In winter, the incidence of respiratory infections in children has increased as temperatures have gradually decreased. Upper respiratory infections, commonly known as flu, although in most cases the symptoms are relatively minor, can cause a series of serious complications for children, who are relatively vulnerable, and affect healthy growth.
Therefore, it is particularly important to take active and effective preventive measures to protect children from upper respiratory infections. This paper will provide parents with a comprehensive prevention guide in eight areas, namely, enhancing physical exercise, indoor air flow, avoiding exposure to the source of infection, taking care of daily diets and nutrition, vaccinations, clothing based on temperature increases, adequate sleep for children and good hygiene practices.
I. Improved physical exercise The enhancement of physical fitness is an essential way to increase children ‘ s immunity and prevent upper respiratory infections. While winter is cold, proper outdoor activities are still necessary. Parents can take their children for a suitable amount of outdoor exercise, such as walking, jogging, jumping ropes, which enhances both physical and vitamin D synthesis and bone health. At the same time, indoor exercise, such as yoga, dance and so forth, is a good option, both to keep the body warm and to exercise for consistency.
In the winter, in order to keep warm, many families close their doors and windows, leading to a lack of circulation of indoor air and to the emergence of micro-organisms such as bacteria and viruses. Parents should therefore open their windows regularly and keep their indoor air fresh. At least two open windows per day for at least 30 minutes each can effectively reduce indoor microbial concentrations and the risk of infection.
iii. Avoiding exposure to sources of infection. Upper respiratory infections are spread mainly through foam and exposure. Parents should, as far as possible, avoid taking their children to public places where there is a high concentration of people and where there is no circulation of air, such as malls, playgrounds, etc. At the same time, if a family member has a cold, it should wear a mask to reduce contact with children and prevent cross-infection. IV. Attention to daily diets and nutrition. A balanced diet is key to increasing children ‘ s immunity. Parents should ensure that their children receive sufficient daily nutrients such as proteins, vitamins and minerals, such as skinny meat, fish, eggs, fresh vegetables and fruits. At the same time, excessive consumption of sugary and fat food is avoided, so as not to affect the health of children.
Vaccination is an effective means of preventing upper respiratory infections. Parents should reduce the risk of infection by taking their children to influenza, pneumonia, etc., in a timely manner, on the recommendation of the local CDC.
In light of the increase and decrease in the temperature of clothing during the winter, parents should increase and reduce their children ‘ s clothing in a timely manner, in accordance with weather changes, so as to avoid children suffering from cold or cold from inappropriate clothing. At the same time, care is taken that the child ‘ s hands and feet are warm, as they are the main areas of the human body ‘ s heat spread and are not warm enough to cause cold.
Ensuring adequate sleep for children. Adequate sleep contributes to the recovery and enhancement of the child’s immunity. Parents should ensure that their children have sufficient sleep time per day, that primary school students have 9-10 hours of sleep per day, that 8-9 hours of lower secondary school and 8 hours of upper secondary school. At the same time, the creation of a quiet, comfortable sleep environment for the children helps to improve the quality of sleep.
Good hygiene practices are important defences against upper respiratory infections. Parents should educate their children to wash their hands, especially at critical times after meals, when they return from work and when they come into contact with public goods. At the same time, children are taught proper coughing and sneezing, using paper towels or elbows to cover their nose and nose to prevent the spread of foam.
In general, the prevention of respiratory infections in children in winter requires parents to take a wide range of steps to safeguard the healthy development of their children by enhancing physical exercise, maintaining indoor air circulation, avoiding exposure to the source of the infection, taking care of daily diets and nutrition, vaccinations, increasing the temperature and reducing clothing, ensuring that children sleep adequately and developing good hygiene practices. Let us work together to create a healthier and safer environment for our children.
