Jakarta (ANTARA) –
Pulmonologist specialist Dr. Jaka Pradipta Sp.P said that clean and healthy behavior and wearing masks can protect the body from various diseases, especially in children.
“The mask not only protects against COVID-19, but protects others such as tuberculosis. Also, hand washing is important, even if the most important thing is from the air,” Jaka said in an online discussion regarding the variant Omicron XBB attended in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Aside from this Jaka said that he gives vaccines to children especially the pneumonia and flu vaccines which are required by the government for children under the age of one.
He also said that internal factors to protect the immune system can also be done by eating healthy foods, getting rest and consuming multivitamins and flu shots for adults.
“So we actually holistically see him from the inside he’s protected, from the outside he’s also protected by his behavior so that he continues to be healthy,” Jaka said.
The doctor who also practices at Mayapada Kuningan Hospital said that what affects immunity is environmental conditions, one of which is the season. When weather changes are too extreme, physiological changes occur in the body so that the power to protect is reduced. Also, the emergence of stress hormones that cause a decrease in the immune system.
Irregular weather changes or so-called transitions make viruses more active, especially influenza, parainfluenza or adenovirus viruses. This virus causes children to often suffer from cough and cold because their immunity decreases.
“When it’s active, transmission of the virus becomes very possible, so it’s not just COVID-19. So now there are so many kids going to school and going back and forth with flu, cough, runny nose,” Jaka said .
Viral infections, Jaka said, are at high risk in certain groups such as the elderly over the age of 60, whose immunity and body functions are different, and children, especially the younger ones, because some of their body functions are not been adequately trained.
Meanwhile, adults with low immunity such as people with HIV, people with cancer, kidney disorders, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases are also groups of people who need to be protected from exposure to viruses and diseases.
Reporter: Fitra Ashari
Publisher: Triono Tempesta
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