Contents:
- Medical Video: Teen Titans Go! | Raven's First Kiss | DC Kids
- What to do if a teenager has never had an HPV vaccine
- Various things can be done to prevent HPV infection
- 1. Maintain cleanliness of the genital area
- 2. Apply a healthy diet
- 3. Don't smoke
Medical Video: Teen Titans Go! | Raven's First Kiss | DC Kids
Various types of HPV viruses spread through sexual contact. However, people who have never had sex can still get HPV because the virus is also spread through skin to skin contact. Even quoted from the CDC page, about 14 million people, including teenagers, are known to be infected with HPV every year. That is why, it is important for your child to get the HPV vaccine early.
However, what if your teenage child has yet to get an HPV vaccine? Find out the answers in this article.
What to do if a teenager has never had an HPV vaccine
It's never too late for HPV vaccination even though your child hasn't done it before. So, even though your child has never had an HPV vaccine, you should immediately take him or her to vaccinate.
Both girls and boys, the HPV vaccine can already be given when children are 9-13 / 14 years old. In that age range, the HPV vaccine is only given 2 doses by injecting fluid into the shoulder muscle. The second dose is given after a period of six months to one year later. Whereas if your child is over 15 years old, the HPV vaccine is given three times in the span of six months to one year.
What must be understood, the earlier you give HPV vaccine to children, the effectiveness of this vaccine to prevent HPV infection will be even higher. The reason is, their immune response at a young age is at its best. This is what makes the child's body more effective in developing a system of antibodies to the established HPV virus in the long run.
But remember, consult your pediatrician before carrying out the HPV vaccine in children.
Various things can be done to prevent HPV infection
In addition to HPV vaccination, there are other ways that your child also needs to do to prevent HPV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases. For example:
1. Maintain cleanliness of the genital area
Both girls and boys are very important to maintain the cleanliness of their genitals. Because the skin in the genital area is very sensitive. Well, that's why to avoid infection, irritation, and smell in the area your child must be diligent in caring for him.
This can be started from a simple thing, such as teaching children how to wash the correct genitals after defecating / small. Then, also teach children to regularly change their underwear every day. Not only that, routinely replacing sanitary napkins during menstruation is also important for girls.
2. Apply a healthy diet
The important thing you can do to maintain your health and your family as a whole is to adopt a healthy diet at home. So, make sure that your child gets a nutrient-rich and balanced nutritional intake of fruits and vegetables that he consumes every day.
3. Don't smoke
Not smoking is another important way to reduce the risk of children being infected with HPV. The reason is that cigarette poisons are oxidative so that they can trigger cancer cells to appear and get malignant. Not only triggers cancer, smoking will actually worsen your overall health. Well that's why, plant it in your child early on about the dangers of smoking.
