Pediatrician Recommends 5 Practical Tips to Help Protect Your Child From Common Rainy Season Diseases

The start of the new school year usually coincides with the beginning of the rainy season. As you prepare the things your kids will need for school, you must also remember to take necessary precautions to prevent them from getting sick.

Dr. Liwliwa Capili-Umali, vice chair of the pediatrics department in a Cavite hospital, names influenza, pneumonia, acute bronchitis, bronchial asthma, and gastroenteritis as some of the most common rainy-day diseases. There’s usually a rise in the number of cases of dengue, typhoid, and leptospirosis during this season, too, she adds.

According to Dr. Capili-Umali, children can become vulnerable to these diseases and other different infections if their immune system is weak. And when it is not strong, and they are exposed to the infectious disease for the first time, the doctor explains, “their immune system does not know yet how to fight the offending organism, resulting in full-blown infection.”

Malnutrition also makes children susceptible to diseases. “Malnutrition is associated with immune deficiency and causes significant vulnerability to infection.”

Dr. Capili-Umali recommends parents to do the following to help strengthen their child’s immune system:

1. Let your children explore and play outdoors.

Doing so not only ensures your kids have fun, but it also helps develop their immune system. “Early exposure to different [environmental] factors allows the immune system to build an appropriate immune response that will help combat future infections with harmful viruses or bacteria,” says Dr. Capili-Umali.

2. Get your children vaccinated.

Vaccines protect kids from some of the most serious illnesses. This is why parents are strongly advised to follow the correct vaccination schedule prescribed by their child’s pediatrician or representatives from their local health centers.

“Make sure to consult with a pediatrician for proper guidance and advice,” Dr. Capili-Umali says.

3. Teach your children proper hygiene at an early age.

Instill in your kids the habit of frequent hand washing, especially whenever they come from outdoors. Dr. Capili-Umali explains the consequence of not doing so: “Too much bad bacteria in the body can only lead to infection and several diseases when there is bacterial overload. Hand washing and good hygiene reduce this number significantly and prevent the transmission of certain diseases such as gastroenteritis, pneumonia, and influenza.”

4. Keep your surroundings clean.

It’s essential for parents to keep not only their own homes clean but their immediate surroundings as well.

“Dengue is transmitted through mosquito bites, and these mosquitoes breed in stagnant water. Leptospirosis is transmitted through contact with flood water, urine, and stool of infected animals. Improper waste disposal causes water contamination that can lead to severe cases of gastroenteritis,” warns Dr. Capili-Umali.

5. Give your children nutrient-rich food.

Kids should always be fed well-balanced meals with food rich in carbohydrates, protein, and other vitamins and minerals necessary for their growth and development. Also, Dr. Capili-Umali explains, certain nutrients found in various food types provide energy (glucose and fatty acids) and help develop the immune cells and their function (vitamins A and D).

“Nutrition has a crucial impact on the immune system,” she emphasizes.

That means giving kids more fruits and vegetables than what is usually served to them. They should lessen the intake of carbohydrates and simple sugars found in candies, sweetened drinks and soda, and other junk food, too.

According to Dr. Capili-Umali, milk contains micronutrients and vitamins needed by the child to help fight malnutrition and boost immunity. She recommends giving one or two glasses per day to help meet the recommended daily nutritional intake.

When choosing milk for your kid, it’s important to pick age-appropriate milk tailored to your child’s requirement and can fulfill his nutritional needs. It should be rich in calcium to help build strong bones, as well as the suitable amount of vitamins and minerals for the age group it’s made for.

NIDO 3+ is the only growing-up milk for kids ages 3 to 5 that contains Lactobacillus Protectus with L. Rhamnosus, which is scientifically proven to support your child’s respiratory defenses. It also helps protect them against pathogens in the upper respiratory tract, which causes frequent coughs and colds. NIDO 3+ also contains nutrients like DHA for the brain, Prebio 3 for digestion, and other essential vitamins and minerals like calcium and protein for overall growth and development.

When your kid is properly nourished, you can be more confident to say yes to him as he explores his environment. NIDO 3+ is your ally in helping your kids grow strong and healthy.

Follow Nido Advanced Protectus 3+ on Facebook to find out more.

Dr. Liwliwa Capili-Umali is a General Pediatrician and the Vice-Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics in a hospital in Kawit, Cavite. She also serves as a consultant in several hospitals in Cavite.

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