Can children drink lemon juice or orange juice to prevent flu and measles?

Recently, my husband and I took our two children back to the countryside for a vacation, and went on a few trips. The older child is 6 years old this year, the younger child is 2 years old, so I was worried that they would catch a cold or fever when traveling or changing places. Therefore, about a week before the trip, I gave them lemon and orange juice to increase their resistance. So can this prevent the flu or measles?

Báo Đồng Nai•19/05/2025

(Ms. Dieu Thao, residing in Ho Nai ward, Bien Hoa city)

Doctor replied:

Hello Ms. Dieu Thao!

It is very good for you to give your child lemon juice and orange juice. Drinking lemon juice and orange juice can help increase children's resistance, but this cannot completely prevent flu or measles.

Specifically, lemon and orange juice can help strengthen natural resistance; reduce the severity of respiratory infections (such as colds); and help children recover faster if they are unlucky enough to get sick.

However, influenza and measles are viral infections, highly contagious. Prevention mainly relies on: full vaccination; good personal hygiene (washing hands regularly, wearing masks when going to crowded places); limiting contact with people who are coughing, feverish, rash; reasonable diet and rest to keep the body healthy.

So, drinking orange juice or lemonade is very good for health, but it is not a substitute for vaccination and other preventive measures. If your children have been fully vaccinated against flu and measles according to the schedule, then you can rest assured.

Wish your family a happy trip!

Specialist Doctor 2 Nguyen Van Suu,

Deputy Medical Director, Head of Pediatrics Department, Au Co Hospital