Make hygiene a priority
Q1
I travel frequently on overseas business trips. With the recent Influenza A (H1N1) outbreak, which can spread from one person to another, I am worried about catching it and spreading it to my children and parents. What precautions can I take?A
The precautions you can take include care for personal hygiene while you are overseas.
In addition, if you do catch a flu — excluding in high risk situations such as the current flu pandemic, in which case you should consult the necessary authorities — then personal hygiene at home and when you come into contact with family members will help prevent the spread of infection to them.
In some situations, young children and elderly members of your family could be vaccinated.
You can consult your family doctor who would be able to give you specific advise about the risks and benefits of vaccination.
Q2
My sister is very particular about hygiene and ensures that her daughter practises good habits such as washing her hands before meals. But why does my niece still fall ill so easily?
A
It is not uncommon for young children to pick up infections, particularly when they start childcare or nursery. Young children can get up to six infections each year. Most of these infections would be self limiting and last not longer than five to seven days.
The most common would be fever, with runny nose and cough (viral infections).
However, if your niece has more serious infections such as recurrent ear or lung infections (bacteria infections) — which require multiple courses of antibiotics or take a longer time to recover from — then she may need to see a paediatrician.
Q3
My two-year-old cousin is staying with my family. She likes to put things — hair, tissue, toys — she grabs from the floor into her mouth. I am worried about the consequences to her health. Is there anything we can do about this?
A
Young children put things into their mouths as a way to explore the world and it is part of normal childhood development from about six months. As they grow older, they can be taught that certain things are a "no-no".
In general, if tissue or hair is put into a child's mouth, no serious harm is done. The main concerns for a two-year-old putting things in her mouth would be two-fold:
• She might choke or swallow the objects if they are small. Choking is the more dangerous concern, as the small object can get stuck in her windpipe and cause breathing difficulties. If she swallows the object, and it is small and inert, she might pass it out without any harm. However, certain objects are potentially dangerous when swallowed (for example, button batteries) and would need to be removed by a special procedure, commonly done in children between the ages of two and five.
• The risk of falling ill from germs or bacteria is low if a child puts things in her mouth that are found in the home. Not so if it is material from the toilet, dustbin or shoes that have potentially been contaminated by soil and dirt from outside the home.
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Questions were answered by Dr Marion Aw from the Singapore Paediatric Society. The information provided is for your general knowledge only. You should seek professional advice or treatment for your child's condition.
Q1, our question of the week wins a Kirei Kirei gift set worth $60. The winner has been notified.
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From TODAY, Health – Tuesday, 05-May-2009
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