Have you ever read a post about immunization that made you think it must have been fabricated?
Russian bots posted 75% more anti-vaccine messages than the average user according to a research from July 2014 to September 2017. These trolls have been posting both pro and anti-vaccine messages in order to promote discord in American society, according to Mark Dredze, Ph.D.
The story was published by the American Academy of Pediatrics magazine in November, 2018.
Anyone around young children knows that their hands get dirty quickly. These hands touch eyes, noses and mouths, infecting everyone and everything that may come in contact.
Washing hands is the most effective way you can teach your child to eliminate germs. For a quick brush-up on handwashing, here are a few tips:
Lather hands for 20 seconds
For young children, it’s a great time to sing the ABCs. You can use a cheap timer too (also helpful when brushing your child’s teeth).
Skip the antibacterial soap
Antibacterial soap is not better than regular soap and may actually eliminate good bacteria on the skin. For young children: use scented soap and ask to smell their hands afterwards – they will love to show off their fragrant hands.
Wash around nails
Most people neglect this part of handwashing. It is important to wash under the nails and all around the cuticles.
When to wash your hands
After petting animals;
After using the restroom or changing diapers;
Before handling food or eating;
Every time children go back inside;
After coughing or sneezing;
After blowing your nose.
Thinking about skipping the flu shot this year? The CDC estimated that 80,000 deaths last year. Please consider getting flu shots for all your family and kids and make sure they have healthy hygiene habits.
Links
Do you wash your hands after using a public restroom? 69% of men and 35% of women don’t wash their hands after using a public restroom – U.S. National Library of Medicine
Handwashing Poster – CDC
Mom-tested handwashing tricks – Parenting.com
Last year’s flu season was a long, memorable one for many people. This year, Cottonwood Pediatrics hopes to see fewer children for the flu because parents took preventive steps. Here are a few questions we hear from parents:
Does my child need a flu shot?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends everyone ages 6 months and older to get the influenza vaccine annually. If you have babies younger than 6 months, everyone else in the household should be immunized. The flu caused thousands of deaths in the United States last year and some of them were previously healthy children.
Can my kids get a flu shot yet?
Everyone 6 months and older should schedule to get a flu shot starting on the last week of September/beginning of October. We require that kids are up to date on their yearly well-checks. Parents and other adults can get the immunization at their doctor’s office or at pharmacies.
Can’t we just get Tamiflu instead?
Antiviral medication is not a substitute for the flu shot. We received many calls asking for Tamiflu last year but parents should know that the medicine should be given within 48 hours of the first symptoms. The reactions from the medicine could be just as bad as the flu symptoms, so please do not skip the vaccine.
Will my child be 100% protected from the flu this once vaccinated?
The virus can mutate but your child’s immune system will have 3x more work if your child is not vaccinated.
Schedule everyone’s flu shot and teach appropriate hand hygiene and cough etiquette.
To learn more about the flu season please visit:
Prepare Your Family for Flu Season – healthychildren.org
AAP policy emphasizes importance of vaccination after high-severity flu season – aappublications.org