Upper respiratory infection - viral; Cold

It might seem overwhelming to try to prevent colds, but you can do it. Children average 3 to 8 colds per year. It is certainly better to get 3 than 8!

Here are 5 proven ways to reduce exposure to germs:

• Switch day care: Using a day care of 6 or fewer children dramatically reduces germ contact.
• Wash hands: Children and adults should wash hands at key moments -- after nose-wiping, after diapering or toileting, before eating, and before food preparation.
• Use instant hand sanitizers: Talk about convenient! A little dab will kill 99.99% of germs without any water or towels. It uses alcohol to destroy germs. It is an antiseptic, not an antibiotic, so resistance can't develop. And it's fun. Many kids think it's a treat to use it!
• Disinfect: Clean commonly touched surfaces (sink handles, sleeping mats) with an EPA-approved disinfectant.
• Use paper towels... instead of shared cloth towels.

Here are seven ways to support the immune system:

• Avoid unnecessary antibiotics: The more people use antibiotics, the more likely they are to get sick with longer, more stubborn infections caused by more resistant organisms in the future.
• Breastfeed: Breast milk is known to protect against respiratory tract infections, even years after breastfeeding is done. Kids who don't breastfeed average 5 times more ear infections.
• Avoid second-hand smoke: Keep as far away from it as possible! It is responsible for many health problems, including millions of colds.
• Get enough sleep: Late bedtimes and poor sleep leave people vulnerable.
• Drink water: Your body needs fluids for the immune system to function properly.
• Eat yogurt: The beneficial bacteria in some active yogurt cultures help prevent colds.
• Take zinc: Children and adults who are zinc-deficient get more infections and stay sick longer.

Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, eds. Principles of Infectious Diseases. 5^th Ed. New York, NY: Churchill Livingstone; 2000.

Long, SS, Pickering, LK, and Prober, CG, eds. Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 2^nd Ed. New York, NY: Elsevier; 2003.

Noble J, ed. Textbook of Primary Care Medicine. 3^rd Ed. St. Louis, MO: Mosby; 2001.