Dubai: Doctors have urged parents to get their children vaccinated against influenza before schools reopen.
“They must do it this month, or at most by October as it takes about two weeks for antibodies to take effect,” said Dr Medhat Abu Shabaan, consultant in Pediatrics and Allergy, American Board.
Speaking at a Back to School Health Checklist roundtable by Dubai Healthcare City, he said the number of paediatric visits due to flu and ear infections rises sharply at this time of the year.
“There is a steep rise in the number of patient visits due to common cold, flu, sore throat and ear infections. On an average, 35 per cent of paediatric visits are due to ear infections, and another five per cent due to common cold and flu. Parents can get a child as young as six months vaccinated and protect them from flu,” said Dr Abu Shabaan. “Most children catch cold about six to eight times a year. Kids aged between two and six years are the most affected.”
Viruses, said Dr Abu Shabaan, can spread by sneezing, coughing, talking or by touching contaminated surfaces.
He said adopting proper hygiene like washing hands for 20 seconds, covering the mouth while coughing and sneezing, not sharing water bottles, food or other personal items prevents viruses from spreading.
He said parents need to exercise caution with antibiotics. “Studies by the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) in the US indicate that 30 to 100 per cent of antibiotics prescribed are unnecessary or inappropriate. Their overuse can make one resistant to viruses.”
Healthy lunch
As children go back to school, parents should also pay attention to their kids’ lunch packs. “Instead of packing sausages, meat pies, high sugar snacks and drinks, parents should make an effort to make lunch box attractive without compromising on the nutrition aspect,” said Jessica Sawyer, Dietician, Primavera Medical Centre, Dubai.
A healthy lunch box should contain vegetables, non-dairy protein sources like lentils, beans, hummus, and starchy food such as couscous, bread, rice and pasta.
“It is equally important to store food properly, dairy and protein foods, for instance, will not be safe to consume after two hours if they are not kept cool,” she said.