Child Health
Your child’s health includes physical, mental and social well-being. Most parents know the basics of keeping children healthy, like offering them healthy foods, making sure they get enough sleep and exercise and insuring their safety.
We know when our children are sick. They go from being active and alert to quiet, grumpy, sleepy, clingy and wanting more cuddles. Often they lose interest in food. The most common general signs of illness are fever, pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, cough, headache and rash. Fever (body temperature above 37°C) indicates that the body is ‘fighting’ infection from either bacteria or viruses. Children’s natural defence mechanisms are less well-developed than adults’ immune systems, so children are at higher risk of infections.
They need extra special attention when they feel unwell.
Parents can encourage their children to take simple steps to help prevent the spread of some illnesses. Children should cover their mouths and noses when they sneeze and cough, and then wash their hands straight after. Washing hands is also VERY important after going to the toilet, and before eating. They should not share cups and drink bottles, nor spoons and other eating utensils. Tissues are best for blowing noses, and then they should be thrown away immediately.
Immunisation is generally one of the most effective ways of protecting children against infections that can cause serious diseases and associated complications (including death). All forms of immunisation work by causing the body to produce an immune response, in the same way it would if exposed to the disease but without the child suffering all the symptoms and consequences. In the future, when the child comes into contact with the disease, the immune system responds quickly and helps prevent the child developing the disease.
Some of the common question parents ask relate to: