Its that time of year again. Back to school, preschool, childcare and a change in weather introduces those nasty germs!
Local Public Health Nurses say parents can expect their young children to have about ten colds per year that last seven to fourteen days. There are 200 different cold viruses out there and your child can only build immunity against them one at a time. However, when your child approaches the teenage years, the immunity grows and the number of colds drops to only about 3 per year.
These tips can help prevent colds from developing and/or spreading:
EAT HEALTHY, EXERCISE AND GET ENOUGH REST
WASH HANDS OFTEN, especially after sneezing or coughing into hands and playing with other children.
USE A TISSUE OR AN ELBOW TO “CATCH” a cough or sneeze. Very few people touch things with the inside of their elbows so if a tissue is out of reach, teach your children to sneeze or cough into what we call “the germ pocket”. That way the next thing they touch won’t be covered in germs.
AVOID TOUCHING YOUR NOSE AND EYES with dirty fingers. A cold virus may translate into a cold only if it is introduced to eyes or a nose. When your child picks up a germ from a friend or a table and touches his nose there is a chance for a cold to develop. The cold germ lasts up to 5 hours on any hard surface. (If you like to clean, read disinfectant instructions carefully to be sure you wait long enough for a wipe to be effective)!
LIMIT EXPOSING OTHERS TO GERMS during the first 3 days of a cold (most contagious then). When nose mucus is thick and yellowish-green stay home. Keep in mind elderly people, young children and those with a compromised immune system have difficulty fighting even a common cold so proceed with caution.
- To help your child manage a cold try…
- Lots of fluids - warm or hot fluids ease sore throats and temporarily clear sinuses
- Rest (no strenuous activity especially with a fever)
- Raising your child’s head to allow draining of the sinuses while resting (pillow or towel under the mattress)
- Use a vaporizer or humidifier to clear sinuses
- Give fever reducers as directed for fevers and pain (NO ASPIRIN)
- Use decongestants and cough medicines if necessary (try to save them for making sleep easier at night) to avoid overuse
- Call a doctor if your child complains of ear, neck or face pain, begins wheezing or struggling to breath or the fever lasts despite giving a fever reducer
For the most part, being at home with a cold means a need for love, cuddles and quiet time. Stories, listening to music and snuggling by a fire would make even adults with a stuffy nose feel better.
