Learning coding bit by bit

Every year, influenza causes millions of infections, and up to half a million deaths, mostly in developing countries. Parents need to know more about the flu to better protect their children from it.

His mission is to teach programming to rural children in Sri Lanka, and already this 24-year-old volunteer is making strides.

FLU, or influenza, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza A or B viruses.

In Malaysia, influenza cases are seen all year, with peaks observed during the rainy season.

In 2015, the Health Ministry recorded 12,133 influenza cases that were detected from 88 sentinel sites throughout the country. In the same year, nine deaths were reported.

These figures may well be higher as many cases go unreported, and even undiagnosed as influenza.

Symptoms of influenza include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches, headaches and tiredness. A child may suffer from one or a combination of these symptoms.

Recovery can be expected within several days to not more than two weeks after onset of symptoms in healthy persons. However, children have a higher risk of developing serious complications, which include:

● Chest infections – including pneumonia or bronchitis

● Worsening symptoms of existing medical conditions, including asthma, diabetes and lung problems

● Tonsillitis

● Otitis media

● Sinusitis

● Seizures

● Meningitis

● Encephalitis (brain inflammation)

Children at high risk of infection include those who are below the age of two (whose immune systems have not fully matured) and children with certain medical condi-