How to Protect Yourself and Your Child from Viral Infections

Viral infections are one of the most common causes of illness in children and adults, especially during the autumn-winter period when people spend more time indoors. However, it is possible to catch a viral infection at any time of the year.

It is impossible to completely avoid contact with viruses, especially if your child attends kindergarten or school. However, proper prevention can help reduce the risk of infection, and vaccination can protect against certain infections and their severe complications. You can always get professional advice on vaccinations, schedule a routine check-up, or create an individual immunization calendar at the medical network "Dobrobut".

By knowing how to protect against viral infections, parents can significantly reduce the frequency of illnesses in the family and protect their child from complications.

Vaccination – The Basis for Preventing Dangerous Infections

Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to protect against infections for which vaccines exist. It does not prevent all acute respiratory infections (ARIs), but it helps to develop specific immunity to certain pathogens.

What vaccinations are important to get?

According to the National Calendar of Preventive Vaccinations of Ukraine. Regularly check whether your child has received all vaccinations appropriate for their age. If doses are missed, consult our pediatrician to create an individual vaccination schedule. Vaccination of adults against diphtheria, whooping cough, and tetanus is also relevant once every 10 years.
Against influenza. Seasonal vaccination is recommended every year. It is particularly important for young children, pregnant women, people with chronic diseases, and other high-risk groups.
Against COVID-19. The need for vaccination and the recommended schedule are determined according to current recommendations and risk factors.
Against other infections as indicated. For example, vaccination against chickenpox, pneumococcal, and meningococcal infections can provide additional protection according to age and doctor’s recommendations.

Important: even if a child frequently suffers from ARIs, this is not a reason to postpone routine vaccination without medical indications.

Ventilate Rooms and Ensure Air Quality

Many viral infections spread through airborne droplets via infectious particles released during breathing, talking, coughing, and sneezing. In closed rooms with poor ventilation, these particles can accumulate, increasing the likelihood of infection.

What helps reduce the risk of infection:

regular ventilation, especially in areas such as the bedroom, children’s room, and places where many people gather;
spend more time outdoors whenever possible;
if ventilation is insufficient, use an air purifier with a HEPA filter whenever possible.

A humidifier can be beneficial in excessive dryness but is not proven to be an effective preventive measure against viral infections. It is important to regularly clean the device as per the instructions when used.

Understanding how to protect against viral infections at home starts with simple regular ventilation and maintaining a healthy microclimate in the home.

Teach Your Child to Wash Hands Properly

Hand hygiene helps reduce the risk of transmission of many infections. Hands should be washed:

after returning from outside;
before preparing and eating food;
after using the toilet or changing a diaper;
after coughing, sneezing, and using a tissue;
after contact with a person showing signs of infection.

Hands should be washed with soap and water for about 20 seconds, thoroughly cleaning palms, the backs of the hands, areas between the fingers, and thumbs.

If soap and water are unavailable, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer can be used. It should be applied for children under adult supervision to prevent the product from getting into their mouth or eyes.

It is not necessary to disinfect all household items excessively. Regularly cleaning frequently touched surfaces is sufficient, especially if someone in the family is ill.

Follow Respiratory Etiquette

Teach your child to cough and sneeze into a disposable tissue or the elbow crease, not into their hands. The used tissue should be thrown away immediately, followed by hand washing.

It is also important:

not to touch the eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands;
not to share cups, water bottles, and cutlery;
not to share toothbrushes;
to avoid kissing the face and hands of infants, especially if you have cold symptoms.

A mask can be an additional protective measure in crowded places, during outbreaks of infections, or when in contact with a sick person. It should fit snugly to the face, covering the nose and mouth.

Masks for children should be used considering their age, ability to remove them independently, and current recommendations. Do not put a mask on a child who cannot remove it themselves, including infants.

Limit Contacts with Sick People

If a family member develops a runny nose, cough, sore throat, or fever, it is advisable to minimize close contact with other family members (especially small children) as much as possible.

If a child is sick:

keep them at home and do not send them to kindergarten or school while they feel unwell;
regularly ventilate the room;
wash hands after contact with nasal and oral secretions;
do not allow close contact of the sick child with newborns and others in high-risk groups (the elderly, people with immunodeficiency conditions, etc.).

Return to normal activities is possible when their overall condition improves and they have not had a fever for at least 24 hours without antipyretics. During the next five days, it is advisable to maintain additional precautions, especially when interacting with people in high-risk groups. At the same time, consider the rules of the educational institution and the doctor’s recommendations regarding the specific infection.

For adults and children, knowledge about how to protect against viral infections during an epidemiological rise is the key to peace of mind and the health of the entire family.

Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle

Full sleep, balanced nutrition, and regular physical activity are important for the normal functioning of the immune system. However, none of these factors guarantees that a person will not contract a virus.

Nutrition. Offer your child a variety of foods: vegetables, fruits, whole grains, sources of protein, and healthy fats. The diet should be appropriate for their age and individual needs.
Sleep. Maintain a regular sleep schedule considering the child's age needs.
Physical activity. Daily walks and active play are beneficial for the immune system. There is no need to avoid outdoor activities just because of cold weather if the child is healthy, dressed appropriately, and has no other contraindications.
Hydration. Offer your child enough fluids appropriate for their age. Excessive water intake does not prevent virus infections.

Do Vitamins Help Prevent Viral Infections?

It is important to remember:

vitamin D is prescribed according to age, recommendations for preventing deficiency, and individual risk factors;
vitamin C in common doses does not prevent colds;
zinc, herbal remedies, immunomodulators, and other means should not be given to children for prevention, as this has not been proven effective, and can sometimes be harmful;
antibiotics do not work against viruses and do not prevent infection.

If a child has a restricted diet, growth problems, or other signs of possible nutrient deficiencies, discuss this with the pediatrician.

Should Antiviral Medications Be Given After Contact with an Infected Person?

Most antiviral medications do not have proven efficacy for the prevention or treatment of viral infections, so their use is not recommended.

However, for certain infections, such as influenza, in certain situations, a doctor may consider medication for prevention. This will depend on the age, underlying health conditions, nature of contacts, and the time that has elapsed since then.

Do not use leftover medications from previous illnesses and do not give medication prescribed for another family member to your child.

A clear approach to treatment and understanding how to protect against viral infections without unnecessary medications helps to avoid unwanted side effects.

What to Do If Your Child Becomes Ill Anyway?

Even when following all recommendations, viral infections can occur. In such cases, it is important to monitor the child’s overall condition, ensure sufficient fluid intake, and consult a doctor if necessary.

Do not give antibiotics without a prescription. Do not use combination cold medications, decongestants, or antipyretics without considering age and instructions.

Seek Medical Attention Immediately if:

the child has difficulty breathing, chest retractions occur, lips turn blue, or breathing pauses occur;
the child is unusually lethargic, difficult to wake, or has seizures;
there are signs of dehydration: drastically reduced urine output, dry mucous membranes, the child cannot drink;
the condition worsens rapidly.

A child under three months of age with a body temperature of 38 °C or higher requires immediate medical attention, even if there are no other symptoms.

Conclusion

The most effective strategy for preventing viral infections is to combine vaccination, adequate nutrition, hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, and limiting contacts during illness.

There is no vitamin, medication, or method of tempering that will guarantee protection against all viruses. Instead, consistently adhering to simple recommendations helps reduce the risk of infection and protect children and adults from severe courses of specific infections.

If you have questions or wish to get vaccinated, call our contact center or fill out a form on the website.