Monsoon Advisory for Parents of children aged 0-3 years – Dr. Anita Modage

 

The monsoon brings such a respite to our body and mind from the hot scorching summer heat. The mere sight of watching the beautiful dark clouds, hearing the pitter-patter of the raindrops, the pleasant earthy scent produced when the rain falls on dry soil, and feeling the cool breeze is such a relief from the heat pangs of summer.

For a little toddler, the rains will get him towards the windows and the balcony and just watching the raindrops bring him such a delight. Kids are also excited to go out, run and play in the rain, make mud pies in the wet playground, and get all dirty in the rain – that is what kids love the most about this season!

But we are also aware that the monsoon though enticing, also heralds a host of diseases and uninvited guests along, which poses a threat to the child. It brings seasonal diseases, humidity, mosquitoes that make the child more susceptible to illness during this time. The temperature in monsoon is very favorable for the bacteria and other germs to grow and also spread very fast during this season. The present COVID-19 pandemic is also adding more burden to this seasonal communicable diseases.

Young children especially are prone to frequent illness and health problems and thus it is important to take extra care of the kids during the rainy season. They are more susceptible to airborne, water-borne, food-borne and vector-borne diseases like the common cold, viral fever, diarrhea, jaundice, typhoid, malaria, dengue etc.

Hence it is very important to know few things which are essential to take care of the child during monsoon seasons and prevent them from acquiring the infections. Here are some useful tips to safeguard the baby from 0-3 years of age from monsoon woes this season.

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  1. Firstly a pre-monsoon check: of the house is of prime importance. Look for different areas of the house, including gardens, bathrooms or adjoining balconies, and check for signs of water puddles. Clean up all your drains and secure any loose electric wires that might be dangling, fixing of leaking pipes, damp areas. Check the corners of the home and clean them of any fungus and molds that may be growing there which particularly increase the respiratory problems like allergy, asthma etc.

 

  1. Bathing: Newborns don’t move around much so a bath two to three times a week is good enough to keep them clean while giving bath daily would be essential for a child. Sponging with a warm towel can be an alternative for the rest of the days. The temperature of the water should not be too hot or cold, it should be comfortable to your skin when you dip your hand into it. A pre-bath oil massage can be given to increase blood circulation. Bath duration should not exceed 5 minutes in order to prevent overhydration of skin. Dry the baby thoroughly after the bath with a clean towel especially in the areas of skin folds.

 

  1. Clothing: During the monsoon, the weather can change a lot in a day. It could start out hot and humid, and then cool down after the rain. Hence cotton clothes are the best during monsoon and also ensure that the clothes are in layers. So that when it is cold the child is protected from the chilly weather and if it gets hot or humid, a layer of cloth can be removed to make the child comfortable. Avoid clothes of synthetic fabrics. Full sleeve shirt and full pants and light colored clothes would be better in the evening to protect from mosquito bites. It is better to avoid use of diapers at home. If using, check the diapers more frequently than before and change it immediately on wetting.
  2. Diet: A newborn needs to be on exclusive breastfeeding until the age of 6 months without any additional water. After 6 months breastfeeding can be continued till the age of 2 years along with complementary feeding. Breastfeeding is given as and when the child demands for feeds. Breastfeeding protects the baby from infectious diseases as breast milk is rich in anti-infective factors such as antibodies and other anti-infective substances. The mother also needs to take a well-balanced diet since the nutrients will be transferred from the mother to the baby.

Food-borne diseases usually occur due to the consumption of contaminated food and water. Hence avoid outside food and raw undercooked food such as salads. Use freshly cooked warm home-made food. Ensure the diet is balanced, rich in carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants to improve the immunity of the child. Fruits and vegetables should be thoroughly washed before consumption. Before feeding, make sure to wash your hands with soap and water. If the baby is self-feeding than keep his hands clean by washing his hands. Keep the nails trimmed.

  1. Water: There is a peak of water-borne diseases as well during monsoon such as cholera, typhoid etc which could occur due to contamination, leaking or clogging of water supply pipes. Hence it should always be ensured that the water is boiled thoroughly, cooled down and then given to the child. Even if formula feeds are given than boiling water has to be used for its preparation. Keeping the child well hydrated is also very important by giving them water frequently.
  2. Protection from mosquitoes: Make sure the windows and doors are closed during dawn and dusk to avoid mosquitoes from flying inside. Use of bed nets, natural insect repellents and covering the windows with mesh is essential to avoid mosquitoes and the diseases which they bring along such as malaria and dengue.
  3. Vaccination: Ensure the child is immunized to date as per the national or the IAP schedule. A special mention is for the Influenza vaccine (flu vaccine) which can be given as there is a peak of these flu illnesses during this season.

 

  1. Maintain hygiene: It is always said that ‘Cleanliness is next to godliness’. It is essential to clean and mop the floors with disinfectant agents, clean the kitchen, washbasin, bathroom and keep them germ-free.  It’s very important for the mother and other family members to maintain their hygiene too, especially when coming from outside and before handling the baby. Wash your hands before preparing the formula feeds. Washing of all the child’s things with a disinfectant and drying them before use. Keep the baby away from people with any flu-like illness or skin infections, as they are easily transferred to the child.

 

Apart from all the above measures, there are certain precautions to be specially taken when going outdoors.

  1. Avoid drenching: It’s better to avoid taking the child out in the rains, due to fluctuation in the temperatures. It is quite difficult to prevent a toddler from going out and play, so ensure the child is dressed properly and adequately, apply some mosquito repellents to keep him safe.
  2. Carry water and food: It’s of prime importance to carry boiled and cooled water and home-cooked food along. No outside foods at all.
  3. Avoid crowded places: Taking your baby to crowded places means an open invitation to infections. During monsoons infection is in the air, hence crowded places should be avoided such as birthday or marriage parties, temples, shopping malls grocery stores etc.
  4. Hygiene: Always carry an alcohol-based sanitizer along and use it as and when required.
  5. Avoid the use of masks in children less than 2 years old.

Ensuring that the child is happy and healthy during monsoon may seem like a daunting task, but with little pre-monsoon precautionary steps, right planning and best efforts can safeguard the child’s health even during this difficult time of the year.

Enjoy the rainy season with your child, let the drops trickle by, but do ensure that your baby stays safe even as the pouring continues.

Rain rain go away, come again another day

Little baby wants to play,

But the problem is baby wants to play in the “rain”!

Dr. Anita Modage

Dr. Anita Modage

Dept. of Paediatrics, KLE Centenary Charitable Hospital, Yellur Road, Belagavi.

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