The holiday season is upon us.
This is evident by the crisp in the air, the color changes of the leaves, and the quickening of night. This time of the year is also cold and influenza (flu) season.
There will be many religious and non-religious gatherings this holiday season. So, whether you celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas as I do, or you celebrate Bodhi Day, Chhath Puja, Kartik Poornima, Geeta Jayanti, Dhanu Sankranti, Kwanzaa, Milad un Nabi, Hanukkah, or the birth and martyrdom of Gurus Nanak and Tegh Bahadur Sahib; we have you covered.
Cold and flu season sees a rampup during the holidays because we spend more time around more people. The typical cold and flu are both caused by a virus. These viruses are spread by respiratory droplets; coughing, sneezing, talking, and touching items with contaminated hands. As you see, it spreads easily and quickly.
Signs and symptoms of a cold:
- Nose stuffiness
- Runny nose
- Sore throat
- Congestion
- Mild headache
- Cough with or without phlegm
- Sneezing
- Fever
Signs and symptoms of the flu:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fevers
- Muscle and body aches
- Tiredness and malaise
- Kids can also present with a sore throat, abdominal pain, or a headache
Remember these important facts:
- A cough or cold is usually caused by a virus, and does not respond to antibiotics. Antibiotic use is also not risk-free.
- A cough can linger for 4 to 6 weeks after the resolution of all your other symptoms.
- Do not give children under the age of 6 over-the-counter cough or cold medicines.
- If you suspect the flu, or have been exposed, treatment is best if initiated within 72 hours of symptom onset. The sooner you are seen, the better.
- Wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially after coughing or sneezing. If you are not near a sink, hand sanitizer is the next best thing.
- Cover your mouth with a tissue when sneezing or coughing. If a tissue is not available, sneeze into your elbow, not your hand.
- Remind your child to not share personal items such as drinks, food, or eating utensils.
- With the flu, children should be fever free for at least 24 hours before returning to school.
Over-the-counter options and remedies to help reduce the intensity and duration of symptoms:
- Tylenol or ibuprofen for fevers or body aches. DO NOT give ibuprofen to children under 6 months
- Cool mist humidifier in the bedroom
- Vicks Vaporub to the chest
- Honey helps with a cough. DO NOT give honey to children under 12 months old
- Drink lots of fluids and stay well hydrated
- Rest
Help prevent the spread of cold and flu virus by:
- Getting your yearly flu shot, and making sure your kids get vaccinated too. We start giving the flu vaccine at age 6 months!
- Keeping hands and surfaces clean.
Remember, when in doubt, be sure to schedule an appointment with your pediatrician or family doctor. That’s what we are here for. So, this holiday season, remember to have fun, keep up old traditions, and wash your hands.
Lola Oluyitan, MD, MHMS, is a family medicine physician with The Everett Clinic at Bothell. Dr. Oluyitan believes in taking care of her patients as if they were family and looks to establish strong, lifelong relationships with her patients. She is currently welcoming new patients to her practice.
