Common winter health issues for kids

Have your kids already got the winter sniffles? Now is the time to get your children’s immunity and health on track to prevent the onset of the season’s most common bugs.

But before we look at the solutions, let’s firstly look at why kids seem to pick up bugs so easily, especially this time of year. “With the cold weather, adults and kids tend to stay indoors, which encourages the spread of viruses. Kids also have poor hygiene behaviours such as washing hands regularly,” explains Dr Louis Cheung, General Paediatrician at Prince of Wales Private Hospital.

“Help your kids avoid picking up bugs by teaching them good hygiene habits such as washing hands, using tissues and not sharing drink bottles and utensils. Also, immunise your kids to give them good protection against the more serious diseases,” suggests Dr Cheung.

So, what else can you do to help prevent some of the common ailments that tend to affect children this time of year? We spoke to Michelle Boyd, Natural Medicines Expert from Flordis Clinically Proven Natural Medicines to get her top winter health tips to help protect your family.

Michelle Boyd’s winter health advice:

Common cold and flu

There is an increased incidence of colds and the flu virus in the community during winter, so children become more exposed. Viruses thrive off the cool, dry air, and during winter we generally spend more time indoors breathing in the same air. As a result, we lack vitamin D, which can ward off the virus.

Prevention

Ensure your kids eat a balanced diet with adequate amounts of complex carbohydrate, protein, good fats, fruits and vegetables, and keep them hydrated throughout the day. Also encourage hand washing with warm soapy water to prevent the spreading of germs and bugs, and make sure they get enough sleep.

Croup

Winter sees an increase in viruses, including the one that causes croup – an infection of the throat and windpipe that is caused by a virus like a cold.

Prevention

The quality of a child’s diet plays a big part in preventing infections such as Croup. A diet high in sugar is likely to lower the immune system, while a diet high in fruit and vegetables is going to be protective.

SAD – Seasonal Effective Disorder

During the cooler and darker months, kids are exposed to less hours of sunlight and tend to spend more time indoors, which can increase the chance of children experiencing Seasonal Effective Disorder.

Prevention

Encourage your child to get involved in winter outdoor sports and activities and family outings to the beach or park. Just be sure to wrap up them up in warm clothes! Also encourage regular social interaction with similar-aged children, sleep overs and play dates.

bh’s product recommendations to help treat winter health woes:

- An aspirator: a suction advice that can be used to remove mucus and fluids from the nose. This is particularly useful for young children who are unable to blow their noses.
- Saline drops: the salt water in saline drops helps relieve mild congestion, loosen mucus, and prevent crusting.
- Vicks VapoRub: when rubbed on the chest, this ointment helps to relieve congestion, and eases minor aches and pains and coughs.
- Olive leaf extract – this liquid interacts with the proteins in the cold and flu virus, which helps ease the infection.

What health issues have your children had in winter? How do you prevent your children getting ill in the cooler months?

36 Member Comments

tinakapoor02 24 Jun 2019 6:37 PM

Thank you very much..

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MoonlightSak16 16 May 2019 1:44 PM

Winter being close I always start diffusing some essential oils in my house to help with killing germs.

ThisIsMe 19 Nov 2018 12:25 PM

My year old ALWAYS gets sick during winter drives me crazy!! I have started giving her probiotics which has seemed to help during the winter months

Estherle12 11 Jul 2018 5:04 PM

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Orchid27 26 Jun 2018 1:13 AM

This Winter there is so many bugs going around.. Maybe some kids should be taught to cover their mouths when they sneeze of cough. This is the biggest issue of our kids getting sick

BeautifulJusty 15 May 2017 8:33 PM

Vicks Vaporub was great as a child, and is now also great as an adult when the common cold comes around and rears its ugly head.

Peta908 12 Aug 2016 4:38 PM

Its been a shocking winter for colds/flus. I also find putting vicks on kids feets (then socks on) before bed seems to help get a good night sleep

meena706 27 Jun 2014 2:08 AM

My child was sick before two weeks and he got cold and flu and cough. That is very bad to handle that situation with kids

Anitas Artistry 20 Jun 2014 7:32 AM

Great advice, thanks so much BH.

Beautybabe140194 20 Jun 2014 3:47 AM

The cold is very common

Kassalee 19 Jun 2014 9:37 PM

Problem is my 'kids' (teens and older) get themselves run-down and pick up colds and coughs so easy. Having said that, I'm getting over a cold! They usually reach for the Cold and Flu capsules and get on with their day - me too!

Brinsley 19 Jun 2014 11:57 AM

Love that pic ... what a little cutie!!!

skitzkitty 19 Jun 2014 8:08 AM

My coworkers with kids are ALWAYS sick - seems they pick up everything going around at child-case centres.

GoddessMagick 19 Jun 2014 6:08 AM

cold and flu free here so far and hoping to stay that way. :) Good tips here for this time of year.

clearcrystalwater 18 Jun 2014 9:35 AM

That baby has the cutest dimple! My youngest is a night owl (like her dad, not like me) and she tends to find it hard to get up in the mornings - winter is worst for her.

Kate113 18 Jun 2014 3:56 AM

My son is very fussy when it comes to fruit and vege, so i get the V8 juice which is 1 serve of fruit and vege per glass. Its great. :)

CherryBlossom 17 Jun 2014 1:00 PM

Great tips for adults as well as the little ones.

DeannaBoon 16 Jun 2014 2:19 PM

I recommend vitamin C and flu vaccine. Fresh fruits and vege are best to boost immunity. Make juices or fruit salad for kids if they are picky.

Linda_Vesinger 16 Jun 2014 10:13 AM

My son is in his early 20's & has just hit up the Vicks Vaporub today for his head cold - good for kids of all ages!

Tee631 16 Jun 2014 7:42 AM

the cold - dreadful dreadful days

bebeautiful34 16 Jun 2014 4:58 AM

It's horrifying to read that there's so many diseases and illnesses that can affect my little one!

ray_jay 15 Jun 2014 11:54 PM

Informative good read. Croup asthma broncholitis the cold and flu..... always this time with the little airways, always seek medical help...

Truth 15 Jun 2014 9:33 PM

Sorry Beauties i meant to say - always very grey and cold right now in winter, not all the time, me duffer lol

Truth 15 Jun 2014 9:32 PM

Thank you Bh these tips are very valuable. My daughter just had a nasty chest infection, thank goodness she is better, here in Victoria it is always very cold and grey outside so its so hard to get kids to do anything outside, i always encourage a soccer game(we love to play this) and the girls have a play for an hour before they want to go inside, in summer they could play all day, but i think its something with the grey skies and cold air that seems very unmotivating :( makes me appreciate summer a whole lot more when it does come around.

talk-a-lot 15 Jun 2014 9:36 AM

Cold and flu are generally the health issues for my family over winter. My kids are teenagers so we get a seasonal flu injection, its been effective so far.

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