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How to protect your children against bird flu

Children are particularly susceptible to infection, and are therefore more at risk to catch, if the trend is spreading across your area and die once they do catch.

It is significant that the first known victim of the current strain of A/H5N1 avian flu, back in May 1997 in Hong Kong was a small boy of three years.

Despite medical treatment of a great reception from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, he died of multiple organ failure in 12 days, because they could not keep him breathing.

Children have immune systems that are relatively underdeveloped, as is their heart, brain and other parts of their bodies are not fully developed. Because they are children, not adults. In technical terms, they have "systems" naive immune.

Also, children tend to spread infection in their bodies to each other by simple play. Younger children in particular, have little sense of distance and social propriety. They hit, fight, Hug, crawling and drooling over the other.

This is why it is so well known that if a child in a center day care or classroom is sick, all the other children, their teachers and parents, brothers and sisters will also take the same "bug".

Several of the known victims of bird flu have been children. It is very likely that this is not only due to their lack of protection immune.

Children who live in rural villages where chickens roam freely are more likely to play with these chickens that adults, who are working too busy. Also, the ground is littered with chicken droppings full of viruses, and children play on this ground.

It is striking and sad that one the dead of avian flu in Turkey was a little girl whose parents described her as very friendly – even to chickens, that she loved to kiss.

Sometimes I worry about my local park, which has a small pond with many ducks. I walk around and just ignore the ducks. But many small children love the approach and try to pet ducks.

So my first advice is – once the flu flu reaches your country, do not let your children play with two domesticated chickens or turkeys or wild birds of all kinds.

Also, stay out of zoos, particularly petting zoos where children have direct contact with animals.

Once the bird flu hit your area, keep your pets in your home or garden. We know that avian flu can infect cats, and we believe it can infect dogs. If you think your animal was infected, get rid of it before it can infect your child.

If your child gets sick, Tamiflu has been approved for use in children over 1. However, it may not be available, and nobody really knows how much Tamiflu is necessary to stop an infection of bird flu in adults, let alone children. Moreover, in Japan, Tamiflu is associated with the origin of neurological disorders, including including suicide, in 12 adolescents.

Do not give your children regular aspirin or other analgesics, as this could cause syndrome Reyes, a rare, little known but deadly brain inflammation.

Clean your children long after they have played. You should especially make sure they wash their hands. It should be even more often than the traditional after using the toilet and before meals.

That's because the most common for the two cold viruses and flu from spreading is to mobilize the people's hands, and then people are rubbing their eyes and mouths with their hands. Kids do this even more than adults.

Once bird flu reaches pandemic contagious stage, keep your children away from the centers day care, schools and even other children in the neighborhood. You do not know who might have the virus.

I know they will not be as that, but unless people come into contact with, the more they are likely to prevent the disease. They can learn social skills after the pandemic is over.

Thus is also a good idea to plan to keep your kids occupied at home during the pandemic. They can play outside in their own backyard, but should not leave unless they are with you.

Have them bring their textbooks to they have with their studies. Have lots of games and toys on site – including many toys and games appliances. You can not depend on electricity available, and include board games and computer games. You must save extra batteries for your radio and lights flashing.

When a food store, focusing on proteins, vegetables and fruits. The snacks that kids love sugar reduces the strength of their system immune.

They can take the same vitamins and minerals than adults, but of course in reduced amounts.

However, if you take care for a sick child with avian influenza vitamin C, it will be difficult to give them too much. Vitamin C is used in the fight against infection, and influenza Influenza is a powerful enemy that will require a lot of vitamin C. Give them as much as you can get them to swallow.

Vaccines against the flu usually only protect children against 3 strains of influenza authorities usually believe will be most common during the flu season in particular. This includes the Flu mist inhaled. None vaccine exists yet against avian flu, and it will take 6 months before there is a cons a contagious form of avian flu. And by then, the virus has mutated further.

If children must go where others will meet, it is a good idea to buy a child size Nanomask. Ordinary surgical masks or N95 masks will not be effective.

And of course, consult your child's doctor, especially if your child has chronic illness.

About the Author

c 2006 by Richard Stooker

Richard Stooker is the author of
How to Protect Yourself and Your Family From Bird Flu
and

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