Swine flu: Do's & Dont's

Swine flu in India is spreading like wildfire, taking the toll to six. Officials say there are currently more than 800 cases of the H1N1 flu strain in India. Governments from all around the world are finding ways to combat this deadly disease. So what can you do to protect yourself? Stay calm and practice these 10 effective prevention tips.

1. Wash your hands frequently

Use the antibacterial soaps to cleanse your hands. Wash them often, at least 15 seconds and rinse with running water.

2. Get enough sleep

Try to get 8 hours of good sleep every night to keep your immune system in top flu-fighting shape.

3. Keep hydrated

Drink 8 to10 glasses of water each day to flush toxins from your system and maintain good moisture and mucous production in your sinuses.

4. Boost your immune system

Keeping your body strong, nourished, and ready to fight infection is important in flu prevention. So stick with whole grains, colorful vegetables, and vitamin-rich fruits.

5. Keep informed

The government is taking necessary steps to prevent the pandemic and periodically release guidelines to keep the pandemic away. Please make sure to keep up to date on the information and act in a calm manner.

6. Avoid alcohol

Apart from being a mood depressant, alcohol is an immune suppressant that can actually decrease your resistance to viral infections like swine flu. So stay away from alcoholic drinks so that your immune system may be strong.

7. Be physically active

Moderate exercise can support the immune system by increasing circulation and oxygenating the body. For example brisk walking for 30-40 minutes 3-4 times a week will significantly perk up your immunity.

8. Keep away from sick people

Flu virus spreads when particles dispersed into the air through a cough or sneeze reach someone else's nose. So if you have to be around someone who is sick, try to stay a few feet away from them and especially, avoid physical contact.

9. Know when to get help

Consult your doctor if you have a cough and fever and follow their instructions, including taking medicine as prescribed.

10. Avoid crowded areas

Try to avoid unnecessary trips outside. Moreover, avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.

Source:- in.news.yahoo.com

According to the CDC, symptoms of swine flu infections are like seasonal flu which include :
fever, which is usually high
cough
runny nose or stuffy nose
sore throat
body aches
headache
chills
fatigue or tiredness, which can be extreme
diarrhea and vomiting (sometimes)

Signs of a more serious swine flu infection might include pneumonia and respiratory failure.

Deworming For Kids

Kids get easily infected than adults. Once the baby has started to eat solid foods, deworming becomes necessary. You should not delay this as it is really an important prescription.

Children having worms usually don’t eat properly, eats properly but there is no weight gain, bites their nails, making noise with teeth while sleeping, restless while sleeping, Bad breath, eating too much sweets etc.

For my son, the doctor prescribed Zentel suspension. It's a 10ml bottle. He asked us to give 5ml first and then after 15 days we have to give balance 5ml. It is recommended for every 6 months.

I also used to give a big spoon of raw papaya juice with honey added to it to my son early morning on an empty stomach.

But do consult your pediatrician for the right medicine. Do not take medicines directly from the pharmacy without your doctor’s prescription.

Important Hygiene Tips:

· Make a habit in your little ones to wear slippers all the time at home and even in bathrooms.

· Ensure that your bathroom is in proper condition before the baby uses it and clean it well after your baby comes out again.

· Wash hands with soap after using the bathroom, before and after eating food & when your baby comes from outdoors.

· Ensure that your baby does not take any household items or toys in the mouth

First Aid For Choking Baby

Source:-www.youtube.com

After hearing a shocking incident from my friend , I thought to share this with all of you.
Recently, my friend was on a vacation to her hometown. One morning, she was changing her son’s clothes when she sensed there is something in his mouth. She asked him to open his mouth as she saw something inside. She inserted her finger in his mouth and tried to pull it out. She was just trying to remove it but her son swallowed it. He started choking, so my friend started giving blows on his back and asked him to cough but he was choking and crying.
My friend called her mother-in-law and her husband. They rushed to the nearest pediatrician. On the way the child’s nose started bleeding a little, which made the family worry more. The pediatrician told whatever he has swallowed had reached the stomach. He advised to feed the child banana and it will come out next day in stool. The doctor also warned, “Never insert your finger and try hard to pull the object. It can push the object in the air pipe which will be fatal.” He told that the child’s nose had started bleeding due to the nails that might have caused some tear in the tissues.
They came back home and on the way bought banana but the child continuously cried for an hour. He refused to have banana, water or anything. The whole family felt restless and consulted an ENT specialist. They had a complete X-Ray done and the doctor confirmed there is no metal, glass or plastic found.. He said that it might be even hard food which might have digested. After 2 hrs the child was still crying continuously. One of the reasons might be due to shock. He might be thinking why his mom was beating him (blows on the back) or why everyone is coming to meet him?
He didn't have any food or water for the 1st day. The 2nd day he had no solid food and preferred lying on the bed. He was a very active child so this worried the family a lot. He sipped just some juice. The 3rd day, he was really weak. Meanwhile my friend and her hubby were in constant touch with the doctor but the doctor told that due to the tear in tissues he might be finding it difficult to eat or swallow. So, they just gave him some biscuits. On the 4th day he was still fussy but started eating and drinking.
Now he is doing fine and that object is still a mystery for all of us. But this experience taught a lesson to us.

All parents usually fear that someting drastic should not happen to the baby. With a toddler around, one has to constantly monitor if any crayon pieces, chalk pieces or fancy eraser are found lying scattered on the floor. I think it would be a wise idea to enroll in an infant first aid course. Small children can even choke on nuts, candies,grapes popkorns or sprouts etc. Chop them into pieces and also avoid giving it to them in your absence. Some times kids like to lie down with a pillow and eat while watching tv which is extremely dangerous. Things other than food items that can cause chocking hazards are balloons, toys with small parts (which can come of easily), coins, buttons etc.

Sometimes kids tend to put something in their nose as well. In India, there is an easy solution to this. Just give the kid "Naswaar" to smell and it will come out with a sneeze.