Winter is here, which means the season of sickness too is here. While viruses and sickness run throughout, winter is when the chilly weather further makes it worse for those prone to sickness. Especially, if they are kids, as their immunity is not fully developed.

Does that mean it is inevitable for kids to be sick?

Anytime a child is exposed to another child, they will fall sick. This is because germs are transferred in the air or by touch, and children, being curious, always touch things, including their own faces, mouths and easily pick up germs and spread them. While prevention is impossible, there are steps that can be taken to reduce this.

Experts and medical professionals recommend to follow the vaccine schedule by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Vaccines have be proven to protect people, children, and infants from serious and deadly infections.

While sicknesses like a common cold do not have a vaccine, good hygiene can help prevent the spread of germs. Teaching your kids to wash hands after touching toys, or any other surface and other people is a great way to start it.

Exposure to germs at an early age strengthens child's immune system

Is there really any truth in the statement? When we encounter infections, our immune system creates antibodies that either prevent future infections or help the body fight them off more effectively, often leading to milder illness. The "hygiene hypothesis" proposes that living in an overly clean environment might hinder the immune system's development, potentially increasing the risk of allergic conditions like asthma.

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Although research has explored this idea, many immunologists (experts in the immune system) have raised concerns and expressed disagreement with the hypothesis.

In reality, most children don’t grow up in sterile environments. They are naturally exposed to a variety of germs, providing ample opportunities for their immune systems to strengthen and adapt.

Sanitizing Child's Toys

It is a good practice to regularly disinfect your children's toys and anything they share with others or take to school.

It is important to know the difference between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting. While cleaning removes visible dirt, sanitizing decreases the number of germs on the surface, whereas disinfecting kills germs.

Also make sure to read the labels correctly and prevent any toxic toys to make its way to your kids, so it cannot be inhaled or ingested.

How to disinfect toys?

You can start by cleaning all the toys that has come in contact with your child's hands and mouth with soap and water. Then, use a sanitizer to clean everyday items, things that remain in your child's environment. Then use disinfectant, especially if your child is sick or if someone sick has touched your child's toys.

If you are wondering which sanitizers to go for, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website has come up with a list of approved sanitizers and disinfectants that are effective.

With the onset of the monsoon season, the heat of the summer is no longer an issue; however, it ushers in an invisible threat to public health. With stagnant water being the perfect breeding ground for Aedes and Anopheles mosquitoes, diseases such as dengue, malaria, and chikungunya cases increase dramatically among both rural and urban areas in India.

For the young ones who have not yet developed a fully functional immune system, a simple bite could cause dehydration, high fever, and other serious complications. However, in an effort to ensure their children are protected, the mothers use harmful insecticides which inadvertently end up putting their sensitive skin and breathing tract in harm’s way.

The Hidden Danger: Chemical Exposure vs. Vector Risk

The skin of a baby is 30% thinner than that of an adult and thus highly permeable, making it possible for chemicals absorbed through the skin to enter the body very fast.

It has been emphasized by international pediatric guidelines that babies under two months old should never come into contact with any chemical repellent on their skin.

Also read: Beware! Common Mistakes New Parents Make During Their Baby’s First Monsoon

The Gold Standard: Physical Barriers Over Chemical Sheaths

With regard to safety in infants, there is no question that non-chemical physical barriers are always the foremost priority. The use of cot, stroller, and window nettings that have apertures smaller than 1.2mm prevent mosquitoes from getting access to the sleeping areas without compromising air flow and without releasing any toxic chemicals into the nursery environment.

In addition, it is important to note that careful selection of appropriate clothes is essential; this means choosing loose-fitting and light coloured full body cotton clothes for the infant as they will naturally protect them as dark colours attract mosquitoes and tight clothes will give them easy access to the body for biting.

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Smart Protocol: Fabric-Only & Botanical Innovation

As a method of active protection outdoors or for biting time in the early mornings and evenings, parents must resort to fabric application only. The natural roll-ons and patches that use botanicals such as Citronella, Eucalyptus, and Lemongrass oil must be used only on the outside of the hem of clothes, strollers, or cot corners and never on the body of the baby.

Also, the use of chemical vaporizers or coil repellants in an enclosed nursery where the child is sleeping must be avoided as these are inhaled and can cause irritation of the air passage.

By Dr. Bharat Jain, Senior Consultant Paediatrician and Neonatologist, Cocoon Hospital, Chandigarh

Vitamins and minerals are often consumed for better health and immunity, but a new US study is drawing focus to a danger that may get overlooked. The danger is toxicity if vitamins and minerals are ingested in excessive quantity, particularly for children.

Researchers found that 1,961 children were hospitalised for vitamin and mineral toxicity over a three-year period, according to findings presented at the Pediatric Hospital Medicine 2026 meeting in Kansas City, Missouri.

The researchers used data from the federal Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Kids’ Inpatient Database, which captures hospital admissions involving children across the US.

But the figure may represent only a part of the problem. “Our study probably only scratched the surface,” lead researcher Marina Masciale, MD, MPH, of Baylor College of Medicine, said while presenting the findings.

Most Poisoning Cases Were Due To Intentional Ingesting

One of the most interesting findings was that the majority of hospital admissions due to vitamin and mineral toxicity was due to intentional ingestion.

That makes the issue different from a child accidentally swallowing one or two tablets. Researchers say the findings highlight the need to consider supplements when assessing children who may deliberately ingest potentially harmful substances.

The database also captured only supplements for which there was a specific toxicity-related ICD-10 diagnostic code. This means poisonings involving supplements that were not coded in this way may not have been included. As a result, the researchers believe the true number of affected children could be substantially higher.

Also read: Is Your Child Suddenly Sluggish, Clumsy? Signs Of Juvenile Arthritis Parents Miss

Why Are Children Getting Poisoned If Vitamins Are Supposed To Be Safe?

The body requires many micronutrients in relatively small quantities. Some can become harmful when taken in excessive amounts, particularly certain fat-soluble vitamins that can accumulate in the body.

Minerals can also cause toxicity when consumed in excessive quantities. The symptoms and severity depend on the substance, dose and how quickly treatment is provided.

This is why supplements should not be popped like harmless candies simply because they are sold over the counter.

Also read: Too Much Cow’s Milk Linked To Severe Iron Deficiency In Toddlers, Including Three Deaths

Why Children Are Particularly Vulnerable?

Many supplements also come in colourful, flavoured or chewable forms, making them particularly attractive to younger children.

But the new findings highlight another concern: older children and adolescents may deliberately consume large quantities of supplements, meaning prevention cannot rely only on keeping bottles out of reach.

Parents and caregivers should therefore store vitamins, minerals and other supplements securely and treat them like medicines rather than everyday food products.

What Should Parents If They Suspect An Overdose?

If a child may have swallowed a large amount of vitamins or minerals, parents must not wait for symptoms to appear.

The exact risk depends on what was taken, how much was consumed and the child’s age and weight. Some toxic effects may not be immediately evident.

Medical professionals may need information from the supplement label, including the ingredients and strength, to determine the appropriate treatment course.

Arthritis is often associated with ageing, but it can also affect children. The most common form of chronic arthritis in children under 16, including those as young as 1, is Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA).

Because its early symptoms can be subtle, JIA often goes unrecognized, delaying diagnosis and increasing the risk of joint and growth-plate damage.

Children May Not Say They Are In Pain

Young children may not know how to describe joint pain. Instead, they may change their behavior to avoid discomfort, making it important for parents to notice changes in movement and activity.

A toddler may limp, take longer to get ready or become less active, Dr. Rashmi Jinnakeri, Consultant Pediatrician, Apollo Hospital, Bengaluru, told HealthandMe. These signs may be mistaken for a viral infection, growing pains or simple clumsiness.

Also read: Too Much Cow’s Milk Linked To Severe Iron Deficiency In Toddlers, Including Three Deaths

Signs Parents Should Watch For

Unlike an injury, JIA symptoms tend to persist, Dr. Chirag Rajkumar Kopp, Consultant – Clinical Immunology & Rheumatology, Ramaiah Memorial Hospital, told HealthandMe.

Parents should watch for:

• Joint pain or swelling lasting more than six weeks
• Morning stiffness that improves during the day
• Neck or lower back pain with stiffness
• An unexplained limp
• Recurrent fever without an obvious cause
• Skin rashes
• Red eyes or sensitivity to light

Morning sluggishness:

A child who normally wakes up energetic may suddenly take much longer to get out of bed, get dressed or start moving. Similar stiffness or sluggishness may occur after an afternoon nap. This can be one of the more subtle signs of JIA in young children.

Sudden clumsiness:

Parents may notice a child dropping objects, tripping, coloring messily or struggling with buttons and zips. Subtle limping after waking may also occur and can improve as the day progresses.

Avoiding play and physical activity:

Children may begin avoiding sports, physical education or activities they once enjoyed. A child who previously loved running and jumping may increasingly prefer to sit or find reasons not to participate.

Going back on milestones:

Some toddlers may show regression in movement. A child who was walking may start crawling again or frequently ask to be carried. Mild swelling, particularly around a knee, can also be overlooked. If only one joint is affected, parents may assume the child bumped it while playing.

Fatigue, fever and rashes:

Some children may appear unusually tired, have low energy or repeatedly say they cannot walk. Fleeting rashes with fever may be mistaken for viral infections. Repeated low- or high-grade fever without cough, cold or vomiting can also occur.

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Growing Pains vs Juvenile Arthritis?

Children may describe both conditions simply as “leg pain”, making the distinction difficult, Dr. Rashmi said.

Growing Pains

• Usually occur later in the day after physical activity
• Often affect the thighs, calves or shins
• May improve with massage
• Do not cause joint swelling or redness
• Are usually gone by morning

Juvenile Arthritis

• Is often worse in the morning
• Causes joint-related pain and stiffness
• May cause swelling or redness
• Can improve with movement
• Persists over time, potentially for six weeks or longer

Early Diagnosis Matters

JIA occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy joints, causing inflammation. The exact cause is not known.

“When this goes unrecognized for too long, the effects don't simply fade with time. Joint damage can become permanent; a child's growth can be affected, and the disability that follows may last well into adulthood,” Dr. Chirag said.

Early treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and, when needed, biologic therapy can control inflammation and help prevent lasting damage. With early recognition and treatment, most children can achieve symptom control and continue to run, play and grow without limitation.