Preventing influenza among children

A sneeze, a cough, or a fever at this time of the year? We blame it on the dip in temperature or fluctuations in humidity and don’t take them seriously. But, in children, these symptoms even if brought on by weather change should not be ignored because they could be a sign of flu. The flu virus spreads faster as the temperature fluctuates during monsoons and winter. So, the months between September and November are called the ‘flu season’ in India. Children need all the protection possible during this season to prevent the complications of the flu. Studies have shown that children under 5 years of age are 7 times more likely to be hospitalized because of flu. Even in uncomplicated cases, children may take 8-10 days to recover. No parent wants this kind of suffering for their children.

A UNICEF report titled The State of the World’s Children 2023: For Every Child, Vaccination shows that 67 million children missed out on one or more vaccinations over three years (2019-2021) due to service disruption caused by strained health systems and diversion of scarce resources, conflict and fragility, and decreased confidence. However, according to new statistics released by the World Health Organization and UNICEF, fewer children around the world missed receiving routine vaccinations in 2022 compared to the year before, indicating a rebound in childhood immunizations following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here are 3 ways Dr Abhishek Chatterjee from Anav Child Care, New Delhi suggests to contain the spread of flu and protect children against its complications.

Get your children vaccinated against the flu

As the adage goes, ‘better safe than sorry,’ vaccination may ensure the safety of children against severe flu complications and is recommended in the guidelines on childhood immunisation issued by the Indian Academy of Paediatrics. One vaccination shot is needed every year for children between 6 months and 5 years of age. This is because there are four types of flu viruses and they are ‘shapeshifters. They change form each year and the annual flu vaccination is developed to counter these.

Ensure that you and your children follow basic hygiene measures.

Basic hygiene gives an extra layer of protection against flu and helps to halt or prevent its spread. Flu viruses may spread when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks in places where others are present. Children may catch the flu if they come in close contact with other infected children or adults. Since the flu virus can live on solid surfaces, they can catch it if they even touch a contaminated surface. This is why children must be taught to wash their hands frequently with soap and water. It is also necessary to sanitize the toys and other articles that they use often.