6 Ways To Help Protect Your Child From Swine Flu Without Vaccinations

April 30, 2009 by tanya
Filed under: Baby Health, News

With the panic about Swine flu, and American health officials declaring a public health emergency - people around the world fear that there may soon be a global pandemic.

The virus has now been determined that it can be transmitted human-to-human, and rates of infection are already higher than the last official flu pandemic in 1968 of the Hong Kong flu.

Parents who are concerned about the Swine flu have been told to be on the lookout for the symptoms below:

Your child has a fever of over 100
They are coughing
They have a runny nose or a sore throat
Their joints ache
They are complaining of a headache
Your child has been vomiting or has diarrhea
They seem very lethargic
They have lost their appetite

Currently, the worlds top flu experts have been unable to predict how dangerous the strain of flu is, and have very little information about whether the virus had been getting more or less dangerous before the official outbreak.

There are measures that can be taken to help protect your families, without heading down the route of vaccinations - which in the last flu panic of the 1970’s did more harm than good.

These guidelines will help keep your child’s immune systems ticking over nicely, so that there will be less chance of catching the flu:

Make sure your child is having enough Vitamin D - this protects them from infection. People who are Vitamin D deficient may be more susceptible to catching the flu. The sun is actually our largest source of vitamin D. So try and get your child outside for some fresh air. You can also get vitamin D from foods such as fish and liver, or from a multi-vitamin suitable for your child’s age.
Try and give them fresh food - avoid giving your child processed foods or food high in sugar. Sugar has been shown to reduce the function of the immune system, and increases the chance of viruses or illness. Look for foods high in omega-3 fats, as these are great for maintaining good health. Omega-6 oils will damage the immune system… many products will now say on their label if they are high in omega-3.
Make sure your child gets enough rest - they will be able to fight off illness better if well rested.
Exercise - this will help strenghten their immune systems. If they are able to walk, take them to the park and let them run around. For babies who are crawling, chase them around the house!
Make sure they wash their hands often - This will help stop germs spreading to other people.
Avoid going to the hospital, unless it is an emergency - If you are going to be exposed to the flu, there is a good chance it will be here!

If parents have any concerns, they should contact their doctor.