“Since in the last two years the outbreak of viruses has been particularly intense and with a long duration, it is natural for parents already with the opening of schools to worry about how their children will cope with viruses in the new school year,” he says Mrs. Maria Papadaki Director of the Pediatric Clinic Metropolitan Hospital, mentioning ways to protect children from viruses and also to deal with them:

A healthy preschool-age child can contract a viral infection 10-15 times per school year.

This happens partly because the organism of young children is more vulnerable, as their immune system is not fully developed, but also because at these young ages it is more difficult to follow hygiene rules. Usually the most difficult year is the first, when the child’s organism comes into contact for the first time with a multitude of infectious agents, mainly viruses but also bacteria in the school room.

This fact prompts many parents to postpone the start of school life and transfer it to older ages or to stop their children attending kindergarten in the middle of the school year, with negative consequences for the children’s psychology, but also serious socio-economic consequences for families.

How can we strengthen the immune system of children and therefore protect them from the outbreak of viruses?

The good health of children and the strengthening of their immune system is based on triple hygiene diet-exercise-adequate sleep.

Proper nutrition is the basis for building a strong defense system, which will help the child effectively deal with the viruses with which he will come into contact.

Foods rich in vitamins and trace elements such as vitamin A, D and E, ω-3 fatty acids, iron and selenium, are “weapons” for shielding the body’s defenses.

It is recommended that children follow a balanced diet, which includes all food groups, rich in fruits and vegetables, according to the standards of the Mediterranean diet.

In addition, we should remind our children to drink water often, as insufficient hydration weakens the body and makes it more vulnerable to infections.

At the same time, sport offers children physical and mental well-being, reduces stress and helps them sleep better. Young children should sleep at least 9-12 hours a day and maintain a consistent sleep schedule. Screen use should be avoided after evening hours, as it disturbs the child’s tranquility and interferes with the sleep process.

Finally, don’t forget that the most effective way to boost children’s immune systems is to be consistent with the vaccination scheduleas defined by the National Immunization Program for children and adolescents and administered by the family pediatrician.

According to the 2024 Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule, influenza vaccination is recommended for all children aged 6 months to 5 years and for older children who belong to high-risk groups for severe disease, such as children with chronic respiratory, cardiac or neurological problems.

How can we protect children from the transmission of viruses?

Recently, the US CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) issued updated guidelines for reducing the spread of viral infections in school classrooms, in an effort to limit the number of days students are absent from school due to illness.

These instructions include practices that should be applied mainly by school workers, such as regular ventilation of classrooms and buses, as well as daily cleaning of surfaces with which students often come into contact such as desks, knobs, electronic keyboards computers, games, etc. However, special emphasis is also placed on hygiene rules that students of all ages should learn to apply, in order to protect themselves and their classmates from the transmission of infections.

What hygiene rules should we teach our children?

Proper hand hygiene is one of the most effective measures to prevent the transmission of viruses, especially those of the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems, which are the most common. Studies show that proper hand hygiene reduces the transmission of gastroenteritis by 23-40%, respiratory infections by 15-21%, and days children miss school due to gastroenteritis by 29-57%!

This practically means that hand hygiene can prevent one in three children with gastroenteritis and one in five children with a respiratory tract infection.

“It is very important to teach young students not to put their hands in their mouths or noses. In addition, we should encourage children to use their elbow and not their hands to cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze,” emphasizes the expert.

What is proper hand hygiene?;

Proper hand hygiene means preferably washing with soap or alternatively using an antiseptic solution with an alcohol content greater than 60%.

Hand washing is preferable because it removes dirt, germs and chemicals more effectively. Note that antiseptics have limited effectiveness in removing viruses and bacteria that cause gastroenteritis, so hand washing is essential after using the toilet.

Caution for preschoolers, the use of antiseptic solutions must always be done under the supervision of an adult, because there is a risk of toxicity if the antiseptic comes into contact with the child’s eyes or oral cavity. It goes without saying that antiseptic solutions should be kept out of the reach of small children.

What is the correct way for children to wash their hands?

The steps for proper hand washing are as follows:
• Wet hands with running water and then apply soap.
• We rub our hands together and do not forget areas such as the dorsal (back) surface of the hands, between the fingers and under the nails.
• Wash hands for at least 20 seconds. As young children do not have a good sense of time, we can help them by teaching them to sing a song that is approximately the same length of time while they are washing their hands.
• Rinse with running water and don’t forget to dry your hands well by wiping them with a clean towel, as moisture favors the spread of viruses.

Students should learn to wash their hands regularly and especially before eating, after using the toilet or playing outside. Don’t forget that younger children need help and supervision.

When should a sick child stay home and when can they go back to school?

The sick child should stay at home and rest in order to have a faster recovery, but also to protect his classmates from the transmission of the infection.

In addition, it is very important that during the course of one virus the child does not catch a second virus because co-infection, i.e. the simultaneous attack of two viruses, can lead to a worsening of the child’s symptoms.

A child must remain at home if:

• He has a fever
• Has vomited more than twice in the previous 24 hours
• Has diarrheal stools
• Has respiratory symptoms such as a cough or severe runny nose, which are worsening or not improving.

As the symptoms of an infection improve, so does the likelihood of transmission. Children can return to school when:

• They do not have a fever and have not received antipyretics for more than two 24 hours
• They do not vomit or have diarrhea
• They show an improvement in the symptoms of the respiratory system at least in the last 24 hours

“Ideally, children should return to school as long as they remain symptom-free for at least two 24 hours,” concludes Ms. Papadakis.