Survey shows that parents in Wales are more worried than ever about their kids going back to school

New research findings from ProVen Probiotics1 show that parents are more worried than ever about the illnesses that their children may pick up when they go back to school this September. 

The research found that nearly two thirds (65%) of parents of young children in Wales, the highest proportion outside London, feel more worried now than in any previous year about the illnesses that their children may pick up when they go back to school.  It also found that over three quarters (78%) of parents of young children in Wales, the highest proportion outside London, are concerned that if one of their children becomes ill, they will be at risk of having long-covid or other long-term illness1.

GP Dr Wendy Denning says “Many parents of young children are rightly worried about them becoming ill as they return to school.  Not only is there the risk of Covid infections escalating in the schools after the summer holidays but just as importantly children may be more prone to bacterial infections and viruses having not had the chance to build immunity to these in the last two school years in the normal way.  As your children head back to school, it is really worth boosting their immunity with probiotics, such as Proven Fit for School, which has clinical studies showing that it significantly reduces the number of bacteria and virus infections and their duration.”

New clinical research2 shows that probiotics help to support the immune system in protecting against these illnesses.

The relationship between the gut microbiome and the immune system is well recognised, with around 80% of the body’s immune cells residing in our digestive tract, and there have been many studies demonstrating the potential activity of probiotics against respiratory viruses.

Children are particularly susceptible to respiratory viruses due to the immaturity of their immune systems and research has shown that it is the most common cause of illness in children.

Whilst adults suffer an average of 2-3 respiratory viruses a year, the frequency of respiratory viruses in school children below 10 years of age is typically around 7–10 every year.  Most respiratory viruses are caused by a few families of viruses – rhinovirus, coronavirus, adenovirus and influenza.

Dr Denning says “Children are more likely to be in close contact with each other than adults, to share toys and games and to put their hands to their face and mouths more frequently. Children are also less likely to wash their hands properly or put their hands over their mouths when coughing and sneezing.  As a result, two thirds of children take time off school due to viruses each year.”

The new consumer research found that seven out of ten (70%) parents of young children in Wales are concerned that if one of their children becomes ill, they will pass their illness to them, their grandparents, siblings or friends.  And almost half of parents believe that probiotics support the immunity of the whole family.

Dr Nigel Plummer, CEO of ProVen Probiotics, says, “The really exciting and compelling aspect is that two separate clinical studies have shown that ProVen Fit for School really does reduce upper respiratory tract infections in children, which are caused by both viruses and bacteria, meaning that they are less sick, so are less absent from school, require less visits to the doctor and avoid the need for antibiotics. 

 “The time when friendly bacteria were considered to only benefit gut health has definitely passed and we are increasingly understanding the role of our friendly microscopic ‘good guys’ as a very important ally in supporting immunity and many other areas of health.”

 New clinical research2, being published in September 2021, confirms the results of similar research in 2015 and shows that the popular children’s probiotic, ProVen Fit for School, is effective in reducing the incidence and duration of upper respiratory tract infections in young children. 

ProVen Probiotics Fit for SchoolProVen Fit for School is the product used in both clinical studies – natural strawberry-flavoured chewable tablets developed specifically for children containing 12.5 billion Lab4 probiotics with 50mg vitamin C to provide support for a child’s immune function.

ProVen Fit for School is stocked in Boots and online at Amazon and at provenprobiotics.co.uk.  RRP £14.95