This is an automatically translated article.
Article by Doctor, Doctor Phan Nguyen Thanh Binh - Head of the Department of Nutrition - Dietetics - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology, Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital
Respiratory tract infections are common diseases in young children and leave dangerous complications if not examined and treated promptly. Therefore, finding ways to prevent respiratory infections for children is very necessary, especially when the winter-spring season is approaching.
1. Risk factors for respiratory infections in children
Respiratory tract infections (tonsillitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, otitis media, bronchitis, pneumonia, ...) are very common in young children because the immune system is not yet fully developed. The infant's respiratory system is still immature and structurally, physiologically and immunologically incomplete. In a year, children can have acute respiratory infections many times (average 3 - 5 times/year), so the disease not only affects the health and growth of children but also disturbs daily life - work. family work. Therefore, how to increase children's resistance is the concern of parents.
To know that, parents need to first understand the risk factors for respiratory infections in children:
Due to sudden weather changes or sudden temperature changes, for example, taking the baby from the room the air conditioner to the hot outside environment. Environment: cramped housing with no ventilation or indoor air polluted by dust, decorative materials, stuffed animals, daily living items, cigarette smoke. Children often come into contact with other children with respiratory infections such as going to kindergartens and kindergartens. In addition, children with poor resistance such as premature babies, malnourished children, rickets are also more susceptible to diseases than normal children.
Watch now: Prevention of upper respiratory tract infections in children during the season change
2. Measures to increase children's resistance
2.1. Nutrition
Babies who are breastfed for a long time will have good resistance, so mothers should breastfeed babies for a year or at least for the first 6 months of life. In addition, parents should supplement their children with vitamins and minerals in green vegetables, carrots, legumes, oranges, strawberries... Research shows that if children's food has many source nutrients, Plant roots will enhance immunity, produce anti-inflammatory substances, block viruses on the cell surface, prevent chronic diseases, heart disease and cancer in the future.
Thực đơn nhiều rau xanh hỗ trợ phòng tránh nhiễm khuẩn hô hấp ở trẻ em
2.2. Motor
Reasonable exercise is a measure to increase the ability to prevent diseases in children. Accordingly, parents should let children sunbathe and breathe fresh air, help children regulate their bodies to adapt to the outside temperature, and gradually increase their resistance. In addition, it is necessary to pay attention to cold protection for young children when going outside.
2.3. Vaccination
Vaccines work to activate the immune system to create antibodies to help children fight dangerous infectious diseases.
2.4. Sleep
Sufficient and good sleep is essential to ensure the healthy development, psychophysiology and immune system of children. Every day, babies need 18 hours of sleep, infants need 13-14 hours, 1-3 year olds need 12-13 hours, 4 to 6 year olds need about 10 to 12 hours. Creating a habit of going to bed on time will be beneficial to the health of children.
2.5. Stress
Children who are under constant stress are easy to get sick, so they need to be comfortable, play freely, cuddle and love children...
Ngủ đầy đủ và ngon giấc là điều cốt yếu đảm bảo sự phát triển sức khỏe
2.6. Personal hygiene
Practice good hygiene habits for children to help them avoid diseases that are transmitted from hands to the body. Teach children the habit of washing hands regularly and properly with soap, right after sneezing, picking their nose, coming home from play, before eating, after going to the toilet, playing with toys, or playing with pets...
In addition, ensuring a clean, cool, well-ventilated living environment, avoiding dust, smoke,... is also very important. Mothers should regularly clean the house to let sunlight into the house. Besides, maintaining a nutritious diet is also very important, mothers should add necessary micronutrients such as: Zinc, selenium, chromium, vitamins B1 and B6, ginger, acerola fruit extract (vitamin C). ,... to improve taste, eat well, gain height and weight right and exceed standards, have a good immune system, enhance resistance to less sickness and less digestive problems.
Accordingly, parents need to be calm and persistent when supplementing with nutrients, even through eating or functional foods. In particular, the use of functional foods should choose those of natural origin that are easily absorbed, do not allow simultaneous use of many types or continuously change the types of functional foods. Besides, nutritionists also emphasize on the role of biological zinc; Parents should learn and supplement zinc for children properly at the appropriate time, to avoid zinc deficiency affecting the comprehensive development of children.
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