Wintertime brings more than crackling fires to warm the house and Frosty. The cold brings sniffles, sneezes, sore throats and illnesses that put a damper on the new season. Children, with immune systems that aren’t as developed as adults, are particularly susceptible to the mass amounts of germs floating around that cause the flu and colds and other medical problems.“One of the things parents need to understand is that your average healthy child can have as many as six colds per year,” said Dr. Vivian Lennon, the medical director of the primary care center at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

“It’s not unusual for a child in preschool to get sick several times.” Even though there is no way to ensure your child won’t get sick, there are several practical steps you can take to lessen his or her chances. Kidshealth.org, a website providing doctor-approved health information for children, suggests that perhaps the best defense against the common cold and many other infectious diseases is to wash their hands. Though this act should be practiced year-round, it is especially important in the winter when germs are spread more easily because of dry indoor air and more people walking around with colds. “We like to teach children to cover their mouth,” Dr. Lennon said. “I like to have them sneeze in their arm.

“Even though there is no way
to ensure your child won’t
get sick, there are several
practical steps you can take
to lessen his or her chances.”

Children also should be reminded not to touch their eyes, nose or mouth. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that some viruses can live from 20 minutes to two hours on surfaces. For a child often in contact with surfaces like cafeteria tables and desks that are a breeding ground for these viruses, it is especially important to enforce this habit. Get plenty of rest and fluids. Though children need different amounts of sleep (a preschooler should sleep 10-12 hours a day while a teen needs about 8.5 hours), getting a proper night’s sleep is essential to building a strong immune system. Since our bodies are two-thirds water, it is important to get enough fluids, as well, to avoid dehydration and a weakening of the immune system.

Flu shots can be a good option for children as well. The CDC provides a list of guidelines for which children should be vaccinated. Unfortunately, all the prevention in the world won’t prevent a child from ever getting sick, so it is just as important to know what to do when your child does get sick.

Children often exhibit different symptoms than adults when they become ill, so it is important to watch for certain signs. One of the most important is a fever. If a child’s fever goes above 102 degrees or lasts for more than three days, a call or trip to the doctor’s office is important to determine that the child doesn’t have something more serious than the common cold. If a child does have a fever, it is important to keep him or her home from school so they will not spread their illness to other children.

“One of the first things I like
families to know is any time
they are concerned about
their child they should call
their pediatrician if they
have any questions”

Dr. Lennon said. Over-the-counter medications are a good way to alleviate symptoms of the common cold—as long as they are made especially for children—but if symptoms persist and/or worsen, check with a doctor. When a child gets sick, it is even more important that they get adequate sleep and fluids to help them overcome their illness. An electrolyte drink such as Gatorade is good to replace nutrients in a child not eating a normal diet, but these drinks shouldn’t replace more than half of the fluids the child is drinking.

Take precautions this winter to help keep your kids healthy, watch them closely and consult a doctor if they do become ill. Small steps.

“Even though there is no way to ensure your child won’t get sick, there are several practical steps you can take to lessen his or her chances.”