It is common for children to come home from school with fever and headaches. Within a few days, everyone in the house has the flu.

Although Swine flu is a hot topic, seasonal flu should not be overlooked. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 200,000 people are admitted with the flu each year. 36,000 of these deaths are due to flu-related causes.

According to the CDC, 2009 will be a year of flu season that starts early. Combining H1N1, seasonal flu and swine flu could cause more hospitalizations and deaths than usual. It is therefore vital to protect your family against flu.

The CDC recommends that children aged 6 months to 18 years get seasonal flu shots because they are at greater risk of flu-related complications. Seniors, pregnant mothers and parents of children younger than 6 months should get flu shots.

The flu can be avoided in most cases. However, it is not much different than any other illness. You need to have a strong immune system throughout the year. Children and adults alike can boost their immune system to prevent the flu and reduce the severity of illness if they do get it.

It’s not rocket science to strengthen your immune system. Regular exercise, healthy eating habits, and adequate sleep all contribute to a strong immune system. High-quality probiotic microorganisms are a good choice for diet supplements.”good”bacteria) can also improve immune function.

One study has been published in the journal “Pediatrics”Children who took probiotic supplements had a significantly lower fever, cough, runny nose and other symptoms. In Sweden, another study found that probiotic-treated patients were less likely than those who did not take them.

Probiotics are found in foods like yogurt, but supplements have higher concentrations. Vidazorb chewable probiotic supplement (www.vidazorb.comThese are delicious, do not require refrigeration, can be kept on the shelf for up two years, and are easy to swallow even if you have a stomach upset.