Being a parent is not an easy job. There are many challenges and sacrifices that come along.
While it is so, just remember that you are not alone. After all, it takes a village to raise a child. Especially, when your child starts getting sick or even worse, hospitalised.
The burdens of being a parent when a child is hospitalised
At times, there are illnesses that require a child to be hospitalised, such as⁴:
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
- Asthma
- Chickenpox
- Common cold
- Coughing
- Diarrhoea and vomiting
- Fever
- Measles
- Mumps
- Rubella
A child’s hospital costs can be through the roof as they take more time to get better compared to adults due to their developing immune systems.
Even if the child may not be hospitalised, a parent can still experience a few heavy burdens ¹ on their shoulders when a child gets sick:
1. Expensive medical bills: As mentioned, hospital bills for a child can be costly. Not just because they are usually required to stay for a longer time, but they also require constant care and attention from medical professionals as they are vulnerable and susceptible to various other illnesses.
2. Fatigue and exhaustion. Your child will need some extra love and care while they are sick. Taking care of a sick child can be physically taxing especially when you are tired and worried. Insufficient sleep and constantly rushing to the hospital will cause you to be exhausted.
3. Time: As parents, you dedicate your time directly or indirectly for your child. Taking care of them especially when they are ill is very time consuming. You are constantly on increased alertness when your child needs you. You may not have your own “me” time as you will be busy making sure your child is healthy and safe.
4. Emotional and mental health: A constantly overlooked topic is the emotional and mental health of a parent. The parents’ emotional needs may be neglected as a result of time commitment and sacrifices made for a child’s safety and wellbeing.
5. Career: Juggling between work and family can be very difficult. Sometimes both sets of responsibilities clash at the same time. The judgement received from supervisor or colleagues for leaving early or applying long leave when there is a child-related emergency and the fear of being penalised in their performance can be stressful.
So, what are the best ways for parents to reduce the risk of child hospitalisation?
5 Ways for Reduced Risk of Child Hospitalisation
The symptoms of the COVID-19 that are similar to that of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which is commonly experienced by the children at the age of two. It is more dangerous if they were infected with RSV and COVID-19 at the same time, as they are vulnerable to these two types of viruses. Due to their similar nature, one of the best methods to prevent your child from being sick is to take care of hygiene well! Of course, it is not the only way to prevent sickness and hospitalization in children.
A strong immune system can help to protect your child from most common infection diseases such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza and pneumonia.
1. Healthy diet. A healthy diet is a must for children in a long way. Lots of vitamins and nutrients help to boost your child’s immune system and protect them from various diseases2.
2. Get enough sleep. Babies need enough sleep to grow healthy and develop well. Sleep deprivation in babies can cause several problems including low energy, disinterest in stimulating things and even a clear sign of disinterest in people and environment⁵.
3. Keep active. Encouraging your child to play and stay active is more than just getting your little one’s energy out but also helping them in developing muscles and bone growth⁶. An active child is less likely to get sick too!2
4. Fully immunised babies. As parents, it is your responsibility to stay up to date on your baby’s immunisation schedule. Immunisation can help to protect not only babies but adults from infectious diseases. It is important to ensure that you and your baby have received the necessary immunisation to stay protected2.
5. Prophylaxis (prevent disease). Prophylactic against infectious disease is proven to be effective in supporting immune systems to fight and prevent diseases³. Prophylaxis is effective in reducing the risk of hospitalisation in children, especially in premature babies caused by respiratory syncytial virus – RSV7. To know more about the RSV prophylaxis, click here.
As parents, we are obligated to ensure your premature baby receive proper protection for better tomorrow. Healthy children, happy parents!
This educational article is brought to you by AstraZeneca.
AstraZeneca Sdn Bhd (69730-X)
The Bousteador, Level 12, No. 10 Jalan PJU 7/6, Mutiara Damansara, 47800 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia Tel: +60 3 7624 3888 | Fax: +60 3 7624 3999
MY_RSV_MY-11398_23/05/2023
Source:
¹ The Impact of “Sick Season” on Working Parents. Very Well Family. https://www.verywellfamily.com/the-impact-of-sick-season-on-working-parents-7090227. Accessed on 24th March 2023
² Boosting your child’s immune system. Harvard Health Publishing. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/boosting-your-childs-immune-system-202110122614. Accessed 24th March 2023
³ Prophylactic antibiotics in children. National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2827761/.. Accessed on 25th March 2023
⁴ 10 Common Childhood Illnesses. Wake Forest Pediatric Associates. https://wakeforestpediatrics.com/common-childhood-illnesses/. Accessed 25th March 2023
⁵ Baby sleep deprivation: How to tell if your baby isn’t sleeping enough. Parenting Science. https://parentingscience.com/baby-sleep-deprivation/. Accessed 25th March 2023
⁶ Physical Activity Facts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/physicalactivity/facts.htm# Accessed 24th March 2025
7 Hospital admissions for bronchiolitis in preterm infants in the absence of respiratory syncytial virus prophylaxis. BMJ Journal https://fn.bmj.com/content/90/1/F92.1 Accessed on 10th April 2023