Health
Ask Ochsner: How Can I Protect My Children From a Cold or the Flu?
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Happy Birthday hand washing.
Hand washing is key to any cold and flu prevention plan. Encourage children to wash their hands frequently with soap and water and keep hand sanitizer readily available when away from home. By singing the Happy Birthday song together while washing your hands you can make sure your child is washing long enough to be effective against germs. If you or your child does get sick, stay home and cough or sneeze into a tissue or into the elbow to prevent the spread of germs.
Get vaccinated!
The flu vaccine is the best method for preventing the flu so it is recommended that everyone over six months of age receive the vaccine. Flu season can begin as early as October and typically peaks in January and February. Because the vaccine takes approximately two weeks to protect against the flu, getting the vaccine now is a good idea.
Know the symptoms.
If your child does get the sniffles, it is important to recognize whether it is a cold or a bout of the flu. A cold will generally get better with a little rest and over-the-counter medications within 10 days. Because the common cold is caused by a virus, antibiotics will not help symptoms improve.
Cold symptoms include:
• Sneezing
• Stuffy or runny nose
• Sore throat
• Coughing
• Watery eyes
• Mild headaches
• Mild body aches
The seasonal flu impacts thousands of people each season, with hospitalization necessary for some. The flu can be especially dangerous for high risk patients including pregnant women, young children and those over 65 years of age.
Flu symptoms include:
• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle or body aches
• Headaches
• Tiredness
Dr. Alicia Kober is a Pediatrician at Ochsner Health Center – Central. She can be contacted at 261-9790.
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