What Doctors Want You to Know About Soothing and Preventing Coughs and Colds in Babies and Children
GP, Dr Alexis Missick who works with UK Meds, reveals top tips for parents to prevent and soothe coughs and colds this winter.
The latest flu surveillance data published by UKHSA reveals that flu case numbers are twice as high amongst school children aged 5 to 14.* Changes in temperature and a lack of vitamin D mean that the winter months often see parents struggle to boost their children’s immunity and prevent illness.
GP, Dr Alexis Missick, who works with UK Meds, the UK’s leading online pharmaceutical company, shares how parents can soothe and prevent coughs and colds in babies and children. She is revealing her top tips for immunity, explaining why we get more ill around this time of year and advising when parents should seek help from a GP.
Why do kids and babies get ill around this time of year and how can we do our part to prevent it
Around this time of year, people are indoors more, with different groups of people and in close proximity to one another. The spaces people gather in don’t tend to be ventilated, so unlike in the spring and summer months where people meet outdoors, we are more likely to pick up germs from one another.
Immune systems are also weaker and less supported at this time of year as we tend to get less vitamin D. To combat this, giving your children foods filled with vitamins and nutrients can help to strengthen their immune systems and stop them from getting ill is important. You can even try giving children multivitamin gummies to be sure they are getting enough.
Examples of some immune-boosting foods to feed your children include:
* Citrus foods: grapefruits, oranges and lemons, as well as other citrus fruits, are full of vitamin C which helps boost immunity
* Red bell peppers: another great source of vitamin C
* Broccoli: filled with vitamins and minerals, including vitamins C, E and A as well as other antioxidants
* Yoghurt: greek yoghurt is filled with live activities which help to strengthen your immune system
What is causing cold and flu and what are the symptoms?
Haemophilus influenza is the leading virus causing cold and flu, other viruses include rhinoviruses, Parainfluenza to name a few. They are easily spread from person to person through the air (coughing and sneezing), contact (our hands)
Symptoms for this include coughing, sneezing, runny nose and a low-grade fever. If you or your children start presenting these symptoms, you should avoid social gatherings to prevent the illness from spreading.
What to do if you or your children start feeling ill
Drink lots of water and rest to help your body to recover. If you or your child has a high fever which is not settling, a productive cough or difficulty breathing, you should visit your local GP for advice.
Soothing symptoms
If your child or baby starts showing signs of cold and flu, you should start by encouraging hydration with water, breast milk or formula to keep the baby hydrated and help thin mucus. Using a cool-mist humidifier in the child's room can also help with a blocked nose or congestion.
For children over the age of one, honey can be useful in soothing a sore throat or cough. Honey should not be given to babies under the age of one.
Doctor’s hygiene tips for preventing illness
Washing your hands
Handwashing is very important and reduces the spread of germs. People should wash their hands for 20 seconds at a time, often throughout the day, using hand sanitizer gel when on the go.
Parents should encourage their children to get into a good routine of washing their hands regularly when they are at school.
Covering your mouth and nose with your elbow when coughing or sneezing
Teaching children to cough or sneeze into a tissue (and bin it) is best practice when it comes to avoiding the spread of germs, but if this is not possible then getting into the habit of using your elbow, rather than hands is more hygienic and reduces the spread of germs.
Avoid touching your nose, mouth and eyes
Because your hands can carry germs, you should avoid touching your nose, mouth or eyes with unwashed hands. Most people forget about the eyes being included but they’re still a way for bacteria or viruses to get into the body.
Keep your nails trimmed and clean
It’s easy for germs to breed and thrive in the grime that can build up behind the nails. Keep your, and your children’s nails neat and trimmed and always pay attention to behind the nails when washing your hands.