Don't Casually Touch Children During Eid, Doctor Warns of Dangers

Jakarta — A paediatric specialist, Dr Leonirma Tengguna, M.Sc, Sp.A, CIMI has warned of the dangers posed by the common habit of casually touching children during Eid family visits and gatherings.

Beyond casual touching, the doctor, a graduate of Gadjah Mada University, noted that another habit to avoid during Eid visits with children is the practice of indiscriminately feeding them.

“It’s fine to feel affection for someone else’s child, but don’t kiss them, touch them, or worst of all, feed them without thinking. We don’t know what germs are on our hands and whether the food is safe for the child to eat,” she stated in a post on her Instagram account @dokteranak_leonirma, confirmed on Wednesday.

She explained that children’s immune systems differ from those of adults and remain imperfect, so even slight gaps such as contact from hands harbouring germs can make their bodies more susceptible to disease.

This is especially important when offering food to a child, as parental permission is essential to avoid giving them something that could trigger an allergic reaction.

It is equally important to always wash hands thoroughly with soap or antiseptic solution to reduce the potential spread of germs through contact.

If feeling unwell, the use of a face mask is strongly recommended to ensure that Eid gatherings remain safe.

Concluding her message, Dr Leonirma advised: “Just give them pocket money. Showing affection doesn’t require touching the child; caring doesn’t mean making the child ill.”

Casual touching of children can potentially spread diseases such as severe influenza and measles, especially given that both are highly contagious diseases that can spread rapidly without proper hygiene and healthy living practices.