Flu on the outside seems just like the common cold, but it's not; it knocks you flat, gives you the chills, brings in the worst headache and muscle aches and fatigues you off with vomiting spells and diarrhoea. I know this because for the longest time I've suffered from bouts of flu, from mild to high, and at one time even developed a rather serious complication. That's when I got my first flu shot as a preventive measure as I was expecting Heer.
The flu is not an out-of-the-box condition, that will not touch the common man as India recorded over 10 million cases this year. A highly contagious respiratory illness, the flu spreads due to the most common actions like coughing or sneezing or touching infected surfaces. As a mother, my mantra to parenting is 'Forewarned is Forearmed' and with that aim, I headed to an interaction with two of the country's most renowned healthcare practitioners to understand how influenza affects two high-risk groups; children under the age of 5 and pregnant women.
At the Influenza Awareness seminar, Dr. Mukesh Gupta, Gynaecologist and Obstetrician and Dr. Uday Pai, Paediatrician along with celebrated actor and mother Genelia Deshmukh, busted numerous myths surrounding influenza and clarified many important points to arm all mothers against the silent health deteriorator, the flu.
One of the strongest points that were brought forward during the #MomVsFlu campaign was the importance of Samuhik Vaccination. Dr. Gupta emphasised the fact that since the flu is a highly contagious condition, it becomes imperative that not only the child but also every person who regularly comes in contact with a child should be vaccinated, including family members, caretakers and others. Another crucial point that was reiterated was the importance of being vaccinated pre-pregnancy period, when it is being planned and avoid complications arising from flu, to ensure a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. In case of pre-conception, the vaccine is missed, pregnant women can take the vaccine later during the pregnancy, after consulting with the doctor.
Dr.Pai brought out a very valid point that sometimes mothers are not willing to accept; that you can give your child the flu. The answer is Yes when you yourself carry it and so it is most important for mothers to be vaccinated regularly as well. For more information on influenza click here.
Genelia made some very valid arguments as a mother of two young boys. She cheered mothers to shift from being worriers to become warriors to fight all issues related to flu by understanding the condition, being aware of the precautions and last but not the least give due importance to vaccination. A step to a healthier child, she says is prevention, which is definitely better than medication later, and I couldn't agree more.
So as Moms, let us pledge to create a healthier environment for our children and encourage other mothers to become more aware of what is right for our little ones. For more information about the vaccination and reliable practitioners, go to find a doctor in your locality.
Do we have a reason now to let the flu virus win over us, let us be #MomsVsFlu.
Until next time,
~ Heena
Disclaimer: I attended a discussion on influenza awareness facilitated by Abbott IndiaLimited. Any opinion expressed in this blog is my personal opinion and not the opinion ofAbbott India Limited. Abbott India Limited does not assume any liability for the content of theblog. The blog post is not meant to be a replacement for a doctor consultation, nor is it a medicalrecommendation or prescription of treatment for babies having Influenza. Any reader of this blog or their family members suffering from Influenza should specifically consult his/her doctor for the same and follow the suggested course of treatment.
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