Young
children average eight colds per year. Most colds strike between
October and March. Each cold lasts about two weeks. No wonder that most
parents feel that their kids are "always sick"? There are several
simple things that you can do to reduce or prevent illnesses in the
winter:
-- WASH YOUR HANDS!! Hand washing is the most effective
method to prevent infections. Use warm water (not cold, not scalding
hot) and plenty of soap (antibacterial soap has not been proven to be
any more effective than regular soap and may cause resistance in the
bacteria it's trying to kill). Make sure to clean under your nails, and
rub vigorously for 20-30 seconds. Many schools tell the kids to sing
the ABC's while washing to make sure they wash long enough. Teach your
kids to wash after blowing their nose, sneezing or coughing into their
hands, before eating, and after using the bathroom. Make sure that the
skin on the hands doesn't get too dry or irritated because that can
cause skin infections. Use a hand moisturizer after washing. -- Teach your children to sneeze into their elbow, not their hands. They will be less likely to spread germs by touch that way.
-- Use paper tissues rather than cloth handkerchiefs and dispose of them after each use.
--
Keep the humidity in your house between 40-50%. Dry air can irritate
the nasal passages and allow easier passage of viruses and bacteria
into the body.
-- Encourage your child to drink plenty of water to help keep tissues well hydrated. --
Keep your child home when they are sick. They will recover faster and
other kids have less chance of becoming ill. Our office recommends
keeping your child home if they have a fever over 100.5°F, severe
cough, vomiting or diarrhea, or really feel poorly. Any child who runs
a fever for more than one or two days, or has difficulty breathing,
wheezing, ear pain, or a sore throat lasting more than a couple of
days, should be seen by a doctor.
-- Many parents wonder if
vitamins or supplements are helpful. A well balanced diet will provide
proper nutrition for most kids. If your child is picky, an all-purpose
multivitamin with iron might be helpful.
-- Many alternative
remedies to cold and flu used for adults either haven't been tested on
children or haven't been shown to be helpful. A 1-2 gram dose of
vitamin C daily divided into several doses daily might help shorten the
course of illness. If possible, it should be taken from food sources
(orange juice, etc). A small zinc supplement (20-30 mg) daily may also
help. Echinacea has not been shown to be effective or safe in children,
and it is unclear how often, how long, or which strain should be used.
Things like chamomile tea can help soothe and calm a child. Licorice,
horehound, or slippery elm lozenges can ease a sore throat. Many spices
routinely used in cooking--ginger, cinnamon, clove, allspice, and
cardamom--may help as decongestants, and encourage fluid intake if made
into a tea. Spicy foods like chilis, horseradish, salsa, etc, may also
help decongest if your child will eat them. Recent studies have shown
that the old remedy of a teaspoon of honey in tea or warm lemonade is
as effective as the over the counter cough remedies (remember not to
give honey to an infant under one year old). A current bit of advice
going around the internet is to put Vic's Vapo-rub on a child's feet
and cover them with socks before going to bed. Several of my patients
have tried it and feel it really helps; I certainly can't see any harm
in it.
-- Most cough and cold preparations are no longer
recommended for children under age 4; consult with your physician if
you think they are needed. Several homeopathic remedies are available
for cough, cold, ear pain, and flu symptoms. They have been shown to be
safe when used as directed. Some commonly available brands include
Similisan, Biore, and Osillococcinium. They can be found at most health
food stores. Saline drops for the nose can help soothe and cut the
mucous; they can be used every couple of hours as needed, followed by a
bulb aspirator.
-- Consider a flu shot as early as October. Flu
season in Michigan is December thru late January/early February. Most
doctors will continue offering flu vaccine into January. If your child
has the symptoms of influenza (dry hacking cough and high fever),
contact your doctor. Some patients use antiviral medications that may
shorten the illness if started within the first one or two days.
Studies have shown a decrease in other kinds of infections (bacterial
ear infections) in kids who were vaccinated against the influenza virus.
I hope these tips help you and your child have a healthy, happy winter!
