Ask Dr Miriam Q

My four-year-old grandson has been diagnosed with leukaemia. He’s responded to treatment and is at home now. We’ve been told to make sure he doesn’t get an infection. Have you any tips on how we can do that?

AI’m so glad your grandson has responded to treatment. Here are a few basic tips. Avoid crowds and crowded places. He needs to be outdoors and get plenty of exercise so choose the open spaces of a park. He should avoid people with colds and flu and skin infections, so warn your family they won’t be able to visit him if they’re within a week of having had a cold or flu. If you get a cold wear a mask. So should his family if they get a sore throat, a runny nose, a cough or sneezes. Everyone should wash their hands after using the lavatory and place a hand sanitiser in every room. Also avoid children who have just been immunised.