Health Hacks: Easy Ways to Help Your Kids Avoid the Flu

Various strains of influenza, more commonly known as the flu virus, affect young and old every year. Here are ways to help your children steer clear of it.

Though highly effective, the flu vaccine is controversial. Every year there’s a collective parental uproar and debate as to whether or not children should have it. All of the fuss is mostly based on rumors rather than scientific fact. According to the Mayo Clinic, “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a yearly flu vaccine for all children six months and older.” The only exceptions are children who are allergic to eggs, as the vaccine contains a small amount of egg protein, and children who have had a strong, adverse reaction to the vaccine in the past.

The influenza in Thailand usually spreads all year long. However the peak time is during the rainy season. So kids should get routine flu vaccine every year. They can go directly to their hospital or to any Child Health Institute and ask for a flu shot.

Though physicians in the past may have exaggerated the preventative effects of lots of vitamin C, doctors still agree that a balanced diet is essential to ward off infection. Lots of fruits and vegetables are a must.

There’s some evidence that regular exercise can boost your immune system. It’s just one more reason to make sure your kids stay active.

You’ve heard that lots of fluids are important when you’re sick; they’re equally important to stave off disease. They’re especially crucial in a city like Bangkok, where the high temperatures easily dehydrate people but the high humidity often keeps people from feeling thirsty. Make sure your children drink liquids throughout the day, both during and between meals.

Children don’t always exist in the cleanest environments. Schools, no matter how diligent their janitorial staff, carry a whole lot of bacteria. To keep anything from spreading, make sure your child washes their hands thoroughly before meals, when coming home, or any other times that might be necessary. They do not necessarily need to use antibacterial soap, but they should try to keep clean.

It should go without saying, but there’s no way your child’s immune system can fight off infection if it doesn’t get sufficient rest. Your children should be getting a solid nine hours a night, especially if they seem like they’re starting to come down with something.

This one sounds counterintuitive to most Westerners and it is one of the main reasons many newcomers to Bangkok get sick. While temperatures outdoors in the City of Angels may soar above 40 degrees Celsius, the climate in the city’s massive shopping malls and public buildings remains arctic all year round. Swift changes in external temperature strain the body and can often facilitate a viral infection. Pack layers in case you’re planning on catching a movie in Emporium or shopping in CentralWorld.

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