Help children with measles recover quickly

Measles is an acute infectious disease caused by a virus, commonly found in young children with symptoms of high fever, fatigue, and loss of appetite. During the treatment and recovery process after measles, nutrition plays an extremely important role. A full and reasonable diet not only helps increase resistance, but also contributes to compensating for lost nutrients, helping the body recover quickly and limit dangerous complications.

Báo Cà Mau•06/05/2025

The Prime Minister requested the health sector to complete the measles vaccination campaign in March 2025.
Do not miss out on measles vaccination

According to the recommendations of nutrition experts, during the time children have measles, meals need to ensure adequate and balanced between the 4 main food groups according to the "food square" model including the cereal group, tubers (glucid): Providing energy, minerals and sugar. Protein group: Including animal protein (meat, fish, eggs, milk) and vegetable protein (beans, peas). Fat group (lipid): Cooking oil, fat, butter help absorb fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E, K. Vitamin, mineral and fiber group: Mainly from green vegetables and fresh fruits. In particular, in the process of providing nutrients, Protein plays a role in building and restoring damaged cells, while supporting enhanced immunity.

Nutritional supplements for children with measles need to be given more attention by parents.

Dr. Nguyen Kim Loan, Head of the Department of Nutrition, Ca Mau Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, said: “When children have measles, nutrition plays a very important role in enhancing resistance and helping the body recover quickly. First of all, parents should pay attention to supplementing vitamins and minerals, especially vitamins A, C, zinc and iron, which are essential micronutrients to help the body fight viruses and improve the immune system. Increasing fresh vegetables and fruits, foods rich in protein and minerals in daily meals is essential.”

Children with measles often have high fevers and are prone to dehydration, so parents need to make sure their children drink enough water every day. In addition to filtered water, you can add fresh fruit juice, thin porridge or electrolyte water to rehydrate and help children feel more comfortable. Because children often have mouth ulcers, fatigue and loss of appetite when they have measles, food should be prepared soft, easy to swallow and easy to digest such as porridge, soup or soft rice. In addition, it is necessary to pay attention to processing clean food, ensuring food hygiene and safety to avoid the risk of infection, especially when the child's immune system is weakened. Another important note is that instead of forcing children to eat three large meals, parents should divide meals into many times a day. This not only makes it easier for children to eat but also helps the body absorb nutrients more effectively. In addition, it is also important to avoid giving children spicy foods such as chili and pepper because they can easily damage the oral mucosa. Fried foods with lots of oil, processed foods containing lots of salt, sugar and unhealthy fats are also not suitable during this stage. Carbonated soft drinks can cause bloating, indigestion and allergenic foods should absolutely not be used if the child has a history of allergies.

According to Dr. Loan: “For nutrition for children from 6-24 months old, children in this age group still need to continue to breastfeed more often. Breast milk is a valuable source of nutrition, helping to provide necessary antibodies and energy. At the same time, the mother's diet also needs to be adequate and balanced for the best quality milk.”

Proper nutrition is an important tonic to help children overcome measles easily and recover quickly. Parents should pay attention to their daily diet and combine comprehensive care to protect their children's health.

After recovering from measles, the child's body needs to compensate for lost nutrients. Therefore, feed the child more often than usual, encourage the child to eat one more meal a day for at least a month or until the child's growth returns to normal. Parents should consult a doctor or nutritionist to develop a diet suitable for the child's specific health condition. It is necessary to monitor the reaction after each meal. If the child shows unusual signs, it is necessary to stop using the suspected food and take the child to a medical facility for timely examination. In addition, maintaining personal hygiene and living environment also plays an important role. Children need to bathe, clean their teeth daily and have their own play space to limit the risk of spreading the disease to others.

Yen Nhi - Huu Nghia

Source: https://baocamau.vn/giup-tre-mac-soi-nhanh-phuc-hoi-a38772.html