If you’re the parent of a child, you want to do everything possible to protect your child from infections and other medical conditions. A lung infection can be particularly worrying because it can cause serious breathing problems that require emergency care or even hospitalization in severe cases.
There are steps you can take at home and in your child’s school or daycare center to help prevent this infection from occurring. So read on for six tips on how to help protect your child from lung infection and other illnesses related to the respiratory system.
1) Keep Them Away from Sick People
Kids are at high risk for lung infections because they are still building their immune systems. One way to help them avoid getting sick is to keep them away from people who are ill.
If your child has been exposed, wash his hands frequently with soap and water, avoid touching his eyes and nose and stay home until the fever goes down.
If your child develops a cough, runny nose or sore throat, get him medical attention right away as these can be signs of an infection or illness such as pneumonia.
2) Skip crowded or poorly ventilated locations
Avoid crowded public places, such as shopping malls, movie theaters and sporting events. These can be breeding grounds for viruses.
Keep the air inside your home and school well-ventilated by opening windows at least once per day.
Use a humidifier in winter months when it’s cold outside.
Avoid using scented candles or aerosol sprays indoors.
Consider purchasing an air purifier for your home if you live in an area with high levels of pollutants or industrial traffic.
3) Reduce physical contact
One way you can help reduce your child’s risk of getting an infection is by reducing the amount of physical contact they have with other people and children. That said, children should be steered away from kissing and hugging their friends and family as people tend to do when seeing the little ones.
If visitors are unavoidable, ensure you use alcohol-based hand sanitizer to avoid spreading germs on things like doorknobs or toys that are likely to be touched by multiple people.
4) Regularly service your air-conditioner
Get your air-conditioning unit serviced regularly by an HVAC technician. This prevents the growth of mold, mildew, and fungus that can cause lung infections.
Make sure your home is well-ventilated – keep doors and windows open in your home and in the school/ daycare with fresh, outdoor air coming in.
5) Encourage regular exercise and outdoor sports
A healthy lifestyle is an effective way of preventing the spread of infection. It also has been found that physical activity helps strengthen your child’s lungs, which in turn may make it more difficult for them to become infected by certain viruses and bacteria.
In addition, children who exercise regularly are less likely to be overweight or obese, which lowers their risk for developing lung infections such as asthma and bronchitis.
6) Get vaccinated
It’s important for children to get vaccinated. It can help protect them against viruses like the flu, which can lead to pneumonia, bronchiolitis and other lung infections.
We recommend that parents talk with their child’s pediatrician about what vaccinations are right for their child.
For a more comprehensive assessment, please get in touch with us, so we can help you find the best treatment and care for your child.