Cold/Allergies
infection) are inevitable. Healthy children will have as many as eight to ten colds a year. The number may rise when in day- care. Colds are not always preventable, but there are a number of measures to take to help relieve some of the symptoms and help with prevention.
Infants will need a little nasal saline
prior to eating and sleeping to help them breathe and not cough as much. A cool mist humidifi er is also recommended to help with hydration and to help them breathe better. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications should be limited and even avoided in children under four. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has shown that the risks far outweigh the benefi ts of these medications. It has been determined that a few teaspoons of honey (locally grown is best) a day for children over one year of age will help with coughs. If administering OTC medication, parents should pick those with a single ingredient. It’s too easy to give too much of a particular medication if using multi- symptom relief. Treat the symptom that bothers your child the most. Other strategies that will help keep
your child healthy include: eating health- fully, limiting sweet drinks, eating at home more, avoiding processed foods, limiting portion sizes, fi lling half the plate with colorful veggies and fruit, and getting enough sleep and lots of outdoor play. Teach your children the importance of rest to stay healthy and let them know they do more growing when they sleep well and drink plenty of fl uids. All family mem- bers should get the fl u vaccine annually. Other important tips for staying healthy include knowing viruses or germs are ev- erywhere. Good hand-washing is a must. When that’s not possible, use a portable
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Healthy kids will have as many as eight to ten colds a year
hand sanitizer for a great backup. Set an example for your children early on as they are watching you and will most likely repeat your behavior. Teaching your child to cough or sneeze into the bend of the arm is also very helpful. Above all, if your child has a high fever, is not acting normally, is refusing fl uids or has vomiting/diarrhea, you need to seek help from your provider.
About Allergies Allergies may be seasonal and last for weeks or months depending on the aller- gy trigger. A child can also have multiple triggers and be bothered year round. Typically a child who has allergies will have one or several signs and symptoms. These will vary depending on the trigger (pollens from grasses and trees, dust, mold, smoke and animal dander) and the individual child’s response. Symptoms may include: stuffy, watery runny nose; itchiness in the nose, eyes and skin; sneezing and even a sore throat or cough from the constant drip. Allergy problems can occur on their
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