Fighting Your Family"s Wintertime Common Colds and Flu
The cold temperatures of winter mean it's time once again for families to brace themselves for the cold and flu season.
The onset of cold and sinus infections, the garden-variety common flu, and similar routine conditions are especially tough on children, whose immature immune systems are often unable to stave off such a serious attack.
Common colds and bouts with the flu can develop, if left unchecked, into more serious conditions such as bronchitis and bronchiolitis.
Parents should pursue an aggressive defense strategy when fighting the earlier, less harmful illnesses in order to spare their children more pain and suffering down the line.
Stay alert for warning signs.
A scratchy throat or froggy voice is often the first sign a common cold or flu is infecting your child's systems.
Many children also complain of dizziness, headaches, and fatigue.
They may also grow more irritable or suffer from muscle aches.
Fevers are another often-misunderstood warning sign.
Fevers are not a symptom in and of themselves but are a sign of the body resisting infection.
Children fighting off sickness can run fevers up to 102 degrees Fahrenheit.
When found in conjunction with swollen lymph nodes, however, a fever may also be a sign of strep throat.
Use medicine that works.
Many parents misunderstand the effectiveness of prescription and even OTC medications.
Antibiotics, for example, do not work against the common cold or flu as they treat bacteria and not the viruses that often cause those illnesses.
The good news is that the traditional remedies are still potent defenses: make sure your children get plenty of bedrest, drink lots of fluids, and stay by themselves as much as possible to avoid contaminating other children.
Prevention is still the strongest medicine.
Viruses flourish in damp, poorly lit environs.
Keeping the home airy and warm eliminates the places viruses can grow and take root - especially in the kitchen.
You should also practice frequent hand-washing and use hand sanitizers in order to promote a more hygienic environment.
Don't overuse them, however - experts now believe too-sterile living conditions can actually hamper a child's immune system growth.
The onset of cold and sinus infections, the garden-variety common flu, and similar routine conditions are especially tough on children, whose immature immune systems are often unable to stave off such a serious attack.
Common colds and bouts with the flu can develop, if left unchecked, into more serious conditions such as bronchitis and bronchiolitis.
Parents should pursue an aggressive defense strategy when fighting the earlier, less harmful illnesses in order to spare their children more pain and suffering down the line.
Stay alert for warning signs.
A scratchy throat or froggy voice is often the first sign a common cold or flu is infecting your child's systems.
Many children also complain of dizziness, headaches, and fatigue.
They may also grow more irritable or suffer from muscle aches.
Fevers are another often-misunderstood warning sign.
Fevers are not a symptom in and of themselves but are a sign of the body resisting infection.
Children fighting off sickness can run fevers up to 102 degrees Fahrenheit.
When found in conjunction with swollen lymph nodes, however, a fever may also be a sign of strep throat.
Use medicine that works.
Many parents misunderstand the effectiveness of prescription and even OTC medications.
Antibiotics, for example, do not work against the common cold or flu as they treat bacteria and not the viruses that often cause those illnesses.
The good news is that the traditional remedies are still potent defenses: make sure your children get plenty of bedrest, drink lots of fluids, and stay by themselves as much as possible to avoid contaminating other children.
Prevention is still the strongest medicine.
Viruses flourish in damp, poorly lit environs.
Keeping the home airy and warm eliminates the places viruses can grow and take root - especially in the kitchen.
You should also practice frequent hand-washing and use hand sanitizers in order to promote a more hygienic environment.
Don't overuse them, however - experts now believe too-sterile living conditions can actually hamper a child's immune system growth.
Source...