How to Recognize and Avoid the Common Cold and Flu This Winter

12/3/2010 - How to Recognize and Avoid the Common Cold and Flu This Winter

Like it or not, this winter most parents are likely to hear their child complain of a scratchy throat or runny nose. Adventist Health offers the following tips for recognizing and treating the most common health risks, the common cold and seasonal influenza (flu), as well as several simple tips for staying healthy this fall and winter.

“At this time of the year, we like to remind parents of the most basic ways they can help to keep their children healthy and avoid unnecessary trips to the doctor’s office,” said Laura Jordhen, M.D. at Adventist Health Medical Group’s Cherry Park office. “Remembering to wash hands regularly and keep unwashed hands away from the eyes and mouth is probably the most effective way to avoid germs as we move into cold and flu season.”

The Common Cold
A pesky infection, the common cold can be caused by more than 200 different types of viruses. The time between becoming infected and feeling the onset of symptoms is on average four to seven days. While rest is the best remedy for a cold, symptoms can last for up to two weeks.

Typical symptoms
The common cold usually arrives with a combination of a runny nose, congestion, sore throat and sometimes a cough or fever.

When to seek care
If symptoms are worse after a week or are still nagging after 10 days, visiting a doctor may be helpful. If a child develops a fever higher than 104° F, changed from 100.4, or has difficulty breathing, parents should contact a physician immediately.

How to avoid
Colds are spread through close contact with those infected. The easiest way to avoid a cold is to practice good hand hygiene—wash hands regularly and avoid touching face with unwashed hands. Smokers as well as those exposed to second hand smoke also have more colds and are at greater risk of getting sick than non-smokers, so quitting smoking will help some avoid getting sick this season.

The Flu
A contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses, the flu is unpredictable and can cause mild to severe illness in those it strikes. Each year up to 50,000 flu-related deaths are recorded around the globe. Although flu season hasn’t yet begun here in the U.S. this year, the H1N1 virus is again expected to cause illness along with other variations of influenza viruses. The flu’s short incubation period (one to three days) makes it possible for people to transmit the virus before they even know they are sick.

Typical Symptoms
Different from the common cold, when the flu strikes, the severity and suddenness of symptoms, such as sore throat, muscle and body aches and congestion, are often greater and are usually accompanied by a high fever.

When to Seek Care
For most, the flu will run its course in less than two weeks. For those at risk of complications such as infants, the elderly, pregnant women or those with asthma, antiviral treatments are available to make them feel better, faster. However parents should also be aware of some of the common signs that their child’s condition has worsened and seek urgent medical attention if their child begins to have fast or troubled breathing, a fever with a rash or even develops bluish skin tone.

How to Avoid
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all people six months and older receive the flu shot this year. Contrary to common belief, the flu shot is not a live virus and therefore cannot cause the flu in those who receive it. “Practicing good hand hygiene will help keep children and adults healthier as will covering coughs and sneezes as the flu is believed to be passed on mainly by droplets created by sneezes and coughs,” added Dr. Jordhen. “Once sick, keep children home for 24 hours after their fever breaks to help avoid contaminating others.”

About Adventist Health Medical Group
Adventist Health Medical Group (AHMG) has more than 60 physicians and nurse practitioners, 21 medical clinics, a home care division and Gresham Station services in the Portland, Ore., area. It is affiliated with Adventist Medical Center (AMC), located in southeast Portland, a nonprofit, 302-bed acute care facility, offering inpatient, outpatient and emergency services throughout the Portland/Vancouver metropolitan area. AMC delivers whole-person health care that nurtures the body, mind and spirit through personnel, programs and services.

AHMG and AMC are part of Adventist Health, a not-for-profit, faith-based health system operating in California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington. Founded on the Seventh-day Adventist heritage of Christian health care. Adventist Health is comprised of 17 hospitals with more than 2,600 beds, approximately 18,600 employees, numerous clinics and outpatient facilities, the largest system of rural health clinics in California with additional sites in Oregon and Washington, 14 home care agencies and four joint-venture retirement centers. For more information, visit www.adventisthealthnw.com or www.adventisthealth.org.