4 Tips To Prevent The Spread Of Infection For Children And Parents

JAKARTA - Infections are very common in young children because they are in close contact with many other children, and infectious diseases can spread easily from person to person. Whenever children play together, there is a possibility of spreading the infection.

This is especially true among infants and toddlers who tend to use their hands to wipe their noses or rub their eyes and then hold onto toys or touch other children. Very young children also tend to put things in their mouths and frequently touch their faces, making infection more likely.

"Do not panic. Whatever the infection is, the important thing is to always take steps to prevent it.” said Dr. Nina Dwi Putri, SpA(K) from the Tropical Infection Coordination Working Unit of the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI).

Furthermore, Dr. Nina reminded that children can still play and have safe activities, parents can apply some infection prevention tips.

The following are recommendations for parents to prevent and control infections in children from:

1. Immunize

Immunization is the most effective way to protect children from certain infections in childhood. In addition, immunization protects children who are too young to be vaccinated and those who have medical conditions that prevent children from being vaccinated. Immunization also stops the spread of infection in the community by conferring herd immunity.

2. Stay home when sick to prevent further spread

When your child is sick, whatever it is, whether it is a cold cough, diarrhea, fever, sores, rashes, etc. even if it is mild, they should stay at home, unless they need to see a doctor. This helps prevent disease transmission. In addition, children can also rest well so that their recovery can be faster. Keep in mind that infection can be contagious a few days before symptoms appear and after symptoms disappear. Make sure the child has recovered before being active again.

3. Avoid crowds, overcrowded places and poor circulation

There are several diseases that are easily transmitted if the atmosphere is too crowded and the air circulation is bad. So that in ancient times we often heard our parents suggest that children should not be taken out of the house before 40 days. Maybe this is true too, because newborns usually have not perfect immune systems, so if they are brought to a crowd like a market, etc., they are very easy to get sick.

4. Maintain cleanliness with a healthy lifestyle

Some ways that can be done in everyday life are as follows.

- One simple but important way to help prevent the spread of infection is to wash/sanitize your hands. Wash/Clean your hands before eating, after using the bathroom, and after touching any object that may contain a lot of germs. From an early age, parents can teach their children to clean their hands with soap and water or with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

- Drying hands properly after washing them is also important because hands that are still damp can absorb more germs than dry hands. Drying your hands can also help remove germs that weren't rinsed off during hand washing. Use a clean towel to dry your hands.

- Good oral care is very important. Teach children to brush their teeth after eating and before going to bed. This can help prevent infections in the oral cavity which in certain conditions can cause complications in other organs such as the heart, sinuses and brain.

- Cover sneezes and coughs or wear a mask. When people cough and sneeze, they can spread germs and viruses. By covering your mouth and nose with a tissue or mask, you can help stop this germ spray. Throw the used tissue in the trash and wash your hands afterward. Don't use your hands to cover coughs and sneezes because germs can get into your hands, which you can then unknowingly infect others (e.g., shaking hands or through objects that have been touched, such as doorknobs). If you don't have a tissue, use the inside of your elbow. Children should also be encouraged to do this from an early age.

- Cover cuts and abrasions on the skin with a plaster or bandage to keep them clean and reduce the risk of infection.

- Clean the surface of the house regularly, especially in the kitchen and bathroom and areas that are often touched. Wipe the surface with a cloth dampened with detergent and water, then rinse and dry the surface. If using a disinfectant, keep it out of reach of children.

- Keeping the environment clean can also prevent mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue fever

- Stay away from wild animals. Avoid unhealthy pets.

- Don't forget to clean the food box or can before opening it.

- Clean vegetables and fruit and meat separately, because raw meat can contaminate vegetables and fruit. Wash the fruit first, then the vegetables and the meat. After washing or processing meat, utensils and cooking areas should be cleaned with soap and if possible with hot water.

- Cook food ingredients until cooked, including eggs to avoid bacterial infection

- Make sure to drink clean and boiled drinking water

- Refrigerate or freeze meat, poultry, eggs, seafood and other perishable foods within two hours of cooking or purchasing

- Do not store dry or wet food in the bedroom. Food attracts insects that can transmit disease. If storing leftovers in a glass, cover the top of the glass.

- Avoid cigarette smoke. Smoking has a negative impact on the health of smokers and those around them, especially infants and children.

- If your baby or child has special health problems, you should consult a health worker about specific prevention in children.