The virus causes diarrhea and vomiting, and in the case of children or the elderly, it can be fatal. However, it is enough to master prophylaxis well to reduce the risk of the disease. How to reduce the risk of getting sick?
Stomach flu, although asymptomatic or mild in many adults, is especially dangerous for children and the elderly. The disease can manifest in them with diarrhea and vomiting lasting several days, which make the body weak and susceptible to further infections, as well as dehydrated. In extreme cases, contact with the flu virus can be fatal and treatment can be very burdensome, so in this case it is definitely better to prevent than to cure.
How to reduce the chance of getting sick?
- The state of the body when it comes into contact with the virus is important. People who are not deficient in minerals and vitamins, spend a lot of time outdoors and maintain an appropriate weight, have a lower chance of getting sick than those who eat incorrectly and have too little exercise. Therefore, let’s take care of a child’s diet full of fresh fruit, vegetables, cereals and groats at any time of the year and remember that physical activity is not just a hobby, but a way to stay healthy.
- Teach children to wash their hands before eating and show them how to do it properly. Light rinsing is not enough – it is worth using warm water and soap. It is also important that children know how to wash fruit.
- It is best not to touch your face or mouth with the hands that have just held fruit or vegetables when eating out. This is how stomach flu viruses are often transmitted.
- Keeping clean while cooking is key. Cutlery, cutting boards, pots and plates as well as hands and countertops should be washed after each meal. Let’s pay attention to it where the child eats – at the family, in kindergarten or on a camping trip.
- The same goes for the toilets. They should be clean and disinfected, and the child should use the sink after each use and wash their hands thoroughly. It is worth reacting when the sanitary conditions at the campsite or bivouac are not suitable for children.
- You can provide your child with wipes or an antibacterial liquid that will allow you to refresh your hands, e.g. after a bus trip or a visit to the store.
- If someone at your child’s kindergarten or school got sick with the stomach flu and returns to class after a few days, it is worth keeping the child at home. The virus is transmitted by droplets and may remain active for several days after infection.