Get flu shots for your children as vaccination is the only effective way to control the situation
Healthcare facilities in the UAE are witnessing a surge in paediatric patient footfall as flu cases are increasing with the onset of winter months. Doctors advise parents not to send their unwell wards to school as flu is highly contagious.
They also urge parents to get their kids administered with the influenza shot as people are looking forward to travelling with school-age children during the upcoming holidays. Flu vaccine could be a precautionary measure to avoid severity, frequency and complications later, according to the doctors.
Dr Saad Aziz, medical director and paediatrician at Medeor Hospital, Abu Dhabi, said: “Illnesses like flu spread quickly among children as they are more likely to touch their eyes, mouth and nose without washing their hands. Children need to keep themselves hydrated and consume nutritious food. Moreover, they must follow good hand hygiene. As respiratory illnesses spread quickly among children when they are in close contact, keep them at home till they recover.”
Doctors point out vaccination is highly recommended as it is the only effective way to control the situation.
“Seek medical help when your child is sick. Influenza is a viral infection and the only way to diagnose it is to visit the doctor and do a nasal swab. Vaccination can help in bringing down the frequency and severity of flu symptoms,” added Aziz.
Tamiflu is used to treat symptoms caused by the flu virus, and helps make the symptoms such as stuffy nose, cough, sore throat, fever, chills, aches, tiredness, less severe. It also shortens the recovery time by one or two days. However, Elghawaby underlined that the medicine is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to use for children under supervision of a doctor.
Healthcare professionals also stressed that a child can get the flu vaccine even after influenza infection, as the vaccine covers more than one virus.
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