Amidst the virus outbreak, there’s severe panic among parents. A lot of them are relying on fake messages and news that’s being circulated through social media.
So here’s taking a look at some of these misconceptions about COVID-19 and kids health.
MYTH: Kids Will Not Get Infected
FACT: Kids can get infected. However, they are not as severely affected as adults and senior citizens. But some kids do fall ill. Most children have mild to no symptoms that last only a few days. Inspite of this, do keep your paediatrician informed at all tomes.
MYTH: Mask is Enough to Protect Your Kid
FACT: Kids should wear a mask while stepping outdoors. Mask can protect you from other people that are infected. However, the effectiveness of a mask depends on the thickness of the fabric and the number of fabric layers in the mask.
Points to Note:
• Choose a mask that has two or three layers.
• Mask should cover the nose and mouth completely
• Masks should not be worn by children younger than two.
• Health experts do not recommend the use of face shields alone. Evaluation of face shields is ongoing but effectiveness is unknown at this time.
MYTH: Children are Only Contagious If They Show Symptoms
FACT: The silent carriers or spreaders are ones who are infected with coronavirus but show little or no symptoms of the disease. However, the risk of catching coronavirus is lower for kids who are staying indoors. If the kid is not exposed to other kids at school or daycare, the chances of infection are less. Yet, parents should inculcate good hygiene habits in kids, so that they do not fall ill.
MYTH: Hand Hygiene Practice is Not Sufficient to Protect Your Kid
FACT: Good hand hygiene practice is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of the virus. It can reduce the risk of infections such as cold, flu, and other respiratory, and gastrointestinal illness.
Handwashing can become a lifelong healthy habit if you start teaching your kids at an early age. Teach kids the five easy steps for handwashing —wet, lather, scrub, rinse, and dry. Let them know the key times to wash hands, e.g.
• before and after meals
• after using the bathroom
• after touching pets
• after playing outdoor games
• after blowing the nose, sneezing or coughing, etc
Good hand hygiene practice will not only protect your child from various illnesses but will also boost their self-esteem and confidence.
MYTH: Pets Can Spread Coronavirus
FACT: There is no evidence to date that animals can transmit COVID-19 to humans. There is no proof that the virus can spread from the skin, fur, or hair of pets. However, animals can spread other diseases to people. Hence it’s always a good idea to wash hands after you touch your pets.
If you have toddlers at home, make sure you follow all the pet hygiene protocols. Keep sanitizers and other disinfectants handy.
Things to Remember:
Various efforts are underway towards the development of a vaccine for the coronavirus, but there could be a wait as long as up to a year before a safe vaccine is made available.
Meanwhile, as adults and parents, you can work on strengthening your child’s immune system. Here are a few tips that you can follow:
• Include a variety of immune boosting food items in your child’s diet plan
• Include herbs in their healthy diet plan
• Encourage your kid to drink lots of water
• Ensure he/she doesn’t skip any meal.
Understand what works best for your child. Flip through cookery books and magazines or browse the internet to find some healthy food recipes for kids.
You can also talk to Kanupriya Khanna if you need a precise diet plan for your youngster. A well-known child dietician in Delhi – Kanupriya will give you a clear-cut diet plan based on your child’s age, gender, and activity level.
