Expert advice on preventing the common cold infecting your child

Kenneth Haller, MD, associate professor of pediatrics at Saint Louis University School of Medicine in Missouri, has given some advice for parents wanting to reduce the risk of their children catching the “common cold”.

“The common cold is practically impossible to cure because more than 200 viruses can cause it,” he said. “Since it’s equally impossible to avoid exposure to all those viruses, the best course of action is to limit your risk for becoming infected.”

His eight common-sense tips are:

1. Eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Good nutrition is the foundation for a strong immune system.
2. Drink lots of water, which helps to keep your body hydrated. Water also helps distribute nutrients throughout your body and flushes away toxins.
3. In the winter months, dry air can cause nasal membranes to become thinner and less effective at fighting off viruses. Use a saline nasal spray like OCEAN(R) Nasal Spray to keep membranes in the nose moist during cold, dry weather.
4. A cool mist humidifier in the bedroom during colder weather can also help keep nasal membranes well-hydrated.
5. Plenty of good sleep is vital, as is regular exercise, both of which help strengthen your immune system.
6. Be aware of your hands. Keep them away from eyes, nose and mouth — the most common portals for germs to enter into your body. Also, wash your hands throughout the day — before eating, after sneezing or coughing; after using the bathroom and touching high-use facilities such as cafeteria tables, doorknobs and playground equipment. Pack hand sanitizers in your children’s backpacks so they can use them at school.
7. Cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze and cough to avoid spreading viruses through the air. Ideally, use a tissue. If a tissue isn’t available, sneeze into the elbow of your sleeve, not your hand, or turn your head away from people near you.
8. Stay home. The average child catches five to eight colds every year, largely because cold germs spread so easily through schools and day cares. Consider keeping a sick child home from school during the most contagious stage of the disease to avoid infecting others.

Of course that’s all easier said than done. September can be a nightmare month as children return to school and we move from summer to autumn.