What does "Young Children" mean?

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Young children, especially those under five years old, are at a high risk for malaria, a serious disease. Malaria is caused by parasites that are spread by mosquito bites. In places where malaria is common, it remains one of the biggest health issues, often leading to illness and death in young kids.

To help prevent malaria, health organizations recommend certain treatments and vaccines for young children. One approach is giving medicine regularly to help protect them from getting sick. This is especially important for children under two years old. New guidelines suggest extending these treatments to children up to three years old to provide further protection.

Vaccines are another important tool. A malaria vaccine has been introduced in some areas to help reduce the number of severe malaria cases. When combined with other measures like using special mosquito nets, these vaccines can significantly lower the number of malaria cases and deaths in young children.

It is crucial to keep these protection methods in use. If fewer families use mosquito nets, the risk of malaria can increase, even with vaccination. Therefore, providing both treatment and vaccination, along with promoting mosquito net use, is essential for keeping young children safe from malaria.