The Hull Health Visitors regularly send me really useful information about various topics relating to babies and young children to share on here with local parents. You can find all of their information on their dedicated page on Mumbler, Support & Services.
As we’re heading into Winter, there are 2 key topics to share information on this month –
Bronchiolitis
Bronchiolitis is a common lower respiratory tract infection that affects babies and young children under two years old. It is most widespread during the winter (from November to March). Most cases are mild and clear up without the need for treatment within two to three weeks, although some children have severe symptoms and need hospital treatment. Around one in three children in the UK will develop bronchiolitis during their first year of life.
For all information and advice see the Bronchiolitis section of the NHS website here.
Vitamin D
The new advice from Public Health England (PHE) is that adults and children over the age of one should consider taking a daily supplement containing 10mcg of vitamin D, particularly during autumn and winter. The full NHS guidelines on vitamin D are on the NHS website here.
Also sent in to me this month is some information on Child Oral Health. Action is needed to reduce tooth decay in children in Hull. Since the last update to this Commission data from the dental survey of 5 year olds from 2015 has been published which show a modest (but non-significant) improvement in outcomes:
Local dental health professionals know from day to day experience in treating patients that resolute action on a community-wide scale is needed in Hull to address the unacceptably high rates of tooth decay among children. Whilst dental health education is very important – to impress upon children and their parents the need to brush their teeth with a fluoride toothpaste and to moderate their consumption of sugary foods and drinks – the evidence of the past 50 or more years shows that fluoridating water has significant additional benefits.
Hull needs a combination of methods to help protect our children’s teeth. Water fluoridation should be one of them. Fluoridation benefits adults too. You can see the full article on the Support & Services page.