Everyone remembers the fear and uncertainties that befell us when Covid-19 hit our shores in 2020. Before the start of the new year of 2024, there was news again that the Coronavirus had re-emerged in its mutated form of Omicrom sub-variant JN.1. It is highly transmissible but just as dangerous as the original Covid-19 and all of us, including children, are advised to take preventive measures to prevent its spread.
As it stands, the Omicron sub-variant JN.1 has spread worldwide and its prevalence is rapidly increasing. Globally, there has been a surge of Covid-19 infections, hospitalisations and deaths in the weeks going into January 2024, and this is possibly due to an increase in international travel and tourism over the year-end and coming Spring festivities.
Although the situation is deemed to be under control in Malaysia as of January 2024, infections are on the rise. It is therefore important for parents to educate children about the virus and how we must all remain vigilant and take precautions.
Covid-19 is Here to Stay
This is because Covid will never really go away. The pandemic caused by the original Covid-19 virus may largely be over but with the virus mutating over time, we may be dealing with its many variants for a long time to come.
Variants of viruses are to be expected as it is their behaviour to mutate. As it finds new hosts, spreads and replicates itself over and over again, its genes undergo random “copying errors” (or genetic mutations), and from there new variants emerge.
Covid-19’s JN.1 variant is a descendant of the B.A 2.86 Omicron variant and its symptoms include a runny nose, sneezing, cough, sore throat, feeling exhausted, headaches and body aches.
If one thinks about a virus like a tree, the CDC explains, one will notice that all of its branches are slightly different from one another. These differences are the variants. Some of these variations allow the virus to spread more easily or make it resistant to treatment or vaccines. Currently, amid a host of other variants, JN.1 is the most dominant.
Long Covid
Some people who have been infected with acute Covid-19 also develop Long Covid or Post-Covid Conditions. This is because the virus traverses the entire body and the brain when it infects and can stay for months. The patient continues to experience signs, symptoms and conditions even after he or she “heals” from the initial infection. Some of these Long Covid signs and symptoms include: extreme tiredness (fatique), shortness of breath, loss of smell and muscle aches. Other less common symptoms are problems with memory and concentration (brain fog), chest pain, difficulty sleeping, heart palpitations, dizziness, pins and needles, joint pain, depression and anxiety, tinnitus and earaches, diarrhoea, stomach ache and loss of appetite, a high temperature, cough, headaches, sore throat, changes to smell or taste and rashes.
Prevention Better Than Cure
As can be seen, prevention is always better than cure. According to the World Health Organisation, Covid is easily spread between people in several ways:
1: Short range airborne transmission
The virus spreads mainly between people who are in close contact with one another such as at a conversational distance. When an infected person coughs, sneezes, speaks, sings or breathes, the other person can contract the virus when they inhale these infectious particles that travel through the air like short range aerosol. This is called short range airborne transmission.
2: Droplet transmission
A person can also get infected when infectious particles come into direct contact with the person’s eyes, nose or mouth. People may also become infected when they touch their eyes, nose or mouth after touching surfaces or objects that have been contaminated by the virus.
3: When Inside Enclosed Spaces with Poor Ventilation
People in close proximity to one another for long periods especially in indoor locations where there is poor ventilation are at higher risk of contracting the virus than when they are outside in outdoor locations. Activities where more particles are expelled from the mouth such as singing, breathing heavily during exercise increase the risk of transmission.
The “Three C’s” are a useful way to describe settings where Covid-19 can be easily spread.
Influenza
Meanwhile, flu hospitalisations are also rising. Similar to Covid-19, influenza, or flu as it is commonly called, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by the influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat and sometimes the lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness, may last longer in children and its complications, may even lead to death.
There are four influenza strains (two A and two B subtypes) and they are known as the “4 Flu Monsters” that cause almost all of the Influenza infections.
In Malaysia, influenza or Influenza-Like Illnesses (ILI) can occur throughout the year and peaks twice a year from May to July and from November to January. Like Covid-19, the flu virus is transmitted through the same ways, such as via direct contact with respiratory droplets, and presents symptoms such as a high fever above 38.0°Centigrade, cough, headache, chills, sore throat, nasal congestion, muscle aches and fatique.
Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea can sometimes accompany Influenza especially in children.
The most at risk are children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with underlying medical conditions such as Diabetes and Heart Disease.
How to Safeguard Children from Covid-19 and Influenza
A: Wash Hands Frequently
Now, more than ever, it is important to remind our children to practice proper hygiene while at home and in school or playschool. Frequent and thorough handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds will help reduce the chances of infection.
Teach your child to wash his hands properly. There are 5 steps:
Make sure your children wash their hands before and after eating, after going to the toilet, and if they are in daycare or kindergarten or school, after playing with classmates and recess time.
If they are out of the home with you and there is no running water and soap available, use hand sanitizers or wet wipes to clean the hands.
For parents, you can help everyone I the family stay healthy and avoid most infections − not just Covid-19 and influenza − by washing your hands:
B: Avoid Touching the Face, Eyes and Mouth
It is just as important to remind children not to touch their face, rub their eyes or put fingers in their mouth.
C: Wear Face Masks
A face mask can help give extra protection against infection. It also stops children from absent-mindedly putting their fingers or toys or things they pick up from the floor and elsewhere into their mouths. This behaviour is called baby-mouthing. It is a natural process where they learn about objects in their new world but this is not a good behaviour when it comes to preventing infection. Toddlers up to 2 years old tend to baby-mouth and thumb-sucking can go on till four or five years old.
Children two years and older can wear masks to day care or kindergarten or when they go to crowded paces. Make sure the mask fits snugly over their noses and mouths.
D: Teach your Child Cough and Sneeze Etiquette
Teach your child to practice turning or moving away from people and then covering their mouths and noses when they cough or sneeze. Cover the mouth with a tissue whenever possible and then throw away the tissue into the trash bin afterwards. The same applies to adults.
If tissues are not available, then cough into the elbow or upper arm, and not into the hands.
Wash the hands afterwards and after blowing the nose.
The best way to teach children how to practice cough and sneeze etiquette is to show them how to do it yourself. Explain how germs travel, then demonstrate clearly how to cover their cough or sneeze by bringing the arm up to their face and coughing into their elbow. Encourage them to do it a few times along with you.
E: Eat a Balanced Diet and Maintain Physical Exercise
It is a of paramount importance to bolster immunity and children can achieve this by eating a balanced and nutritious diet and to keep up with physical activity.
Eating a balanced diet supports children’s overall well-being and growth. Include lots of fruits and vegetables, protein, wholegrains and legumes as well as dairy to provide the necessary nutrients, fats, vitamins and minerals for the child’s mental and physical health. Physical health affects mental health and vice versa.
Furthermore, several studies have stated that nutrition plays an essential role in the regulation of optimal immunological response because it provides adequate nutrients in sufficient concentrations to immune cells to enable the immune system to mount effective responses against infections.
As for physical exercise, half an hour of activity like walking, jumping, dancing, running and playground activity can strengthen the body’s natural immunity. Exercise and a raised heart rate causes antibodies and white blood cells – the body’s immune system cells for fighting viruses, bacteria and other pathogens – to circulate more rapidly so they could detect illnesses earlier than they might have before. Furthermore, physical activity may help flush out bacteria from the lungs and airways and reduce the chance of getting a cold, flu and other illnesses. Furthermore, exercise releases endorphins – “Feel good” hormones that alleviate pain, lower stress, improve mood and enhance that sense of well-being.
F: Social Distancing
Especially for children going to school or crowded places, encourage the child to maintain a safe distance from others because social distancing is still a key preventive measure. Tell them to avoid close contact such as hugging or sharing personal items.
G: Keep the Child Home if they are Not Feeling Well
If your child has symptoms of respiratory or gastrointestinal infections like cough, fever, sore throat, vomiting or diarrhoea, it is best not to send him to classes or school. Staying home when sick can lower the risk of spreading infectious diseases like Covid-19 and flu to other people.
H: Ensure Proper Ventilation
Promote activities that allow children to play and learn in well-ventilated spaces to reduce the risk of airborne transmission. Wherever possible open windows and doors to improve ventilation indoors.
I: Vaccination
The best way to protect children from getting very sick from Covid-19, influenza and other illnesses is to get them vaccinated.
The Ministry of Heath has approved Covid-19 vaccines for children aged five to 11 years old regardless of whether they are Malaysian or non-Malaysian. Children with underlying conditions such as Obesity, neurological disorders or immunocompromising conditions are prioritised to receive the vaccines as they are at an increased risk for severe Covid-19.
Those with no underlying conditions should also get vaccinated as it would lower their risk of contracting Covid-19.
Although children are less likely than adults to get Covid-19 or display symptoms when they are infected, there still may be serious outcomes such as hospitalisation, severe complications or severe secondary infection or Long Covid.
Covid-19 vaccinations are still being offered at Government clinics. The MySejahtera app has the list of centres offering these shots.
As for vaccinations against Influenza, it is, in fact, one of the five additional vaccines on top of the 13 under the National Immunisation Programme (NIP) recommended for children to prevent chickenpox, Hepatitis A, influenza, meningococcal disease and rotavirus.
The 13 NIP vaccinations are provided free of charge at all government clinics across the country. The additional five vaccines are available at private hospitals and clinics for a fee, all over Malaysia.
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Nutrition and the Immune System
Numerous studies have shown that nutrition plays a vital role in supporting a robust immune system. A strong immune function in the body plays an essential role in preventing and combating invading pathogens. Not only must there be an adequate intake of the amount but also type of nutrients counts. Vitamins such as C, D, E, A and Bs as well as minerals like calcium, magnesium, zinc, selenium, iron and others are imperative for proper immune health and function.
Furthermore, recent studies have also shown that 70% to 80% of immune cells are present in the gut and that there is an intricate interplay between the intestinal microbiota and immune health. Especially for children, nutrition becomes a potent determinant of their microbiota composition and maturation which in turn, controls their immune function.
Morinaga Chil-kid
Morinaga Chil-kid, a Japanese formula milk for children aged one to seven, is packed with over 45 essential nutrients such as ARA and DHA, GOS, 5 Nucleotides, Omega 3&6 LCPs, plus 27 Vitamins and Minerals.
Some of the Vitamins and Minerals include Vitamins A, B1, B6, B12, Folic Acid, Zinc, Calcium, Iron, and many others. Just two servings a day complemented with meals will help your child achieve their daily Recommended Nutrition Intake (RNI).
Specially formulated in a balanced ratio of protein, fat and energy, the milk is specifically designed to meet the nutritional needs of fast-growing Asian children. Moreover, it is less sweet and has a mild vanilla taste that makes it specially palatable for children.