Preventing illness for children in the early cold wind of the season

(Baonghean.vn)- During the transitional seasons like these recent days, the weather changes abnormally. The sudden drop in temperature accompanied by the first cold winds of the season makes it difficult for children's bodies to adapt.

This is also the time when respiratory and digestive diseases, hand, foot and mouth disease, flu, pink eye, etc. break out strongly because bacteria, viruses, and molds have favorable conditions to grow, develop, and spread very quickly. The golden rule to maintain children's health during this period is "prevention is better than cure".

Here are some tips to help children stay healthy during the changing seasons:

1. Add saline solution

Weather changes often cause children's noses to become dry, stuffy or runny. A bottle of saline solution is a necessary item at this time. A few drops of warm salt water (mothers can soak it in warm water and test it on the wrist before giving it to the child) will help the child breathe easier, clear mucus, prevent nasal discharge from running down the throat, causing sore throat and cough.

Especially, when pink eye is spreading widely like now, rinsing children's eyes with saline solution every day (before going to school and after coming home) is an effective way to prevent it.

2. Wear a mask when going out

Wearing a mask not only helps to block dust when going out but also helps to prevent viruses and bacteria from spreading through the respiratory tract. Therefore, getting into the habit of wearing a mask from a young age is very beneficial for children's health. Especially during the changing seasons, when many epidemics occur, wearing a mask will protect children from direct infection from the air, saliva, nasal secretions, etc.

3. Drink honey (soaked with lemon, kumquat, persimmon...)

Honey is considered a "miracle drug" used to fight inflammation and improve health. A teaspoon of honey mixed in a little warm water or a teaspoon of lemon (kumquat, persimmon...) Soaking in honey when waking up in the morning will be extremely good for children's health, helping to kill bacteria and prevent respiratory diseases.

Parents should be careful when using honey for children under 1 year old. They should not give it to children directly, but can steam it with a few lemon basil leaves or a few kumquat slices...

4. Wash your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds once

It is not always the case that you have direct contact with a sick person that you are at risk of getting infected. Viruses and bacteria exist in intermediate objects: towels, cups, toys, phones, elevator buttons, etc. Therefore, parents need to create a habit for children to wash their hands with soap every day, especially after going to school, going out or before eating.

Children need to be specifically instructed on how to wash their hands to ensure they are clean (rub palms, fingertips, wrists, etc. thoroughly for at least 20 seconds) and train them not to suck their fingers or put toys in their mouths.

5. Wear appropriate clothing

The weather at the change of seasons can change from cold to hot, from sunny to rainy in just one day…so parents should prepare suitable clothes for their children. Because if they dress too warmly, they will sweat a lot, and if they dress too lightly, they can easily catch a cold, cough, fever…

So if children go to school, their backpacks need to have clothes for all 3 seasons, a jacket for traveling, long-sleeved clothes if the weather turns cold, short-sleeved clothes if the weather turns hot.

Sleeping clothes are also something to consider. Parents should adjust the clothes for their children depending on the weather and room temperature, but it is best to wear cool, sweat-absorbent cotton clothes that do not expose the neck or belly.

6. Nutritional supplements

A proper diet is one of the important secrets for children to be healthy. Especially during the changing seasons, when diseases are rampant, parents need to pay more attention to their children's daily menu. A child's daily meal should include: at least 1 glass of orange juice, 1 fruit meal, 1 box of yogurt. In particular, foods that children often like to eat such as shrimp floss, shrimp paste with meat or pate must be products that ensure quality and hygiene. It is recommended to choose products that do not contain preservatives and 100% clean ingredients.

Increase foods containing zinc and selenium - 2 micronutrients that help improve resistance, stimulate appetite, and increase the ability to absorb nutrients, for example: beef, oysters, soybeans, bean sprouts, pumpkin, peanuts, cheese, chicken breast, shrimp, crab, etc.

7. Outdoor exercise

Self-adaptation is the most wonderful mechanism of the human body and parents can completely train their children. If you are afraid of getting sick and keep your children indoors, they will be weaker and more susceptible to illness. Create conditions for children to get used to changes in weather by regularly letting them exercise outdoors (daily walks, going to the park, etc.)

Thu Phuong(synthetic)