Decreasing illness in kids during rainy season

Welcome rains! While good monsoon brings in lush green happiness along with plenty of food and water, it also pours in infections. The most common ailments in children in this season are respiratory illnesses like cold and cough, breathing difficulty and wheezing (bronchitis, pneumonia, flu, common cold and asthma); water-borne ailments like loose stools and vomiting (cholera, gastroenteritis and lepto-spirosis) and insect-related infections like dengue ad malaria.

How can we prevent these illnesses in children?

1. Avoid going to crowded areas like malls and theaters. If you have to enjoy movies and shopping, avoid taking kids or go on week days in the afternoons when the crowd is less. Avoid eating outside foods

2. After coming home from work, have a hot shower and a warm drink before you pick up your baby or give a hug to your kid.

3. Avoid drenching in rain; carry rain coats and umbrellas while going out to handle surprise rain pour. If drenched, both adults and children must have a good shower after coming back home.

4. Do not sleep in your baby's room and avoid contact with her/him, if you are sick with fever, cold and cough. Frequent hand, feet and face washing prevents spread of infections.

5. Give your child lots of fruits and vegetables which are rich in antioxidants like Vitamin C, to boost immunity.

6. Give the kid lots of liquids, even if he/she is not thirsty, to flush-out toxins related to infections and food poison.

7. Give only boiled and cooled water (preferably warm).

8. Before going to bed the child must wash feet, hands and face with warm water and gargle some warm water (if possible) to flush out viruses which thrive in these areas. This is one of the good methods to prevent flu illnesses.

9. Remove junk stuff in your house and keep the house clean and tidy. Teach children basic hygiene and cleanliness. Avoid water stagnation in and around house to prevent breeding of mosquitoes.

10. Use mosquito repellents. Many parents ask me about the safety of mosquito repellents like Odomos. There may be some risk of skin allergies. Nevertheless, The risk of allergy outweighs prevention of malaria and dengue. Dengue mosquitoes bite during the day. Hence, mosquito bite prevention must happen both during day and night. Best and most safe mosquito bite prevention method is to use mosquito nets. Spraying lemon grass oil or citronella oil on skin is also another safe method of preventing mosquito bites. These oils may be sprayed into the room or can be used to clean the floor of the room.