After the heatwaves during summer especially in north India, rains give us a big relief. Also, nature regenerates itself and the environment becomes very pleasant. But at the same, this weather provides a favourable environment for certain infections to spread in humans and especially in children. Here are some tips that are going to help your ward during monsoons.
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Accumulated water provides a very good environment for mosquitoes to breed. That is the reason why mosquitoes borne diseases are very common during rainy seasons. The following steps are going to help your child against these infections.
Waterborne diseases like typhoid and diarrhoea are very common during rainy seasons. Do the following steps to avoid waterborne diseases.
- Frequent hand washing is the primary step to prevent diarrhoeal diseases.
- Eat healthy fresh food.
- Always take filtered RO water or boiled water.
- Always keep the food covered.
- Wash the fruits and vegetables thoroughly with water.
- Try to give your child freshly cooked food.
- Give hot beverages to drink like vegetable/chicken soups or warm milk, etc.
- Don’t let your children eat street food, junk food and oily food.
- Ask your child to wash his feet and hands properly with lukewarm water after coming from outside.
- The weather tends to change dramatically during the monsoon season. Daytime may be hot and humid, while it can be pleasant or chilly at night or vice versa also. Light clothing is preferable during daytime and two layers of clothing with full sleeves will keep kids warm during the night.
- Keep yourself and the child away from people who are down with a viral infection or sick as much as you can.
- If you have flu symptoms, avoid contact with other people when possible.
- Cover your face, mouth and nose with a tissue paper/hanky when you cough or sneeze—throw the tissue paper away after you use it and wash your hands properly. You can use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser to disinfect your hands.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, after you cough or sneeze. If you are unable to spot water nearby, use an alcohol-based hand cleaner.
- If your child is having viral symptoms don’t send him to school or day care centre.
- Flu vaccine has been shown to reduce the risk of flu illness, hospitalization and death in children.
- If your child is 6 months or older, he should get a flu vaccine each year.
- Ensure that children have a healthy balanced diet which includes ample amounts of green vegetables and seasonal fruits like banana, mango and papaya etc. Include beetroot in his diet because beetroot is having a good amount of antioxidants and it increases immunity. Dry fruits and nuts are among the other foods to boost children’s immunity during monsoon season.
- Observe the child closely for signs and symptoms of viral illness. If he/she develops a fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, fatigue or vomiting and/or diarrhoea—contact your paediatrician.
Wetness and dampness increase the chances of fungal infections, especially during the rainy season. Drying child clothes in sunlight and doing iron before their use will prevent fungal infections. Frequent urination is very common during monsoon. If you are using diapers then changed them frequently to avoid wetness and fungal infections. If your child is having itchy skin lesions in the groin or other body folds area, then show them to a paediatrician.
Want to consult the Best Pediatricians in India? Please find the links below.
