Child Cough at Night -7 How to protect your family from colds and flu
Child Cough at Night .The most important thing you can do to protect your family and others in your community is to get your influenza vaccination.
This year, we also are concerned with the rise of pertussis cases in South Carolina. There have been pockets of outbreaks of this disease around the country and one of the larger outbreaks occurred in California.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease. It is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis.
Pertussis is characterized by uncontrollable, violent coughing which often makes it hard to breathe. After fits of many coughs, someone with pertussis often needs to take deep breaths which result in a "whoop" sound. Infants traditionally are incapable of making the whooping sound. Pertussis most commonly affects infants and young children
Here are 7 ways to keep your family healthy during cold and flu season. ?
1. Wash your hands!
When you keep your hands clean, viruses lose one of their favorite ways to travel. Teach your family to wash their hands after using the bathroom, before and after eating, and after coughing or sneezing. Use soap and warm water, and wash for 15 to 20 seconds - long enough to sing two rounds of "Happy Birthday." Make sure anyone who takes care of your child knows to wash up often, too.
2. Disinfect.
Cold and flu viruses can live on surfaces for as long as three hours -- so consider washing counters and tabletops with a virus-killing disinfectant or a bleach-and-water solution (1/4 cup bleach in a gallon of water), especially if someone in the house is already sick. Wipe the light switches, telephones, doorknobs, keyboards, and other things that family members share, too. Wash cups and eating utensils well with soap and hot water between uses. Don't share!
3. Get flu vaccinations.
Your whole family needs protection from the viruses that make the rounds during flu season, from school and daycare to home to work and back again. The CDC recommends that almost all children (starting at 6 months) and adults get the flu vaccine every year, preferably in October or November -- the earlier the better. The nasal spray flu vaccine is an effective alternative to the shot, starting at age 2.
4. Ban secondhand smoke.
Secondhand smoke puts children at higher risk for upper respiratory problems. Kids who live with cigarette smokers have more colds, and their colds last longer than those of children who aren't exposed to smoke. Be aware of secondhand smoke in other environments as well, such as when you're visiting friends or relatives.
5. Contain coughs and sneezes.
To avoid spreading germs, teach your children to sneeze or cough into the crook of his arm. The next best method is to use a disposable tissue. If they sneeze into a tissue (or into bare hands), they'll need to wash their hands promptly afterward.
6. Avoid exposure.
Protect your kids by avoiding close contact with people who have a cold or the flu. If your child's best friend is sniffling and sneezing, it isn't a good time for a sleepover.
Tip: Avoiding exposure goes both ways. Try to keep your kids home when they're sick, and stay home when you're ill.
7. Build a healthy body.
A healthy immune system depends on a healthy body, and an immune system that's in good shape is better equipped to fight off viruses. If you're breastfeeding, keep it up as long as you can. (Get advice about breastfeeding when you, or your baby, have the flu.) The antibodies in breast milk can protect against a host of germs. Feed your older children a balanced diet, and encourage them to exercise regularly and get plenty of sleep.
This year, we also are concerned with the rise of pertussis cases in South Carolina. There have been pockets of outbreaks of this disease around the country and one of the larger outbreaks occurred in California.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease. It is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis.
Pertussis is characterized by uncontrollable, violent coughing which often makes it hard to breathe. After fits of many coughs, someone with pertussis often needs to take deep breaths which result in a "whoop" sound. Infants traditionally are incapable of making the whooping sound. Pertussis most commonly affects infants and young children
Here are 7 ways to keep your family healthy during cold and flu season. ?
1. Wash your hands!
When you keep your hands clean, viruses lose one of their favorite ways to travel. Teach your family to wash their hands after using the bathroom, before and after eating, and after coughing or sneezing. Use soap and warm water, and wash for 15 to 20 seconds - long enough to sing two rounds of "Happy Birthday." Make sure anyone who takes care of your child knows to wash up often, too.
2. Disinfect.
Cold and flu viruses can live on surfaces for as long as three hours -- so consider washing counters and tabletops with a virus-killing disinfectant or a bleach-and-water solution (1/4 cup bleach in a gallon of water), especially if someone in the house is already sick. Wipe the light switches, telephones, doorknobs, keyboards, and other things that family members share, too. Wash cups and eating utensils well with soap and hot water between uses. Don't share!
3. Get flu vaccinations.
Your whole family needs protection from the viruses that make the rounds during flu season, from school and daycare to home to work and back again. The CDC recommends that almost all children (starting at 6 months) and adults get the flu vaccine every year, preferably in October or November -- the earlier the better. The nasal spray flu vaccine is an effective alternative to the shot, starting at age 2.
4. Ban secondhand smoke.
Secondhand smoke puts children at higher risk for upper respiratory problems. Kids who live with cigarette smokers have more colds, and their colds last longer than those of children who aren't exposed to smoke. Be aware of secondhand smoke in other environments as well, such as when you're visiting friends or relatives.
5. Contain coughs and sneezes.
To avoid spreading germs, teach your children to sneeze or cough into the crook of his arm. The next best method is to use a disposable tissue. If they sneeze into a tissue (or into bare hands), they'll need to wash their hands promptly afterward.
6. Avoid exposure.
Protect your kids by avoiding close contact with people who have a cold or the flu. If your child's best friend is sniffling and sneezing, it isn't a good time for a sleepover.
Tip: Avoiding exposure goes both ways. Try to keep your kids home when they're sick, and stay home when you're ill.
7. Build a healthy body.
A healthy immune system depends on a healthy body, and an immune system that's in good shape is better equipped to fight off viruses. If you're breastfeeding, keep it up as long as you can. (Get advice about breastfeeding when you, or your baby, have the flu.) The antibodies in breast milk can protect against a host of germs. Feed your older children a balanced diet, and encourage them to exercise regularly and get plenty of sleep.
