All children suffer from colds: someone more often, someone less often. And absolutely all parents want their children to be sick as little as possible. To achieve this, one desire is not enough: you need to regularly have children's prevention of colds. In addition, parents should distinguish between "cold" and "viral infection". In everyday life they are often confused, believing that if a child is sick, he should still be treated, and the cause of his illness is no longer important. In fact, catarrhal diseases occur when the child is supercooled (got wet feet, very cold). Viral infections are usually transmitted by airborne droplets from a sick person to a healthy one, and it is enough to spend several hours in the company of an infected person to get sick himself.
As for preventive measures, they are effective in both cases. If parents regularly perform cold prophylaxis, the child will have much less chances of catching a cold, and viral diseases will flow much faster and easier, without complications.
The main methods of preventing colds in children
- The first rule of prevention of any disease is a healthy lifestyle. For children, these are mandatory outdoor walks, the more often, the better. Do not be afraid of "bad" weather (rain, snow, fog) - such a walk will only benefit! Also, the concept of "healthy lifestyle" includes a rational, balanced diet, a healthy sleep lasting at least 8 hours (for young children, a day's sleep is mandatory).
- Do not forget about hardening: rubbing with a wet towel, walking barefoot, dousing with cold water, bathing in a cool (up to 250 ° C) water. Hardening should be systematic, otherwise the effect of it will be small.
- Folk remedies for the prevention of colds are the use of all known onions and garlic, lemon and honey, medicinal herbs (echinacea, raspberry, dog rose, herbal teas). These methods are suitable not only for prevention, but also for the treatment of acute respiratory diseases.
- Modern medicine recommends the use of drugs such as anaferon, arbidol, aflubin, amyzon, viferon for the prevention of colds in children. These are homeopathic preparations based on interferon that have an antiviral effect. But at the same time these are so-called medicines with unproven efficacy, and not the fact that by taking them, your child will catch less cold. The same hardening for the prevention of colds is much more effective than medications.
- Children and adults are much more likely to suffer from cold and viral diseases during the autumn-winter period, when all sorts of epidemics begin. This is partly due to a shortage of natural vitamins in the diet. Overseas fruits and greenhouse vegetables do not give that variety of useful vitamins and minerals in which the growing children's body needs all year round. Therefore, for the prevention of colds in children, it is permissible to take synthetic complex vitamin preparations.
- It is very popular now aromatherapy. For the prevention and treatment of cold and flu, such essential oils are suitable:
- eucalyptus;
- sage;
- tea tree;
- coniferous aromas (pine, spruce, fir, cedar).
However, with the use of essential oils should be very careful, because they have a very strong effect on the children's body, and quite literally 1-2 drops. Never leave containers of essential oils unattended if there are small children in the house.
Prevention of colds in infants
With regard to the prevention of colds in newborns, the recommendations here are simple:
- breastfeeding (if possible);
- regular walks in the fresh air;
- maintaining the proper mode of temperature and humidity in the room;
- carrying out general strengthening procedures (massage, swimming).
Stick to these simple rules, and your baby will not be scared of any viruses!