body Aches and Fatigue: Flu often leads to generalized body aches and weakness, making children feel tired and sluggish.

Chills and Headaches: Children may experience chills and headaches, adding to their discomfort.

Risks Associated with Flu in Children 

Risks of flu for childrenWhile flu is generally a mild illness in healthy children, certain groups face a higher risk of complications. These include:

Infants and Young Children: Children under the age of 5, especially those under 2 years old, are more susceptible to flu-related complications.

Children with Chronic Conditions: Kids with underlying health conditions like asthma, heart disease, diabetes, or weakened immune systems have a higher risk of severe flu outcomes.

Pregnant Adolescents: Teenagers who are pregnant are also at an increased risk of flu-related complications.

Prevention Strategies 

Preventing flu in children is possible through several effective strategies. Here are some essential prevention tips: 

Annual Flu Vaccination: The flu vaccine is recommended for all children above the age of 6 months. It offers significant protection and reduces the severity of the illness if children do get infected.

Frequent Handwashing: Encourage children to wash their hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds to prevent the spread of germs.

Respiratory Hygiene: Teach children to cover their mouths and noses with a tissue or their elbows when they cough or sneeze.

Avoiding Contact with Sick Individuals: Limit exposure to individuals who have flu-like symptoms to reduce the risk of transmission.

Disinfecting Surfaces: Regularly clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces and objects, such as toys and doorknobs.

Conclusion

As parents, it is essential to stay informed about the impact of flu on children’s health and take proactive steps to safeguard them from the virus. By recognizing the symptoms, understanding the risks, and implementing effective prevention strategies, we can create a healthier environment for our children and protect them during flu season. If your child exhibits flu-like symptoms or falls into a high-risk category, consult a pediatrician promptly to ensure timely care and management of the illness.

Remember, a proactive approach and adequate information are the keys to protect our little ones from the flu and promote their overall well-being. Stay vigilant and keep your children healthy and happy throughout the flu season.

At Motherhood Hospitals, we have a team of experienced super specialists backed by the latest in infrastructure and facilities. We have the best Paediatricians in Noida that consists of a team of paediatric specialists that cater to all the needs of children, across age groups, and provide the best care for your child’s development. 

Do take an appointment with the best child care hospital in Noida at a centre closest to you. Meet with our doctors who will carry out the required investigations, diagnose the issue and recommend the most appropriate treatment, enabling you to lead an active life.

If you wish to get in touch with Dr. Amit Gupta, please book your appointment here.

Vaccinating the baby

List of baby vaccinations

Author – Motherhood Medical Team

Vaccines are products given in childhood to stimulate the body’s natural defenses hence preparing it to fight diseases effectively.

Why should your child get vaccinated?

  • It provides protection against diseases like measles and whooping cough.
  • It is a highly effective way to keep your child healthy
  • Vaccinations are timed in a way that the immune system of your child will respond to it at various ages. Thus, they provide protection at all ages.
  • To strengthen the child’s immune system

What type of diseases do the vaccines for children cover?

  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Rotavirus
  • Diphtheria
  • Tetanus
  • Acellular pertussis
  • Haemophilus influenzae
  • Polio
  • Pneumococcal disease
  • Measles
  • Mumps
  • Rubella
  • Varicella
  • Influenza

Ingredients of the modern day vaccines:

Today vaccines make use of certain ingredients like –

  • Adjuvants that boost the body’s response
  • Stabilizers that keep vaccines effective after being manufactured.
  • Formaldehydes are used to prevent contamination by bacteria
  • Thimerosal used in the manufacturing process.

Do you know that certain vaccines protect the babies before birth?

Yes, babies receive antibodies during pregnancy from  the vaccines their mothers had. For example, the measles vaccine protects the baby in the womb for a short time span. However, this protection wears off after a certain time and is thus injected again when they are 12-18 months old. Babies get the shots at this age to keep them protected from measles and two other diseases.

How do the vaccines work?

Vaccines spark the immune response to specific diseases. So, the next time that the virus Or bacteria invades your body in the future, your immune system will already know how to fight it. Thus, the body is now ready to fight infections more efficiently.

Vaccines form a significant part of baby health. The infants bear a weak immune system. They need vaccines to strengthen immunity. It is thus highly recommended that you ensure that your child is fully vaccinated in the early stages of life.

At Motherhood Hospitals, we have a team of experienced super specialists backed by the latest in infrastructure and facilities. We have the best Neonatologist who are experts providing optimum state-of-the-art care for critically ill, as well as recovering, neonates and infants.

Do take an appointment with the best Neonatology hospital at a centre closest to you. Meet with our doctors who will carry out the required investigations, diagnose the issue and recommend the most appropriate treatment, enabling you to lead an active life.

If you wish to get in touch with our doctors, please book your appointment here.

Reasons To Immunize Your Child.

In the past few months, the word immunity has become a  commonplace term in our daily life, especially in the current  COVID19 scenario. Immunity has achieved enormous  importance and everyone is constantly striving to enhance it  through various means. As a parent, you would be naturally  concerned about your child’s immunity. To make your little one  immune to most diseases and infections, understand the  importance of immunization. 

Vaccines produce immunity through the manufacturing of  antibodies in the body that works like the protective agents  countering any attack of infectious diseases and other  conditions. By following the schedule of timely vaccination, your  child can be protected from a lot of diseases such as polio, whooping cough, tetanus, hepatitis, etc.  

In our country, we have various government-run health  awareness campaigns that highlight the importance of  immunization and some vaccines are available for free at  designated centres on scheduled dates. However, every parent  needs to be aware and follow the vaccination schedule that  starts from the time of birth until the child becomes a teenager. 

Today, let’s explore the reasons to immunize your child and gain an understanding of the vaccination schedule you need not  miss. 

Not only vaccination helps in countering any future dangerous  diseases but also helps in controlling the spread among children.  This gains significance as children as toddlers have more  exposure to the external environment such as schools, play  areas, creches, nurseries, etc. Despite the current COVID situation, children are less exposed; it is still recommended to  keep a tab of the immunization schedule. Isn’t it better to be  safe than sorry? On another note, we hope things get back to  normal and our children have a better and safe world to explore  and enjoy! 

Do you understand that by following a proper vaccination  schedule, you can avoid severe health complications, serious  illnesses, and hospitalization of your child?  

Despite the world not being safe enough to travel right now,  wouldn’t you want your child to travel freely without any  potential health threats? Are you aware that measles can be contracted during travel? Therefore, it is essential to take the vaccine shots as per the schedule. 

Considering our social commitment, it is important to keep our communities free from disease. You can do a small but  significant part by taking your child to the doctor for the vaccination procedure. Let us commit to keep our community  and country free from the impending dangers of diseases by doing our bit. 

Now, let us look at the vaccination schedule to be followed for  your child during the early stages: 

  • At birth, you need to vaccinate your child against polio and Hepatitis (B) and also have Bacillus CalmetteŸ??Gu??rin (BCG)  administered. 
  • When your baby reaches 6 weeks, ensure to have DTP 1, IPV1,  Hepatitis B (B2), HIB1, Rotavirus 1, and PCV1 vaccines  administered. 
  • At 10 weeks, remember to have your baby vaccinated against  HIB2, IPV 2, Hepatitis B (HB 3), Rotavirus 2, and PCV 2. 
  • At 14 weeks, your baby needs to get vaccinated against HIB 3,  IPV3, Hepatitis B (HB*4), Rotavirus 3, and PCV 3. 

From 6 months until your child enters and completes the teen  years, there is a detailed vaccination schedule.

For more information on the importance of vaccination and the  various boosters to improve, talk to our experts. 

 

Dos And Don’ts To Follow To Protect Your Kids During COVID-19 Unlock

The ongoing lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic has forced a large part of the worldŸ??s population to stay indoors. But, in India, the government has suggested some relaxations in the lockdown period to revive the economy. The worry now is how to get kids out again without significantly raising the risk of the spread of the disease. One should not forget the fact that the deadly coronavirus hasnŸ??t gone away from our country and we are still in the process of coming up with a vaccine.


Although researchers are working on developing the vaccine, the only way we can prevent the infection is by adhering to the basic guidelines suggested by the health bodies for ourselves and our kids. Managing kids in this lockdown and keeping them safe from a host of potential threats is of importance during this time. Here are some essential dos and donŸ??ts in this regard:


Keep Recently Bought Groceries Out Of Reach Of Kids

By now we are all aware why it is extremely important to be cautious while handling the groceries we bring home every few days. Since any object coming from outside might be a potential virus carrier, make sure that you place all such stuff in a safe and secluded spot in the house which is out of reach of your children. You can place it in the storeroom or in the balcony and lock the door. Do not let the child touch any of these objects before they are thoroughly washed with soap and warm water or cooked.

Sanitise Yourself And Kids Immediately After Returning From Outside

As soon as you are back from grocery shopping or a short cycling session in the park, make sure to have a bath and put the clothes out for laundry. Do not let the child touch any object, be it keys, masks, cap, spectacles, toys etc before they are washed or sanitised.

Ensure Shoes Are Kept Outside

Kids have a habit of touching everything within their reach out of inquisitiveness. It is very important therefore, to strictly separate the shoes you take out. Place a shoe rack outside the house and always leave those shoes out so that the child does not touch them by mistake.

Keep In Touch With The ChildŸ??s Pediatrician

If possible, keep in touch with the childŸ??s pediatrician in the case that the child develops fever and common cold. In consultation with the doctor, keep a few basic medicines at home to ensure they are handy when the child needs.

DonŸ??t Delay Your KidsŸ?? Important Vaccinations

Though the infection has brought the world to a standstill, do try to get the child vaccinated where services are available because they protect them from serious diseases. World Health Organisation also warned us, saying immunisation is an essential health service which may be affected by the current COVID-19 pandemic and disruption of immunisation services, even for brief periods, will result in increased numbers of susceptible individuals and raise the likelihood of outbreak-prone vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) such as measles.

Be Judicious About Your Choices

As a global society, we canŸ??t say for certain what will happen next Ÿ?? whether a sudden surge in new coronavirus cases will make it necessary to reinstitute quarantine measures, as has happened in Singapore and Hong Kong, or, worse still, fears of a more contagious strain come to be. The smart thing to do is remain cautiously optimistic about regaining your freedom to move, but remain realistic that we donŸ??t know what the future holds.

Maintain Respiratory Hygiene In Public Places

It is always a bad habit to cough or sneeze openly in public. Droplets through coughing and sneezing are what had led to such a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases worldwide. Thus, it is recommended to maintain your respiratory hygiene while in public. Cover your mouth with a tissue or cough and sneeze in your folded arm.