Dealing with Cold and Flu Season + Coupon

The kids are back in school and that means the sniffles, the hacks, the coughs, and the ugggh feeling of cold and flu season. Children are perfect little targets for colds and flu because they may struggle to share toys, but they are great at sharing their germs. It’s not surprising that children can have up to 12 colds a year and nationwide miss nearly 22 million days of school a year due to colds.

Thanks to Children’s Advil® I had a chance to interview Dr. Gregg Alexander, D.O. to bring some helpful information about cold and flu season to The Shopping Mama’s readers.

Dr. Gregg Alexander is a practicing pediatrician at Madison Pediatrics in London, Ohio. He is very involved in local healthcare and community affairs, active at both a state and national level in the advancement of healthcare information technology, and most recently, he became the CMO for Health Nuts Media which uses animations, games, and apps to help children understand health issues on their level. Happily married, he’s the proud father of two sons.

TSM: What is the best way to help prevent the flu?

Dr. Alexander: Probably the most important thing you can do to help prevent your children from catching the “germ du jour” is teach them to wash their hands, well and often. Hand sanitizers help, too, if soap and water aren’t available. Also, the old adage of drinking plenty of fluids (and avoiding caffeine) to maintain good hydration, getting sufficient sleep, eating a balanced diet with lots of fresh fruits and veggies, and maintaining regular physical activity/exercise all work to bolster the immune system and its ability to defend against infections.  For children over the age of 6 months, a flu shot is also an important way to help prevent the onset of the flu.

This year’s shot also covers for H1N1 and is available now.

TSM: Cold and Flu symptoms can be pretty scary for a new mom,  when should I call my doctor about my child’s cold or flu?

Dr. Alexander: Typically, the symptoms of the common cold or flu, such as congestion, sore throat, headache, fever, or aches and pain, do not warrant a call to the doctor. These symptoms can generally be treated by the “what-your-mom-said” stuff: getting plenty of rest; staying hydrated by drinking lots of fluids; having some chicken soup for the cold (it actually does help); and using an over-the-counter medication, such as Children’s Advil®. It reduces fever fast and relieves the minor aches and pains caused by the common cold and flu, as well as sore throat and headache.  However, if your child’s fever does go above 103-104 degrees Fahrenheit, then I would recommend giving your pediatrician a call.

It can also help to keep your child upright, use gentle nasal suctioning, saline drops or sprays, and room humidifiers. Honey, for children older than 12 months, may help reduce cough better than over-the-counter cough medications.

TSM: My child’s temperature is climbing, when should I treat a fever?

Dr. Alexander: Generally, I tell the parents that come in to my practice that if their child has a fever that is making them feel yucky, they may want to give their child medicine such as Children’s Advil® to help reduce the fever. Higher fevers above 103-104 degrees Fahrenheit deserve a call to your pediatrician. Low and even moderate fevers actually help the body’s immune system fight off infections. But, if your child feels miserable, the tradeoff may not be worth it.

TSM: Sometimes colds seem to drag on forever. When can my child go back to school? He’s playing like normal but he’s still coughing and sneezing.

Dr. Alexander: The common cold usually lasts 7 to 10 days, but some symptoms can last for up to two to three weeks especially in children.  If your child has not had a fever for 24 hours and is feeling well enough to play, then typically, I would say that they are safe to return to school. For any common cold, if they are not showing definite signs of improvement by 7 to 10 days, it is time to contact your child’s doctor.

Shop! You can learn more about cold and flu and pick up a $1 coupon for Children’s Advil at www.childrensadvilsolutions.com.

Disclaimer: Neither Dr. Alexander nor I were compensated for our time. I received a bottle of Children’s Advil to sample. Over-the-counter acetaminophen and/or ibuprofen may be suitable for your child’s needs. Consult your physician or pharmacist for advice about your individual child. Do not use ibuprofen in children under 6 months of age.

{photo: http://www.co.cumberland.nc.us/emergency_mgmt/flu_prevention.aspx}