Schools are starting: The most important thing to protect your child from infection is hand hygiene.

As the school opening day approaches, Child Health Specialist Dr. Cenk Çelik emphasizes the necessity of conducting health checks for children. He states that the most effective method to protect children from infections is hand hygiene. Dr. Çelik also stresses the importance of routine vaccinations, saying, “The method we prefer and consider safe for protecting children from infections is vaccination.”

The 2024-2025 academic year begins on September 9, Monday. Children will be entering crowded classroom environments. With the weather gradually getting colder, infectious diseases are expected to become more common. Dr. Cenk Çelik from Istanbul Beykent University Hospital has also provided various recommendations for families to protect their children from infectious diseases.

“They should rub their hands for at least 30 seconds”
Dr. Çelik states, “The most effective and reliable method is to pay attention to hand hygiene. Therefore, families should educate their children in detail about hand hygiene. They should instill the habit of hand washing in their children. They should wash their hands thoroughly with plenty of water, covering all surfaces; including the back of the hands, palms, wrists, between fingers, and especially the nail beds, using plenty of soapy water. They should rub for at least 30 seconds, and then rinse well with plenty of water. There is currently no identified symptom in monkeypox either. However, we know it spreads through close contact and fluid transmission. Thus, hand and personal hygiene will also protect children in this regard,” he explained.

“They should try to cover their sneezes with their elbow or arm”
Dr. Çelik points out that children can spread infections when they are sick through coughs and sneezes. He states, “In such cases, children should cover their mouths not with their hands, but rather with their elbows and arms, or if possible, with a disposable tissue. They need to develop this habit.”

“It is beneficial to get the flu vaccine 2-3 weeks before the flu season starts”
Dr. Çelik says, “The method that we health workers prefer and consider safe for protecting children from infections is vaccination. Therefore, it is very important for children going to school to have their routine vaccinations completed. Children who will be going to school but whose school vaccinations are not completed are more likely to catch easily transmissible diseases that can have severe consequences, such as meningitis, pneumonia, and measles. Therefore, it is beneficial for vaccinations to be up to date. It is also beneficial for the vaccines that are currently in the special vaccination program to be completed for children going to school. Especially for children with heart conditions, diabetes, chronic illnesses, those who frequently catch the flu during the winter school period, and those who have younger siblings at home, it is beneficial to get the flu vaccine 2-3 weeks before the flu season starts.”

“Evaluating their growth and development will also be beneficial”
Dr. Çelik says, “With the clinical findings we detect in examinations, we can predict whether children will fall ill more easily during the winter school period. Therefore, it is necessary for them to have check-ups by a pediatrician or family doctor before starting school. It is important to check if they have allergies, if they have enlarged adenoids, or if there is any fluid in their ears. Evaluating their growth and development will also be beneficial.”

“Ideal nutrition habits should be acquired before school starts”
Offering nutrition recommendations, Dr. Cenk Çelik concluded with the following: “It is beneficial for ideal nutrition habits to be established before starting school. Therefore, we recommend that families instill a nutrition habit rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals while avoiding carbohydrates and fats in their children’s diet. Additionally, we suggest that they do not skip breakfast during the school period and prefer foods that adhere to the balanced nutrition habits we mentioned, rather than processed foods, junk food, and fast food.”