Childhood illness is a disease which mostly affects under-five children. There are different methods of preventing childhood illness:

Immunisation

Immunization is known as the single most cost-effective strategy to decrease childhood morbidity and mortality. Most childhood illnesses are vaccine preventable; currently, EPI delivers ten vaccines to protect children against the following serious childhood illnesses:

Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (TB), Poliomyelitis, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Haemophilus influenza type -B(Hib), Hepatitis B virus, Rotavirus, PCP (Pneumocystis Carinii pneumonia) and Measle.

• Haemophilus influenza type B and hepatitis B vaccines are introduced into the EPI programme in Ethiopia in 2007. Haemophilus, influenza type B vaccine, prevents meningitis, pneumonia, epiglottitis and other serious infections caused by Haemophilus influenza type B bacteria.
• Hepatitis B vaccine protects against liver disease. Hepatitis B infection in young children is usually asymptomatic (they don't develop symptoms). However, a larger proportion of children than adults may become chronic carriers who can transmit the hepatitis B virus to others for many years without showing symptoms themselves. Chronic carriers are more likely to develop a severe chronic liver disease or liver cancer in later life.
• BCG vaccine protects against micro bacterium tuberculosis (TB) and is given only once at birth.
• OPV (oral polio vaccine), given in four doses numbered 0 to 3 (at birth, at 6, 10, 14 weeks of age).
• Pentavalent vaccine is the combination of five vaccines together
• (pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus vaccine, Hepatitis B vaccine and Haemophilus influenza type B vaccine.). Children get three doses at 6, 10 and 14 weeks of child age.
• Rota vaccine is the newly introduced vaccine available in 2006 in Ethiopian Calender it prevents against rotavirus. Children take two doses at 6 and 10 weeks of age.
• The PCP (pneumocystis carinii pneumonia) vaccine is also the newly introduced vaccine in 2005 in Ethiopian Calender it prevents against Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia children take three doses at 6,10 and 14 weeks of age.
• Measles vaccine is given only once at nine months of child age it prevents against Measles virus. So, all under- five children should take all the vaccines described in the above to be free from the illness.

Hand washing

It is the process of cleaning the hands using soap and water. It should be done before and after any activities. Hand washing is the most important infection prevention method to prevent childhood illness.

When to wash your hands

Hands should be washed or decontaminated as follows:

• Before and after each work.
• After caring for a patient/resident.
• Before and after any clinical procedures.
• After contact with blood or other body fluids.
• After handling contaminated items (e.g. contaminated diaper).
• After using the toilet or after toileting a child.
• Before preparing, eating, drinking or handling food.
• Before feeding patients/clients.
• After making a bed or handling used laundry items.
• After removal of gloves.

Diapering

Diapering is a process of cleaning or washing a diaper, and this is one of the methods of preventing childhood illness.

Diaper: It is an absorbent material which is wrapped around baby's buttock and Between its legs to absorb and retain urine and faeces. The diaper changing area and anything else that comes in contact with a child's faeces or urine should always be cleaned and disinfected after every diaper change. The diapering area should always be located near a source of running water, and have a deep sink, preferably within arm's reach on it for convenient hand washing. Diapering is one of infection prevention method there for every woman who has a child should clean and wash the diaper after being contact with baby's faeces and urine.

Food preparation

Good food preparation for the children reduces the risk of infection.

• Always wash your hands before handling food and after going to the toilet or changing a diaper.
• Perishable foods (e.g. milk products (including baby bottles), meat, poultry, and eggs) must be refrigerated at or below four ºc.
• Give cooked foods immediately for the children; if there is a delay, keep the food above 60ºc until the baby feeds.
• Thoroughly cook all foods derived from animal sources, particularly poultry, egg and meat dishes.
• Put meat in the refrigerator.
• Wash all utensils after using.
• Food preparation, serving and storage areas must be kept clean, dry and separate from playing, toileting and diapering areas.
• Food tables (e.g. tabletops) should be wiped clean and sanitised after each use.

Preventing respiratory infections

Some suggestions for preventing respiratory infections in children are as follows:

• Have plenty of tissues (a disposable handkerchief made of paper) readily available for nose-wiping use this tissue to clean the respiratory discharge and put all soiled tissues in covered plastic containers.
• Use a different tissue for each child, and wash your hands after nose-wiping.
• Teach children and caregivers to cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze and to wash their hands afterwards.
• When the child has a respiratory problem, isolate the infected child from the healthy child until the sick child is recovering well. Make sure cots or sleeping mats for daytime naps are spaced at least 24 inches (60 centimetres) apart.
• Cover each cot or mat with a sheet or washable blanket marked with the child's name. This will keep the cots or mats clean and must be washed weekly or sooner if soiled.
• Wash and disinfect toys weekly. Plastic toys which children put in their mouths should be washed with soap and water and then sanitised immediately after you have seen this activity.
• Children, who have respiratory infections, and infants and toddlers, should not share their toys with other children. In infant care centres, toys should be disinfected on a daily basis.
• Wipe doorknobs, shelves at children's level, crib rails, mats and other small baby furniture, as well as toys, at least once or twice a week. First, use soap and water to wipe off the layer of saliva that is usually present on these objects, then follow with a sanitising solution.
• Clean and disinfect all contaminated surfaces by using a sanitising solution. Repair all internal and external leaks promptly and permanently.