Did you know that one in three parents bring their child to the doctor with symptoms of a cold or flu, costing them on average over €252.56 per year?
In fact, according to Scope Healthcare, one in three children miss on average three school days each year because of a common cold or flu.
Dr Pixie McKenna has shared her top tips for keeping children healthy during the back to school season.
There is no cure for the common cold but are there ways we can fight it?
It’s important to drink plenty of fluids, get lots of rest and take simple remedies from the pharmacy that will reduce temperature and clear congestion.
Also, make sure you wash your hands and use hankies to help prevent the spread of infection.
Are supplements a good idea for kids returning to school? If so, what kind and why?
An army marches on its stomach so it's important that kids are nutritionally supported to keep their immune systems boosted. Make sure they eat a well-balanced diet, exercise regularly, get lots of sleep and are expert hand washers so as to prevent them catching and spreading the sickness.
I’m a big fan of vitamin C and D and the mineral Zinc as an immune booster. If you’re considering a supplement because your child succumbs to colds in the winter, they are poor eaters or you simply want to support them nutritionally, consider one with Vitamins A - E along with trace minerals to help support the immune system, growth and development.
Ideally choose a supplement that comes in liquid form and has a great taste, otherwise, you won't convince them to take it!
When it comes to setting a back to school schedule, when should kids take their vitamins?
Kids should take their vitamins in the morning when they are in the middle of their morning routine of doing their hair, teeth and eating breakfast.
School-going children should aim to get between nine and eleven hours of sleep a night to keep them strong and healthy.
What foods can keep children fighting fit?
It’s important that school-going children get a proper breakfast, lunch and dinner with lots of fruits and vegetables to help fight off infection.
A well-balanced diet and plenty of exercise will help your child stay fit and healthy.
Any advice for other school time issues?
It’s important that children know how to wash and dry their hands properly. This might sound simple but their hands are the single greatest source of infection.
They need to wash and dry their hands correctly and for an appropriate amount of time (usually the time it takes to sing happy birthday twice)!
There have been cases of measles in Ireland recently, any advice to share with parents?
Vaccinations work. There are too many ill-informed people out there spreading misinformation on vaccines and sadly it’s resulting in fewer people getting vaccinated and a subsequent spread of infection. The current surge in measles is a prime example of this.
Dr Pixie McKenna shared her advice as part of the Vivioptal Junior campaign.
