Helpful Hints on How to Keep your Child Well During Cold Season and How to Treat Them if They do Get Sick

Children can get up to 10-12 cold infections a year, with the majority occurring during the winter months. There are several measures you can take to keep your child from getting a cold.

These include:

• Good hand hygiene.
• Keeping surfaces clean.
• Avoiding sick contacts if possible.
• If your child has a cold, prevent further spread by teaching your child to sneeze and cough into tissue or their sleeves, rather than hands.

Most cold viruses can be managed with supportive care at home. So what can you do when you child has a cold?

• Drink plenty of fluids. Keeping well hydrated would help thin out secretions.
• Use saline nasal drops to relief stuffy nose, followed by gentle bulb suction for infants.
• Use a cool-mist humidifier in your child’s room.
• Do not give over the counter cough and cold medicines to children younger than 4.
• For cough, children over the age of 1 can have half a teaspoon of honey to soothe the throat.
• For infants less than 6 months of age, give only Tylenol for fever. Do not give Ibuprofen for this age group.
• For children over 6 months of age, you can give either Tylenol or Ibuprofen to control fever.
• Never give your child aspirin.
• Consult with your child’s pediatrician to confirm the dose for your child.
• Remember to get your child vaccinated against the Flu. Children aged 6 months or older should get the Flu Vaccine every year.

Dr. Omosede Evbuomwan

MCH ProCare Healthy Kids Clinic

3001 JBS Pkwy, Odessa TX 79762

O: 432-640-6772/F: 432-640-4708