Looks like handwashing is still the number one way to reduce the transmission of illness between family members. In fact, an article in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) conducted a search on "reports of any intervention to prevent transmission of respiratory tract viruses", and found that "simple public health measures seem to be highly effective at reducing the transmission of respiratory viruses."
Throughout the 50+ studies, they found a common three main categories of successful prevention: "hygiene (handwashing, covering cough), barrier measures (gloves, gowns and masks) and isolation of people with suspected respiratory tract infections."
To put the research into practice:
1. Hygiene: Handwashing (10 times daily) and teaching kids as young as 2 years to cover their cough.
2. Barrier measures: Not sure on this one: any ideas? Probably what Diane suggested as far as preventing other kids and family members from using same blankets, toys, etc. Can't imagine actually having my child wear a gown and mask: covering coughs and sneezes could help instead of a mask.
3. Isolation: It makes me laugh to think of going so far as "isolating" young sick kids (like that could actually happen!). Assuming you are not going to build a negative-pressure room in your house to stop the spread of diseases (ha ha), as a concerned and attentive parent, we can implement some of these ideas in a healthy and realistic manner: "isolating" the other kids from the sick kid as much as possible. Perhaps designating a special "sick chair" or "sick couch" for the child with an illness, where the "well" children are forbidden until the sick child is better. (It can be called the "Get Well Chair", for a positive spin).
Comment Reply
Looks like handwashing is still the number one way to reduce the transmission of illness between family members. In fact, an article in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) conducted a search on "reports of any intervention to prevent transmission of respiratory tract viruses", and found that "simple public health measures seem to be highly effective at reducing the transmission of respiratory viruses."
Throughout the 50+ studies, they found a common three main categories of successful prevention: "hygiene (handwashing, covering cough), barrier measures (gloves, gowns and masks) and isolation of people with suspected respiratory tract infections."
To put the research into practice:
1. Hygiene: Handwashing (10 times daily) and teaching kids as young as 2 years to cover their cough.
2. Barrier measures: Not sure on this one: any ideas? Probably what Diane suggested as far as preventing other kids and family members from using same blankets, toys, etc. Can't imagine actually having my child wear a gown and mask: covering coughs and sneezes could help instead of a mask.
3. Isolation: It makes me laugh to think of going so far as "isolating" young sick kids (like that could actually happen!). Assuming you are not going to build a negative-pressure room in your house to stop the spread of diseases (ha ha), as a concerned and attentive parent, we can implement some of these ideas in a healthy and realistic manner: "isolating" the other kids from the sick kid as much as possible. Perhaps designating a special "sick chair" or "sick couch" for the child with an illness, where the "well" children are forbidden until the sick child is better. (It can be called the "Get Well Chair", for a positive spin).
Source:
October 21, 2008 - 1:48pmNovember 28 2007 issue of the BMJ.
This Comment
Reply