How to Protect Baby if Parent Has Flu
Why Kids Are Such Cold Magnets
On average, kids nether age 3 take hold of six to eight colds a year. "We think that since most children are encountering viruses for the kickoff fourth dimension, their immune systems aren't able to kill them equally chop-chop as when they encounter them again," says Carol J. Baker, M.D., a professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. What'due south more than, because kids aren't overly concerned about having a runny nose, the virus tends to cease up on their hands, clothing, and toys—where it tin alive for 30 minutes. When another kid touches an infected toy and and so rubs her nose or optics, she tin can catch the common cold.
- RELATED: 12 Cold & Flu Myths
However, having lots of sniffles early in life may protect kids subsequently. Researchers have constitute that children who develop frequent colds in preschool catch fewer colds during their school years—presumably because their immune systems take learned to recognize and fight off the bugs. And a German study institute that babies who have more than ane cold before their start birthday are less likely to develop asthma by age 7.
Symptom Tracker
Colds typically last 6 to fourteen days—longer than many parents retrieve they're supposed to. "They're near contagious during the kickoff 3 days of symptoms, but y'all tin however catch a cold from someone who'due south had information technology for ii weeks," says David Jaffe, G.D., director of emergency medicine at St. Louis Children'south Hospital.
Symptom: Sore Throat
How Long: Often the first sign of a cold, it lasts almost 5 to 9 days.
Symptom: Runny Olfactory organ
How Long: Begins on day two or 3. Lasts for 10 days in 30 percent of kids, 14 days in 20 per centum.
Symptom: Cough
How Long: Starts about midway through a common cold and lingers for up to iii weeks.
Symptom: Fever
How Long: Half of kids take a temperature of 101 to 103 degrees F for the first ii or three days. Telephone call your pediatrician if the fever lasts longer.
Credit: Andy Crawford/ Getty Images
Anticold Strategies
Washing Your Hands
Theory Backside It
The easiest mode to catch a cold is past getting the virus on your hands and then touching your nose or eyes.
Does It Work?
Yep, but but if you wash with soap and h2o for at least xxx seconds. "An booze-based manus sanitizer is equally effective," says Donald Goldmann, One thousand.D., medical director of infection control and quality improvement at Children's Hospital, in Boston. In fact, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that kids who regularly use a mitt sanitizer have 50 per centum fewer absences from school than those who don't.
Roofing Your Mouth When Y'all Sneeze
Theory Backside It
Millions of cold germs are expelled into the air with every sneeze.
Does It Work?
Surprisingly, cold viruses don't spread easily through the air--unless someone sneezes right into your face, explains Dr. Jaffe. In fact, you're unlikely to catch a cold in the doctor's waiting room or on an plane. Nonetheless, it'due south somewhat protective--and certainly more than polite--to contain a sneeze backside a hand or a tissue.
Bundling Up in Winter Conditions
Theory Behind It
You tin can take hold of a cold from getting chilled.
Does It Work?
It makes sense to dress your child warmly when the temperature is low, just a jacket won't go along him from getting ill. Researchers have really fabricated people wet and cold and then infected them with viruses to come across if they were more than probable to get sick than people who stayed warm. Though the cold people were more uncomfortable, they got sick at the same charge per unit.
Skipping Skilful-Night Kisses When You're Sick
Theory Behind Information technology
Common cold germs from your mouth can infect some other person.
Does It Work?
"Studies have shown that kissing is non an efficient way to transmit cold viruses—probably because yous need to get them in your eyes or nose in social club to get sick," says Dr. Goldmann. "However, some germs can be spread finer past a kiss, such as the bacteria that cause strep throat."
Medicine Alarm
Over-the-counter cough and common cold medications may not exist the best handling for kids under the age of vi, according to the American University of Pediatrics. In some cases, doctors have seen children who had significant reactions to such products. "These drugs can cause agitation, irritability, and hallucinations," Dr. Jaffe says. Both pseudoephedrine (a decongestant) and dextromethorphan (a cough suppressant) can cause heart-rhythm disturbances and agitation. In addition, some studies accept institute that these products don't fifty-fifty salvage symptoms in kids under the historic period of 6. Bank check with your doctor for older kids.
Feel Better Fast
- Acetaminophen (Children's Tylenol, $7.79, CVS and ibuprofen (Children's Advil, $vii.79, CVS; Children'southward Motrin, $seven.49, CVS) are the all-time ways to relieve the aches, pains, and fever caused by viral infections, Dr. Goldmann says. If your kid has a fever, don't hesitate to phone call your doctor.
- Grandma was right: Chicken soup contains anti-inflammatory substances that may ease cold symptoms, co-ordinate to researchers from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, in Omaha. "While at that place'south no magic recipe, soup is easy to digest, helps forbid children from becoming dehydrated, feels soothing on a sore throat, and is liked by nigh kids," Dr. Bakery says.
- To unstuff your baby's or toddler's nose before bed, put a drop of saline olfactory organ drops in each nostril, then suction with a bulb syringe.
- You might place a absurd-mist humidifier near your kid's bed to go along her nasal secretions more liquid. Clean and dry the humidifier daily to forestall bacterial or mold contamination.
Five Myths About Colds
Cold Difficult Facts?
These five stubborn myths about colds just aren't true.
Myth: Antibiotics will aid your kid get over a cold. Since colds are acquired past viruses, they aren't treatable with antibiotics, which kill just leaner.
Myth: Green snot means your kid has a sinus infection. Colds typically get through a phase when the nasal secretions are yellowish or greenish.
Myth: Starve a cold. It's of import for your child to eat to continue her torso strong and assistance her fight the infection. Don't worry, though, if she doesn't have much of an ambition for a solar day or two. But brand certain she keeps drinking. "If she has a fever and a runny nose, it'southward easy for her to go dehydrated," Dr. Baker says.
Myth: Don't let him coughing. Coughing is actually a protective mechanism that clears fungus from your child's respiratory tract. Avoid giving him a cough suppressant unless it's specifically recommended by your doctor.
Myth: Herbs, vitamins, and minerals stave off sickness. Researchers have rigorously tested vitamin C, echinacea, and zinc—with disappointing results. In fact, i recent study plant that some kids who take zinc have unpleasant side furnishings, such as nausea, diarrhea, and pharynx irritation.
Source: https://www.parents.com/health/cold-flu/cold/35-ways-to-keep-your-kids-cold-free/
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