The New Year is here, which means you may be setting goals for the next several months. However, the cold winter months also spell trouble for many because of the uptick in the cold, flu, and RSV. If one of your goals is keeping yourself and your family well, keep reading.
Kids are especially susceptible to illness during flu season because their immune systems aren't fully developed, but there are tips to keep them healthy. Dr. Sindu Pillai and her team provide sick visits and well-child visits to keep your child healthy throughout the year.
Dr. Pillai is an experienced and knowledgeable pediatric specialist who offers up-to-date information on preventing your child from falling ill during cold and flu season.
The flu is a viral infection that spreads through droplets that enter the air when you talk, sneeze, or cough. Although serious, many people, except older people, immunocompromised people, and children, have overcome the flu.
Children under five are especially susceptible to the flu and illness. According to the National Foundation of Infectious Diseases, more than 20,000 children under five end up in the hospital each year from the flu.
Cold and flu season is dangerous for small children and those with compromised immune systems. Although strains of the flu vary each season, all are potentially harmful to kids.
The CDC reports that last year, 70% of kids under 17 who ended up in the hospital from the flu had an underlying health condition. Children with asthma, cardiovascular disease, or neurologic conditions are at extreme risk for complications from the flu.
Children, especially those under age 5, have immature immune systems. That puts them at increased risk for complications from the flu and potential hospitalization.
What seems like a simple cold could turn dangerous if your child gets the flu at a young age. Complications of the flu for little kids are serious and include:
Hospitalization is helpful for most cases of the flu in children, but it isn’t always a happy ending. The flu can be deadly to small children with serious health problems.
The only way to prevent the flu in your household this winter is to take precautionary steps and prevent the spread of illness in and outside of your home.
Although you can't prevent the flu 100% of the time, there are tips and tricks to keep your child healthy this winter. We offer well-child visits to discuss your child's health and how to keep their immune system working correctly.
Prevention tips could keep your child out of the hospital this season, and they include the following:
Another strategy for fighting off the flu is to keep your child's immune system working well. Make sure they drink plenty of fluids throughout the day and eat a healthy diet.
Vitamins are another great way to supplement their immune systems and prevent illness this winter. These steps help keep the spread of the cold and flu to a minimum so you can enjoy the New Year with your kids.
Call our Murrieta, California office today to schedule a sick visit for your child with Dr. Pillai, or request a consultation on the website.
