Spread The Word... Not The Infection!

I am sending Sophie to Kinderland childcare for a half-day programme in July so naturally, I worry that she would fall sick often once she starts attending childcare. While there is no way of preventing her from getting infections, there is however good practices that can minimise the spread of infections and ensure speedy recoveries. No, no miracle drug or super booster for the immune system... Just common sense and civic-mindedness.

Let's begin with common sense. We need time, rest and proper diet (sometimes medicine) to recover from any common ailments and infections. During this period, our body is also very vulnerable to secondary infections because our immune system is weakened. So, it is only logical not to overstress the body and unwittingly prevent a full recovery. Full recovery means the body is now able to fight similar infections in the future. Of course the viruses mutate faster than we can learn to fight them.


Thus, Papa and I have decided that we should keep her home whenever she falls sick at the childcare (touch wood). We are lucky to have the option since I am not working and I can take care of her if it happens. We also agree that during the rest period we must avoid crowded places or let her overexert herself. That would prevent secondary infection. And of course, stop the spread of the infection to others.


Let me stress the importance of not spreading infections to other children. Once you let a sick child roam around at crowed places aka shopping malls, you are guilty of spreading infections to others. Then the same infected children would bring it back to their childcare centres and cause an outbreak. And thus begins a neverending story. I am more lenient towards parents who cannot keep their sick child at home due to work. However, a sick child must be kept away from the rest of the children in the childcare centre if possible (depends on the practices of individual childcare centres). If need arises, let your child wear a face mask or something! So, for heaven's sake... be civic-minded!

I have witnessed children and adults alike, sneezing and coughing without covering their nose and mouth, thus generously "sharing" their germ-infested droplets. People must be taught to be considerate enough not to spread their diseases so carelessly. Remember SARS? Bad enough you are out in public when you are sick, you do not even bother to cover your nose and mouth as you sneeze and cough! What kind of person are you then? Therefore, ever since Sophie got her first asthmatic cough due to infection (thanks to Pats Schoolhouse - Baby Haven!), we have made a conscious effort to avoid exposing her to crowded, air-conditioned places for too long (only a couple of hours).

We also invest in nasal spray and washes her nostrils as often as possible. This helps to keep the inside moist (air-conditioned places drys up the inside, causes irritation and leads to mucus production) and remove germs and dirt that is stuck inside (if accumulated, the stuff can breed germs and cause infection). Above all, preventing an outbreak is as important, if not more important than dealing with one. I keep washing Sophie's hands and face because she tends to touch everything, everywhere and then "eats" her fingers and even toys. I also bathe (at least wash up and change her clothes) her once she comes home from outside.

Call me paranoid, but I do not want to see her breathing heavily and choking in her mucus and phlegm again. As she grows older, I must teach her to wash her hands and wash up whenever she comes in contact with someone who is sick. Personal care and hygiene is a good way to keep germs away. As for those health products that promise to boost your immune system... Well, if they work, then the doctors would be a lot poorer than they are now, wouldn't they? Have you seen the queue at your Pediatrician lately?

Of course, I have no medical degree or authority over how people should lead their lives. I just hope that my little girl would not be falling sick so often simply because of the lack of common sense and civic-mindedness of others. As it is now, with everything that we do, Sophie still falls sick once in a while. Nowadays, I will skip western medicine unless she needs antibiotics, skin remedy or emergency care (super touch wood).