00:00Hello and welcome to Doctorpedia podcast channel. I am your Dr. Prashant Gowda, your pediatrician
00:10and neonatologist. Preventing cold and flu, is it possible? This is the question which we come
00:16across in our pediatric OPD practice. Yes, prevention is always better than cure. This
00:24is a very famous saying which we all know and especially when it comes to preventing
00:30cough and cold. There are ways which will and if you follow certain basic things, definitely
00:36we can prevent it. First, let's start with some basics. Hygiene, Swachh Bharat, clean house,
00:45clean hands, clean family, clean country, the chances of infection spread is almost minimal.
00:53Hand hygiene alone can prevent 95% of spread of infection. It could be any form of infection.
01:01So teach your kid to wash their hands frequently, especially before putting anything into the
01:07mouth, especially during the meal time or when they are coughing or sneezing. They can use
01:12soap and water and if it's not available, they can use alcohol based hand sanitizer but we
01:17advise you to use soap and water so that the moisture content of the hand is maintained.
01:23Next, focus on building their immunity. This is a very interesting thing, you know. In our practice,
01:30parents do come and ask, is there any magic pill to build the immunity of my child so that my child
01:37does not fall sick? Yes, for your kind information. That is, the people who knows what to eat, when to
01:45eat and how much to eat are the ones who have got very less chances of falling sick. A balanced diet rich
01:53in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins can do wonders in the health and improving the immune
02:00system of the child. Vitamin C rich food like citrus fruits, zinc, certain cherries, berries, pomegranate,
02:10seeds all are very helpful which can enhance the immune system and also increase these are all rich
02:17in antioxidants. Most important thing, don't forget to hydrate them. It keeps the immune system function
02:23optimally even in winter. The second most important thing which will help to prevent us not only kid,
02:31even every human being and you know from not falling sick or not having any sort of health hazard
02:37is adequate sleep. Sleep is a wonderful thing and it's a gift for a human and for all animals
02:45which will help in relieving and relieving our entire body mechanism. Growing kids needs minimum
02:53nine to 12 hours of sleep each night to help their body recover and stay resilient against all the
02:58infection. Sleep is a very key thing. You have to focus and give adequate trust to the body. Make sure your
03:06child is dressed appropriately during the you know different weather or you know weather seasons.
03:13Layering their clothes properly help them to keep them warm without overeating them and when playing
03:21out outdoors ensure their extremities hand foot and head are well protected. Finally the another thing
03:27which helps to infection prevention is better than cure. How do we prevent by vaccination especially the
03:34annual flu shot? You should ask only one question doctor should it take annual shot on the right
03:40side or the left side? It should not be like whether to take or not. Your option should be on the right
03:45side of my body or left side which can significantly reduce the risk of severe flu complication. These are
03:52the simple steps which can go a long way in keeping your child safe. Remember little preparation goes a long
03:58way in preventing cold and flu. Focus on hygiene, nutrition and sleep. You will give your child the
04:05best defense this winter. Thanks for listening to Doctorpedia podcast channel. I'm your doctor,
04:12Dr. Prashant Gowda here to help you to keep your kids healthy and happy. So see you next time. Until
04:18then stay tuned, stay warm, stay safe.
