PARENTAL WARNING
How to stop your child falling victim to 4 nasty winter bugs running rife right now
Plus, the best ways to treat your child's winter illnesses and signs your little one needs urgent medical help
IT'S that time of year where parents brace themselves for an onslaught of winter bugs.
With health bosses warning of a spike in infections caused by a common virus in under fives, some parents might already be caught in a cycle of soothing coughs and mopping up runny noses.
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RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is the cause of common lung infections that in some instances can be dangerous, especially for infants and the elderly.
Data released by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) showed cases rising to 7.1 per cent between October 28 and November 3, with children under the age of five being hit the hardest.
But RSV isn't the only winter illness running rife, with the sickness bug norovirus surging by 16 per cent and health bosses warning that Covid and flu cases may also rise in the coming weeks.
As a parent, you may feel helpless in stopping your tot from getting sick.
Read more on winter bugs
Cheryl Lythgoe, a matron at , tells Sun Health: "This time of year, there are so many bugs and beasties around that it feels inevitable to encounter someone with a cold.
"Children are magnets for many infections because they play in close proximity, will often put things in their mouths and often don’t wash their hands effectively."
But there are certain measures you can take to make your tot less likely to pick up colds, RSV, the flu or Covid.
From keeping up to date with routine jabs to teaching your tot hygiene tips and boosting their immunity through meals, here are six ways you can help protect your child from winter bugs.
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1. Get your jabs
One of the basic ways you can stop your tot from getting sick is making sure the whole family is getting their routine jabs.
"Some viruses and infections can be protected from by ensuring that we are up to date with both the expectant mum's and child's vaccinations," Cheryl says.
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"Vaccinations not only help the individual but also protect others by limiting the spread."
Schoolchildren and tots aged two to three are already offered flu vaccines to help protect them from serious illness and complications such as pneumonia - so make sure your kid is up to date with those.
And while RSV jabs aren't available to children, the NHS this year started rolling them out to pregnant women to keep their babies safe and adults aged 75 to 79.
2. Teach hygiene tips
Children are quite likely to pick up and spread germs as they haven't quite got the hang of hand-washing and catching sneezes in tissues.
Cheryl says: "Teaching our children how to wash their hands properly and to cover their coughs and sneezes is a great way to limit the spread and keep them healthy."
The life-saving vaccines you need at every age
The age at which you receive a vaccine depends on two things - the vaccine itself and the diseases it protects against.
Eight Weeks
- 6-in-1 vaccine
- Rotavirus vaccine
- MenB vaccine
12 Weeks
- 6-in-1 vaccine (2nd dose)
- Pneumococcal vaccine
- Rotavirus vaccine (2nd dose)
16 Weeks
- 6-in-1 vaccine (3rd dose)
- MenB vaccine (2nd dose)
One Year
- Hib/MenC vaccine (1st dose)
- MMR vaccine (1st dose)
- Pneumococcal vaccine (2nd dose)
- MenB vaccine (3rd dose)
Two to 15 Years
- Children's flu vaccine (every year until children finish Year 11 of secondary school)
Three Years and Four Months
- MMR vaccine (2nd dose)
- 4-in-1 pre-school booster vaccine
12 to 13 Years
- HPV vaccine
14 Years
- 3-in-1 teenage booster vaccine
- MenACWY vaccine
65 Years
- Flu vaccine (given every year after turning 65)
- Pneumococcal vaccine
- Shingles vaccine (if you turned 65 on or after 1 September 2023)
70 to 79 Years
- Shingles vaccine
Source: The NHS
showing your child how to wash their hands with plenty of soap for at least 15 seconds.
It's also important that they cover their mouths when they're coughing and sneezing and dispose of any tissues quickly.
3. Be wary of cuddles
Cheryl also recommends teaching your child to keep apart from people who seem to be feeling unwell.
"Within reason, be careful around those who are currently showing viral symptoms and encourage your child not to go too close to them," she explains.
"While a kiss and a cuddle from a trusted loved one is a great way of showing affection, it’s best avoided when people are feeling under the weather."
4. Eat the rainbow
Making sure your tot's immune system is in good shape can also stop them from getting ill this winter, Cheryl says.
"Great ways to boost your child's immunity levels are very similar to how we would boost ours as adults," she explains.
"Ensuring that we have a nutrient dense diet, which means making sure we ‘eat our rainbow’ and have a great daily variety of fruits and vegetables, will provide the body with all the vitamins minerals and nutrients it needs.
"Citrus fruits are a great source of vitamin C, helping to increase the production of our white bloods cells, which is linked with our immunity."
Who is eligible for free Covid, flu and RSV vaccines?
In line with JCVI advice, those eligible for a flu vaccine this year include:
From October 3:
- Those aged 65 years and over
- Those aged 18 years to under 65 years in clinical risk groups (as defined by the Green Book)
- Those at serious risk, including those with a BMI over 40, diabetes, heart and breathing conditions
- Those in long-stay residential care homes
- Carers in receipt of carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person
- Close contacts of immunocompromised individuals
- Frontline workers in a social care setting without an employer-led occupational health scheme - including those working for a registered residential care or nursing home, registered domiciliary care providers, voluntary managed hospice providers
- Those who receive direct payments (personal budgets) or Personal Health budgets, such as Personal Assistants.
From September 1:
- Pregnant women
- All children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2024
- Primary school-aged children (from Reception to Year 6)
- Secondary school-aged children (from Year 7 to Year 11)
- All children in clinical risk groups aged from 6 months to less than 18 years
Those eligible for an autumn Covid booster are:
- Residents in a care home for older adults
- All adults aged 65 years and over
- Persons aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group, as defined in the Green Book, including pregnant women
- Frontline health and social care workers and staff in care homes for older adults
Those eligible for an RSV vaccine are:
- Pregnant people from 28 weeks onwards
- People aged 75 to 79
Making sure your little one's meals contain a mix of vitamins, minerals, complex carbohydrates, lean proteins and healthy fats is key here - this is "a great way of keeping your child fit and healthy during the winter months", the matron says.
"Think about adding, or increasing, foods such as berries, eggs, garlic, green leafy vegetables, potatoes (not chips) and oily fish to their diets.
"It’s fine to use these in a fresh, canned or frozen format.
"However, the key here is variety; no single food can provide the nutrients our bodies need to thrive, so ensure that you are able to offer a mixed diet.
"If your child is a fussy eater then adding these foods mashed, blended or raw to their diet can sometimes help them to try new tastes and textures."
5. Get them moving
Getting your child to exercise is another key way to keep them healthy this winter.
"Regular movement is a fabulous way of boosting our immune system," Cheryl says.
She recommends "where appropriate, doing this outside".
The NHS says children and young people aged five to 18 should aim for at least 60 minutes of moderate or vigorous intensity physical activity a day.
It recommends breaking up long periods spent sitting or lying down and making sure your child is trying a variety of types and intensities of physical activity across the week.
6. Prioritise sleep
Finally, ensuring your little one is getting enough sleep is another thing to keep in mind.
According to Cheryl, "supporting a great sleep routine can help to support and boost your child’s immune system".
How many hours of sleep your little one needs a night will change according to their age.
Babies and children under the age of two can snooze up to 16 hours a day, including naps, the NHS says.
Meanwhile, three to five-year-olds may need 10 to 13 hours of sleep and children aged six to 12 might need nine to 12 hours.
Best treatments for winter bugs
Whether it's a cold, flu, RSV infection or Covid, recommended treatment options will often follow the same format, Cheryl says.
"Increase fluid intake, use paracetamol as required, dress appropriately, ensure you are using great hand and viral hygiene skills, and limit your contact with others," she recommends.
"Hand washing, covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, and disposing of your tissues responsibly can dramatically limit the spread to others."
You might also want to give some at-home remedies a go.
"Some people find great comfort in using steam inhalation and increasing vitamin C can provide some help," Cheryl adds.
"Although there is no evidence around this, anecdotally, using menthol rubs on the soles of the feet can be helpful."
What bug does my child have?
According to Cheryl, you don't necessarily need to get to the bottom of what bug is causing your child's sore throat, coughs or sniffles.
"It’s not always important to know which bug is causing the issue," she says.
"Instead, concentrate on the signs and symptoms and how to manage them.
"If the signs and symptoms are causing concern and not being easily managed at home, a chat with your medical professional may be required.
"If they feel that it would be useful to understand which bug they are struggling with, they may arrange testing to determine this."
Winter bug red flags
In most cases, winter bugs can easily be treated at home.
But if you notice the following red flags, they're your signs to speak to a medical professional about your child's illness.
"If your child has a fever of 38°C or higher and is under three months old, or a temperature of 39°C or higher for children aged three to six months, it’s essential to seek advice from a medical professional," the matron warns.
"Additionally, if your child’s fever lasts for more than five days or if they exhibit other signs of illness, such as a rash, it's a good idea to consult a healthcare provider.
"While rashes can be common and some viruses may cause them, it's always best to have a professional evaluate any rash."
You should also contact a medical professional if your child is experiencing any of the following:
- Fewer wet nappies or reduced urination
- Excessive drowsiness or less alertness than usual
- Difficulty breathing, indicated by sucking in their tummy with each breath or flaring nostrils
- Unusual pain or changes in the colour of their limbs
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"Taking these signs seriously and consulting a professional can ensure your child receives the appropriate care," Cheryl adds.
"Remember you know your child and you are their advocate – if you’re worried, speak to a medical professional."
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