Dos and Dont's of the Cold Season

Most children suffer between eight to 10 colds each year before age two – and adults aren’t immune. The common cold accounts for more than 15 million missed workdays in the U.S. each year. Rhinovirus causes most strains of the common cold and the good news is that immunity is developed after a specific strain is contracted. The bad news: there are more than 100 strains of rhinovirus. Here’s some tips to stay on top of the cold and flu season:

• DO wash hands regularly and teach children to wash their hands after coughing or blowing their nose



• DO wash plastic toys that babies tend to put in their mouths



• DO carry anti-bacterial hand cleanser with you and use it on yourself and your kids if you can’t get to a sink with soap and water



• DO use baby wipes as a quick way to clean hands and toys when a sink is not nearby



• DO use humidifiers which help add moisture to the air and ease the flow of air through nasal and breathing passages



• DO clean your humidifier at least once a week to combat bacteria growth in the humidifier, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission



• DON’T let children share food, drinks and toothbrushes



• DON’T use decongestants and most over-the-counter medications to treat a baby’s cold or respiratory illness symptoms during a children’s first year of life

Resources:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Accent Health
American Academy of Pediatrics
American Academy of Family Practitioners
Consumer Product Safety Commission