Parents who want to help their children avoid the flu may want to take notice of a new study involving school children that resulted in 52% fewer cases of influenza A and 26% fewer absences.

Five Pittsburg area schools participated in the study’s “WHACK the Flu” program which consists of learning about hand hygiene, cough etiquette and other ways to reduce exposure or spread of the flu.

“WHACK” is an acronym for the five lessons taught through the program:

• Wash or sanitize your hands often.
• Home is where you stay when you are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes.
• Keep your distance from sick people.

During the academic year, schools that received the training program had 52 percent fewer confirmed illnesses caused by influenza A and 26 percent fewer student absences. However, there was no decrease in the number of illnesses caused by influenza B.

The researchers are not sure why there was no decrease in influenza B but suggested it may be because of the basic differences in the biology or epidemiology of influenza B, or because influenza B occurred later in the flu season and mainly in younger children.

The study also found that the flu program was successful in getting students to use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer an average of 2.4 times per day.

The message for parents and educators is that respiratory hygiene education and the regular use of hand sanitizer can be an important addition to influenza vaccination programs to reduce the number of influenza A infections among children.

For more information about staying healthy this winter, read Cold and Flu: Need to Know Facts and Myths.

Source:

Health Finder