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Winter Season Child Health . . .

Colds and Influenza are both very contagious. Neither is caused by cold weather, but rather the viruses that cause them are more prevalent in the winter. Teach children to wash hands frequently and to cough or sneeze into a tissue or the bend of their elbow. Influenza vaccine will reduce children's risk of catching the flu. How do we tell the difference between a cold and the flu?

Flu presents suddenly with high fever (102-104 F), severe headache, sore throat, muscles aches, and extreme fatigue that can last two weeks or more. The cough, which often sounds dry, can be severe. With a cold, fever is lower grade, possibly up to 102 F, in infants and small children. Sneezing is more common with colds. Muscle aches, fatigue, sore throats and cough are mild.

Some children suffer from winter nosebleeds due to dry indoor air when heat is on. Try using saline nose drops and a vaporizer to help keep nose tissues moist. Plain Vaseline applied to outer nostrils with a Q-tip can also be beneficial in this regard. Severe or recurrent nosebleeds should be evaluated by our doctors. Too frequent bathing may dry out skin in the winter.

Keep children dressed warmly in several thin layers for outdoor activity. Dress babies and young children in one more layer than an adult would wear in the same conditions. Remember to keep blankets, quilts, and pillows out of an infants sleeping environment. Sleep clothing like one piece sleepers is preferred to reduce risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Set time limits on outdoor play to prevent frostbite or hypothermia. Have children come inside periodically to warm up. Consider having your child wear a helmet for ice skating, sledding, and snow skiing/boarding. The American Academy of Pediatricians recommends that children under 7 not snowboard or ride on snowmobiles. AAP also advises that children under 16 not operate snowmobiles.

Please feel free to discuss any individual questions or concerns with doctors and nurses at University Pediatrics. We wish everyone a healthy winter this year.