From runny noses to coughs, ear infections and gastro, some children seem to catch every lurgy doing the rounds at daycare or school. Two medical experts explain why this is so, and what parents can do to prevent it.
“We know that children in childcare can be getting a respiratory virus once a month or more, and also in those environments, that there’s quite a lot of co-infection, with multiple viruses at once,” says Hajkowicz, from the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.The age that a child starts daycare does not make a big difference, according to Australian Medical Association Queensland president Dr Maria Boulton.
“It is more common for kids to transmit things through their saliva. For example ... toddlers who just want to share every toy and put it in their mouth,” the GP specialist says.Some parents believe that by getting sick at daycare, their child’s immunity is boosted. To this, Hajkowicz says: “The best option for infectious diseases in general is not to catch them.”“Infectious diseases change over time, you see it with all the COVID variants, flu and RSV,” he says.
“Just because you got the 2023 version of flu A, it doesn’t mean that would give you protection against the 2026 version of flu A. That’s why we have to update flu vaccines all the time.” And while older children are better at personal hygiene, he says there is still viral transmission in schools.Children also benefit from a healthy diet, activity and sleep, Boulton says.“We don’t want to spread these things, so please keep your child at home, or if you’re sick yourself, please stay at home – all these things are very contagious,” Boulton says.“When your child is sick, somebody has to take time off to stay with them. It can become quite a stressful time.
“It does seem to be something that kids grow out of ... and parents don’t seem to miss as much work as the kids grow a bit older.”
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Hundreds of misconduct complaints within Australian navy over two-year period, with most senior ranks involvedAlmost 700 complaints about unacceptable behaviour — including sexual misconduct, bullying and harassment — have been reported within the Royal Australian Navy Fleet Command in the past two years.
Read more »
Man arrested after allegedly ramming two police vehicles, seriously injuring officersFour police officers have been injured while trying to stop an allegedly stolen truck on the Darling Downs in Queensland. Two were seriously hurt.
Read more »
Netflix password crackdown finally hits Australia, two months later than plannedNetflix has begun sending emails to its Australian customers advising them that the global rollout of its crackdown on password sharing has finally hit our shores.
Read more »
Anthony Albanese's 'thoughts are with victims' after convicted sex offender Rolf Harris diesHarris was found guilty in 2014 of 12 counts of indecent assault on four young girls from the 1960s to the '80s.
Read more »
Comedian Uncle Roger's social media accounts frozen after jokes about ChinaThe comedian's accounts on two social media platforms were suspended after he posted a video that poked fun at China's government.
Read more »