The main risk groups for colds

Have you ever wondered what makes some people more at risk of catching a cold than others? The main groups of risk for colds are small children with an undeveloped immune system, elderly people, who already have this system failures. Who else?

Read also: Colds in children: causes, symptoms, treatment

Why do children suffer from colds more than others? ..

The most successful way of spreading a cold is when bacteria and viruses of a sick person fall on the fingers and hands, and then into the mouth or nose of another person. Pumping in the sand, the ground and dust of toys or other objects is the way a small child learns the world, and yet parents should monitor all things that the child takes in hands and that can contain bacteria.

Who is most at risk of catching a cold?

Of course, all people can get colds, but some people are at greater risk than others. There are different situations and circumstances that may expose you and your loved ones to an increased risk of getting a viral or bacterial infection. Let's define those people who are at higher risk of colds.

Then, after reading this article, you will need time to assess your own risk factors for the onset of a cold. And then talk to your doctor about how you can reduce these risks. Having made some simple changes in your lifestyle and habits, often washing your hands during the day, you can reduce the risk of colds and other infectious errors.

Newborns - a risk group for colds

Newborns at high risk of getting colds or other infections during the first 4 to 6 weeks of life. This is because the immune system of the newborn is functionally immature. Babies receive only a small amount of immune protection from antibodies that they receive from the mother's placenta before birth. They also acquire antibodies with the breast milk of the mother if she is breast-feeding after giving birth. But there are many pathogenic microbes against which babies are not protected.

It is important to help newborns create a strong immune system before they are exposed to cold viruses. A virus that causes a mild disease in an older child or adults can cause more serious illness in newborns.

Children of preschool age are at risk for colds

When young children are struggling with a variety of viruses and bacteria, their immune system continues to evolve and strengthen. If your baby is a minor preschooler, he has a high risk of getting sick. Most preschool children suffer from colds five to seven times a year. Some - more.

In addition, many young children develop numerous ear infections, especially if they have many brothers and sisters or other children in the kindergarten. When the immune system resists, it produces antibodies to fight these new viruses and infections, although an early child is still more susceptible to illness than older children.

[1], [2], [3], [4], [5]

Those who live in a hostel are at the core risk group

In dormitories of enterprises, students, family people live together in a limited space, breathe the same air, touch the same surfaces - and are infected with the same microbes. If you or your loved ones live in a hostel, they need to pay attention to the following strategies that will help avoid infection:

• Wash your hands often and thoroughly to prevent the spread of bacteria.
• Do not make your immune system work at the very peak, but for this you need a lot of sleep, eat well and avoid stress.
• Avoid taking on more work than you can handle. Chronic stress can weaken your immune system, and then you can get sick very easily.
• Make sure that you and your loved ones are constantly vaccinated against viruses every year. Most colleges and institutes have inexpensive influenza vaccines for students and faculty, which can be obtained shortly after starting their studies at this institution.

People with a weak immune system are at a higher risk of catarrhal diseases

People with a weakened immune system have a higher risk of catching a cold. These are people with AIDS, in which the work of the immune system is severely impaired, patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, and people who are on immunosuppressive therapy.

Read also: HIV / AIDS and the common cold: the degree of danger

Elderly people are at risk for colds

Many older people are more susceptible to cold viruses than young people. Their immune system is weakened, so they can get sick more often than others. Below are tips for seniors to help them reduce the risk of colds and other viral infections:

• Do not give up vaccinations. There is no vaccine for the cold, but do not forget to ask your doctor about a vaccine against influenza, pneumonia and the DTP vaccine (against tetanus, diphtheria and cough) - this will help you prevent infection with a viral or bacterial infection.
• Follow a healthy diet, exercise, drink plenty of water and rest a lot to maintain optimal functioning of your immune system.
• Wash your hands thoroughly several times a day, before and after cooking, eating and after going to the toilet. Many infectious diseases are transmitted through a touch. Careful hand washing can significantly reduce the risk of infection.
• Replace your toothbrush regularly, and keep other toothbrushes apart, especially when someone in the family is sick.

No matter what your age and health status, start today to take all preventive measures to prevent colds and avoid another viral or bacterial infection. When you do, you will provide a healthy future for yourself and for those around you.

Even if you are entering the main risk groups for getting a cold, a healthy lifestyle and prevention will help you reduce this risk.

[6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12]

Tips for protecting the health of family members with impaired immune function:

• Make sure that everyone in the family underwent an annual flu vaccination
• Make sure that people from the risk group eat well and variedly
• Make sure that all visitors observe precautions, such as gloves and masks, if they visit a person with a weakened immune system

Here are some ways to reduce the risk of colds in a newborn:

• Breastfeed a newborn baby - this will help boost your child's immunity.
• Sterilize bottles and nipples between use by boiling or washing in a dishwasher.
• Throw away unused formula or breast milk in bottles after each feeding - in the saliva of the child there are many microbes that multiply rapidly.
• Keep infant formula or breast milk in the refrigerator, open it shortly before feeding. Then heat the milk and feed the baby immediately before the bacteria begin to multiply.
• Wash your hands often before and after feeding the baby and before and after changing the baby's diapers.
• Keep the newborn away from those who are sick.
• If possible, avoid crowding people and do not travel by public transport with a newborn baby - this is a high risk of getting infected.

Here are some tips to reduce the risk of a young child getting a cold:

• Wash toys with soap and then allow them to dry. Many plastic toys can be washed in the dishwasher.
• If your mother is breastfeeding, you should periodically wash your nipples with soap and water.
• Often wipe the hands of small children with a clean washcloth and hot water. Children like to drag their hands into their mouths, so it's worth keeping them clean.
• Wash the hands of young children before and after eating and especially after the game.

How else to prevent colds?

According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, rhinoviruses, the most common type of cold viruses, can live up to three hours on the skin and survive up to three hours on items such as telephones and stair rails. Cleaning the surfaces infected with a virus can help prevent the spread of cold viruses. Many cleaning products can be very effective for this purpose.

Read also: Cold prophylaxis: the most simple and effective methods

Also, make sure that you vaccinated your child and that he or she receives an annual flu shot after 6 months of age.

How to reduce the risk of getting cold with the help of the regime of the day?

Children who go to kindergarten and primary school have a greater risk of catarrhal diseases than domestic children. Parents should take additional measures to help their children stay healthy. Here are some useful tips.

Read also: Prevention of colds in children

Teach your child often and thoroughly wash their hands. Hand washing is an important and very effective way to prevent the spread of infection. Hands need to be washed with water and ordinary soap and necessarily - a very important step - to wipe from 20 to 30 seconds. This will get rid of germs. Then, hands should be washed with running water and dried with a clean towel, which must be thrown into the laundry basket after each use.

Remind the children that you need to wash your hands before and after eating, and always after going to the toilet.

Use disinfectants for hands or hands of an alcohol-based napkin, if soap and water are not available. Alcohol in their composition helps to kill germs.

Encourage the child to use the cutlery and utensils themselves, not sharing them with others.

Keep the child at home when he is sick, and make sure that the policy of the kindergarten is the same in relation to other children and parents. Otherwise, your entire family will be constantly exposed to colds and other infections.

Make sure that your baby gets enough sleep, that he has a varied and nutritious diet, and he spends a lot of time outdoors.

Replace your child's toothbrush regularly, every 2-3 months, and keep all the toothbrushes of family members separately, especially when someone in the family is sick.