You know winter is here when you notice an increase in the incidence of respiratory tract infections around you. Cold, cough, bronchitis etc are the most commonly found ailments people are down with during this time of the year.

Dr Alia Rafie, Family Medicine Consultant and Head of Al Barsha Primary Health Centre, said: ” Winter months are also known to cause an increase in the number of cases of depression and anxiety particularly in countries that experience cold climate and have lack of sunshine during winter. “In the UAE, we have plenty of sunshine and we also have a strong family culture so we do not see rise in such cases; here, the increase is mainly in the number of respiratory tract infections.”

“Since children are more vulnerable to such ailments, parents should ensure children get adequate sleep, eat healthy foods and they should limit food with too much sugar and unhealthy fats because such food lowers the immunity. Details